Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 2.djvu/387

 BASLE

335

BASLE

Sigismund was naturally anxious that an end should be put to the war which had already taxed his re- sources to the uttermost. Furthermore, the growing power of the Turks was a menace not alone to the existence of the Eastern Empire but to the whole of Europe, and made it imperative upon the Chris- tian princes to abandon their internecine strife and unite with the Greeks in defence of their common Christianity against the power of Islam. The nio\cment in favour of reunion had been specially favoured by Martin V and by the Emperor John VH Pala-ologus (1425-48).

The president of the council, Cardinal Giuliano Cipsarini, appointed by Martin V and confirmed by Eugene IV, presided at the first public session, but retired immediately upon the receipt of the papal Bull dissolving the council (December, 1431). The members then nominated Bishop Philibert of Constance as president. Later on, probably at the seventh general session (6* November, 1432), Csesarini resumed the presidency and continued the guiding spirit in opposition to the pope till the extreme element under Cardinal d'Alleraand of Aries began to gain the upper hand. In the general assembly (6 December, 1436) he refused to agree to the wishes of the majority that Basle, Avignon, or some city of Savoy should be selected as the meeting place of the council to be held for the reimion of the Greeks with the Western Church, but he continued to act as president till the 31st of July, 1437, when a ilecrce was passed summoning Pope Eugene IV to appear at Basle within sixty days to answer for his disobedience. Ca^sarini finally left Basle after the appearance of the Bull, "Doc- toris Gentium" (IS September, 1437) transferring the council to Ferrara, and joined the adherents of the pope. After his withdrawal. Cardinal d'Alle- mand played the leading part and on the election of the antipope. Felix V, was nominated by liim as president of the assembly. The nomination how- ever, was disregarded by the members who there- upon elected the Archbishop of Tarentaise. The other members of the council who took a prominent

Eart in the proceedings were Capranica who had een appointed cardinal by Martin, but who as his appointment had not been published was not ad- mitted to the conclave on the death of Martin nor recognized by Eugene; iEneas Sylvius Piccolomini, afterwards Pope Pius II; the renowned scholar Nicholas of Cusa; Cardinal Louis d'Allemand; John of .\ntioch; John of Ragusa, and the two canonists, Nicholas, Archbishop of Palermo, and Louis Pontanus.

Eugene IV confirmed his predecessor's appoint- ment of Cffisarini as president on the very day of his coronation (12 March), but with certain reserva- tions which were dictated by Eugene's desire of holding a council in some city more convenient for the repre.sentatives of the Greeks. There was present at Basle on the day on which the council should have been opened (4 March) only one dele- gate, but by the beginning of .April, three representa- tives arrived from the University of Paris, together with the Bishop of Chalons and the .Abbot of Citeaux. These six came together (11 April) and issued pressing letters of invitation to the cardinals, bishops, and princes of Europe. Ctcsarini, who up to this time had been engaged in the c.rusaiie organized against the Hussites, endeavoured to reassure the delegates and to restrain their eagerness, while the influence of SigLsmimtl was employed in the same direction. The pope wrote to Ctesarini (31 May) re(iucsting him to .settle the affair of the Hussites as (juickly as po.ssible and then to proceed to Basle for the opening of the council. On the reception of this letter the legate determined, after consulta- tion with Sigismund, to remain with the military

forces, but at the same time to dispatch two of his companions, John of Palomar and John of Ragusa, to act as his representatives at Basle. These ar- rived there on 19 July and held an assembly (23 July) in the Cathedral of Basle at which the documents of authorization were read, and the council declared formally opened. Though there were not a dozen members present the assembly immediately arro- gated to it,sclf the title of a general council, and began to act as if its authority were secured.

Csesarini, after the failure of his crusade against the Hussites, arrived in Basle on the 11th of September and a few days later (17 September), in accordance with instructions received from Eugene, dispatched John Beauppre to Rome, in the capacity of delegate, to inform the pope of the proceedings. The dele- gate who was unfavourable to the continuance of the coimcil represented to the pope that very few prelates had attended, that there was httle hope of an increased number owing to the war between Burgimdy and Austria and the general unsafety of the roads, and that even the city of Basle itself was in danger and its people unfriendly to the clergj". On the receipt of tliis news Eugene issued (12 November) a commission to Csesarini, signed by twelve cardinals, empowering him to dissolve the council, if he should deem it advisable, and to convoke another to meet at Bologna eighteen months after the dissolution. Meanwhile the assembly at Basle had entered into communication with the Hussites, requesting them to send representatives to the council, and, in case they complied, granting letters of safe-conduct. This was understood at Rome as indicating a desire to reopen for discussion questions of doctrine already settled at Constance and at Sienna, and as a result Eugene IV i.ssued (18 December) a Bull dissolving the coimcil and con- voking another to meet at Bologna.

Before the arrival of this Bull Caesarini had already (14 December) held the first public session, at which were present three bishops, fourteen abbots, and a considerable body of doctors and priests. Naturally enough, the Bull of dissolution, though not entirely unexpected, gave great offence to those present, and on the 3d of January, 1432, when it was to have been read, the members absented themselves from the sitting to prevent its publication. Ca'sarinl forwarded to Rome a strongly worded protest against the dissolution, in which he pointed out the evil consequences which would result from such a step, but at the same time in obedience to the papal Bull he resigned his position as president of the coun- cil. Sigismund, who had already appointed Duke William of Bavaria protector of the council, was also opposed to the action of Eugene IV, as he had great hopes that through this council the Hussite controversy might be terminated; on the other hand, he wished to stand well with the pope, from whom he expected the imperial crown. Hence it is that while sympathizing generally with the council, he played the role of mediator rather than that of defender. Delegates were dispatched from Basle to secure the withdrawal of the Bull.

Many of the princes of Europe who had hoped for useful reforms from the labours of the council expressed their disapproval of the papal action, and more especially the Duke of Milan who was personally hostile to Eugene IV. Relying on this support the second public session was held (15 Feb- ruarj', 1432) at which were renewed the decrees of Constance declaring that a general council had its a\ithority directly from Christ and that all, even the pope, are bound to obey it. Besides, it was decreed that the "General Council" now in session could not be transferred, prorogued, or dissolved without its own consent. Everything seemed just then to favour the council. Sigismund had a power.