031 - Bk III Ch 5 The Council of Basel and the Hussites 1432-1434 Pt 3

In Volume II of Mandell Creightons captivating history of the Papacy, we delve into the tumultuous events surrounding the condemnation of Jan Hus by the Council of Constance in 1415, leading to his tragic execution and the ensuing civil war in Bohemia. As Gregory XII abdicates, the Council elects Oddone Colonna, who becomes Pope Martin V. The narrative takes a twist with the resignation of Antipope John XXIII, while the defiant Benedict XIII escapes to Spain, where he meets his end in 1423. The story shifts to Basel, where a second Council aims to address heresy in Bohemia and reform the Church, all while Pope Eugenius IV works to undermine its authority. The volume culminates in the Council of Florence, featuring the Pope, the Greek emperor, and his leading prelates, as Eugenius seeks to unite the Eastern and Western churches, while the Emperors focus remains on securing military aid against the looming threat of the Turks.