Alexandre V (antipape)

See also: Alexandre V

Pierre Phylargis or Philarges or Filargo , known as Pierre de Candie , (born in 1340 and died the May 3rd 1410) was elected Pape with Pisa under the name of Alexandre V during the Great Schism of Occident. All the popes of Avignon and the popes of Pisa of this time, he is today regarded by the Roman Catholic church as a Antipape.

He is born in Crete (then Venetian) unknown parents and enters to the Franciscains. Its talents are such as one sends it to study with the Université of Oxford then to that of Paris. The Great Schism of Occident occurs during its stay in Paris. It then supports the camp of the pope of Rome Urbain VI. It initially settles in Lombardy where, thanks to the duke of Milan Jean Galéas Visconti, he becomes bishop, with Plaisance in 1386, then with Vicence in 1389, before becoming archbishop of Milan in 1402. He also teaches theology with Pavia and carries out many diplomatic missions in all the Europe.

Cardinal and pope

Created cardinal by the Innocent pope of Rome {{VII}} the June 12th 1405, the same day as the future popes Gregoire {{XII}} and Martin {{V}}, it devotes all its energy to the reunification of the Church, divided between two rival popes. It is one of the promoters of the Concile of Pisa, which causes the dissatisfaction with Gregoire who then deprives it of his archbishop's palace and his dignity of cardinal.

The council of Pisa, open the March 25th 1409, deposits the pope of Rome Gregoire and that of Avignon Benoît {{XIII}}, but those refuse to be erased. The cardinals present choose Pierre de Candie to occupy the papal throne which they hold for vacant. He is elected pope under the name of Alexandre the June 26th 1409 and is crowned the July 7th according to… his election succeeding in only creating a third pope rival !

During the ten months of its reign, he promises more than he does not carry out a certain number of réformes : he gives up the rights of skin and procuration and restores the system of the canonical election for the cathedrals and the principal monasteries. He distributes with prodigality the papal favors from which profit before all the orders beggars. To counter Gregoire and to extend his influence with the assistance of France, it excommunicates Ladislas {{Ier}}, king of Naples, and names in its place Louis {{II}} of Anjou, applicant with this kingdom supported hitherto by the pope of Avignon. It raises troops which seize Rome in January 1410, but it prefers to settle with Bologna.

Died

It is in this city that he dies suddenly in the night of the 3 to the May 4th 1410 at the 69 years age. The rumor claimed that it had been poisoned by Baldassare Cossa, its successor known under the name of Jean {{XXIII}}. It is buried in the Saint-François church of Bologna.

Pope or antipape ?

The popes of Pisa failed to reunify the Catholic church. The Great Schism ended only in 1417 by the Concile of Constancy which deposited at the same time the pope of Rome, that of Avignon and that of Pisa, before electing Martin {{V}}.

To determine if Alexandre must be regarded as a antipape or a legitimate pope is matter with debates still today. The Vatican regards as legitimate for this time the only popes of Rome. However, when in 1492 Rodrigo Borgia is elected pope, it chooses the name of Alexandre {{VI}}, taking care not to take again the name and the number of Alexandre.

In 1958, Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli did not have the same scruple by taking again the name and the number of Jean {{XXIII}} which were those of the second (anti) pope of Pisa.

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