CONSTANCE, COUNCIL OF. The sixteenth ecumepical Church council (1414-1S) called by Pope John XXIII., at the suggestion of the Emperor Sigismund, to attempt to heal the Papal schism (see SCHISM, WESTERN), the scan dal of which was then at its height; to deal with the Hussite heresy; and to consider measures for the general reform of the Church. It was the most brilliant and numerously attended Church council ever held. Dignitaries of Church and State, with large retinues, attended from all the countries of Europe; and many merchants and artisans, with a miscellaneous crowd. including showmen, players, and harlots, were attracted by the occasion. It is said that more than 18,000 priests, and in all about 100,000 strangers, were gathered in the city. The predominating influence of Pope John was nullified by a decision to vote by nations rather than by individuals, and it was proposed that all the three rival popes should abdicate. John fled from the city and attempted to dissolve the Council, which then (April, 1415), tinder the lead of Jean de Gerson (q.v.). declared itself the high est authority of Christendom and above the Pope.
John was deposed and condemned to imprison ment for life. Gregory XII. voluntarily drew, and Benedict XIII. was deposed and re tired to Spain, where he spent the remainder of his life, without power or influence. The elec tion of a new Pope was temporarily postponed.
was condemned after a turbulent trial, and burned at the ehy gate, July 6, 1415. Jerome of Prague was also condemned and perished at the stake. May 30. 1416. The movement for re form came to nothing. A beginning had been made, when the cardinals, with the' help of the French. succeeded (November, 1417) in elect ing Otto Colonna (Martin V.) Pope, who brought the proceedings to an end with some slight concessions. Consult: Richtenthal, Krona; des Kom:iliums in Konstanz (Augsburg, 1533; new ed. Tiibingen, ISS2) ; Leufant, History of the Council of Constance (Eng. trans., London, 1730) ; Finke, Forsehungen and Quellen zurr Geschiehte des Konstanzer Konzils (Paderborn, 1889 ). See JOHN XVI fr.: GREGORY XII. ;