The Council that Fired Three Popes - 1414-1418

The Council of Constance was a pivotal ecclesiastical assembly convened from 1414 to 1418 to resolve the Western Schism, a crisis featuring three simultaneous papal claimants. By deposing or accepting the resignations of the rival popes and electing Martin V, the council successfully restored administrative unity to the Catholic Church. Beyond resolving leadership disputes, the gathering addressed perceived threats to orthodoxy by condemning the teachings of John Wycliffe and executing the Bohemian reformer Jan Hus. It also introduced the controversial Haec Sancta decree, which asserted that a general council’s authority could supersede that of a pope during times of crisis. While the council provided a pragmatic end to decades of division, its failure to implement deep institutional reforms is often seen as a precursor to the Protestant Reformation. Today, it remains a landmark event for its innovations in ecclesiastical governance and its complex legacy regarding papal versus conciliar power.