Constance, Council of

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Constance, Council of (1414–17). Convened at the insistence of the Emperor Sigismund to end the Great Schism, to reform the Church, and combat heresy. There were three rival popes: the council asserted its superiority to the papal office, the three rivals all resigned or were deposed, and in 1417 Martin V was elected pope. Among measures to promote reform, the council enacted that there should be regular General Councils. In these ways the council was important in the history of conciliarism (see ANTIPOPE).

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Constance, Council of

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