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Council of Basel

Type Object Region Europe Time 1421–1449

The Council of Basel was a 15th-century conciliar instance of the Catholic Church, aiming to uphold conciliar supremacy established at Constance, ref…

Timeline

  1. 1418–1423Constance and Rome · EuropeAfter the Council of Constance ended the papal schism, the nations insisted on regularly convened general councils to restrain the papacy; Martin V and the cardinals became locked in a continuing struggle over reform, episcopal appointments, and the right to convene councils.
  2. 1423–1430Basel · SwitzerlandThe papacy favored Italian cities, while the Holy Roman Emperor and bishops of many nations pushed for Basel within the empire; in the 1420s the Basel city authorities provided venues and hospitality, and representation, language, and reform issues gradually took shape through correspondence and exchanges of envoys.
  3. 1431–1437Basel Cathedral and the council venue · BaselAfter formally opening in Basel, the council passed 'Confirming Conciliar Supremacy' (continuing the spirit of decrees such as Frequens), asserting the general council's supreme authority over the pope, and began examining papal finances, episcopal appointments, and crusade issues, provoking a long standoff with the papacy.

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