AntiPope Clement VII

[Catholictrain]

There was a certain Robert of Geneva who took the name Clement VII that is considered an AntiPope. He was the first Antipope of the Great Schism from 1378 until his death in 1394. I have read that he was really not such a bad guy, but I also have read that he was brutal.
Does anyone have information about this 14th century man that would help me determine whether he was just a good man that was in the wrong place at the wrong time or whether he was really a not-so-nice kinda guy?

Perhaps someone out there who has studied this part of history could help me out…
Thanks…

 

[thistle]

There was a certain Robert of Geneva who took the name Clement VII that is considered an AntiPope. He was the first Antipope of the Great Schism from 1378 until his death in 1394. I have read that he was really not such a bad guy, but I also have read that he was brutal.
Does anyone have information about this 14th century man that would help me determine whether he was just a good man that was in the wrong place at the wrong time or whether he was really a not-so-nice kinda guy?

Perhaps someone out there who has studied this part of history could help me out…
Thanks…

The real Pope Clement VII reigned from 1523-1534.

 

[kib]

From the Oxford Dictionary of Popes:

“Clement (VII) (antipope 20 Sept 1378- 16 Sept 1394)”

“Born at Geneva in 1342 as Robert, son of Count Amadeus III and Marie de Boulogne”

“Became Bishop of Therouanne in 1361 and of Cambrai in 1368”

“Created Cardinal by Gregory XI in May 1371”

“As Gregory’s legate in Italy in command of an army of Breton mercenaries, he was responsible for frightful massacres in the war against Florence.”

“In the tumultuous election following Gregory’s death he gave his vote for Urban VI, was the first to do homage and seek favours for him, and on 14 Apr. 1378 wrote to emperor Charles IV notifying him of the election.”

Paraphrase of additional information:

Shortly after, he became disgusted with Pope Urban’s behavior and organized a revolt against him. French Cardinals then withdrew to Anagni , convinced Urban was deranged and incapable, declared his election void as having been carried through under threats of violence, and purported to dispose him.
“Robert was one of the leading spirits among them.” On Sept 20, Robert was elected pope in a cathedral in Naples. His election, proclamation, and coronation, inaugurated the great schism of the west, “of which he was the first antipope.”
It goes on to talk about his political involvement with various nobles, battles with Urban’s mercenaries, and that “rival Popes” were trying to pursued the Christian world of their legitimacy (Urban is the only other named specifically, until after his death, followed by Boniface IX).
There is more information, but those are the basics. Nothing struck me about him being especially brutal (during his time as antipope), but here is the info for the book I have if you want to look it up in a library:

Kelly, J. N. The Oxford Dictionary of Popes. New York: Oxford UP, 1986. 228-230

 

[Catholictrain]

From the Oxford Dictionary of Popes:

“Clement (VII) (antipope 20 Sept 1378- 16 Sept 1394)”

“Born at Geneva in 1342 as Robert, son of Count Amadeus III and Marie de Boulogne”

There is more information, but those are the basics. Nothing struck me about him being especially brutal (during his time as antipope), but here is the info for the book I have if you want to look it up in a library:

Kelly, J. N. The Oxford Dictionary of Popes. New York: Oxford UP, 1986. 228-230

Thanks… this is what I was seeking. Thanks for the source as well. I am writing a religious novel and wanted to make sure the stuff I read about this man was true. I was unaware of the Oxford Dictionary of Popes. I will need to look into that tome.
Thanks again.

 

[kib]

No problem.

Be sure to check the source yourself to be sure I didn’t fudge anything while copying it over!

Also, the other poster was correct about (the real) Pope Clement VII ( 19 Nov 1523 - 25 Sept 1534) as compared to pope Clement (VII), the antipope.

 

[John_Higgins]

The Oxford Dictionary of Popes is excellent. I wish it were available online.

My favorite antipope is John XXIII. He was the seocnd antipope from Pisa. He had widespread support for a while.

From Wikipedia:

With the aid of the Emperor Sigismund, Pope John convened the Council of Constance in 1415. During the third session rival Pope Gregory XII authorized the council as well, and soon both Popes abdicated in favor of Pope Martin V. Cossa, as he was again, was briefly imprisoned in Germany before being freed by Martin V in 1418.

He died in Florence, as cardinal bishop of Tusculum, in 1419. He is buried in a tomb in the Battistero di San Giovanni in Florence.

Cardinal Cossa was treated badly by the Council of Constance, but after the council went to Pope Martin and was reconciled. The pope made him the dean of the College of Cardinals.

John