Pope Eugene IV facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pope Eugene IV |
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| Bishop of Rome | |
Portrait by Cristofano dell'Altissimo, after an original by Jean Fouquet
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Papacy began | 11 March 1431 |
| Papacy ended | 23 February 1447 |
| Predecessor | Martin V |
| Successor | Nicholas V |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1408 by Gregory XII |
| Created Cardinal | 9 May 1408 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Gabriele Condulmer |
| Born | 1383 Venice, Republic of Venice |
| Died | 23 February 1447 (aged 63–64) Rome, Papal States |
| Previous post |
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| Coat of arms |  |
| Other Popes named Eugene | |
Pope Eugene IV (born Gabriele Condulmer; 1383 – 23 February 1447) was the head of the Catholic Church. He was also the ruler of the Papal States from 1431 until his death in 1447. Gabriele Condulmer was from Venice and was the nephew of Pope Gregory XII. He became pope in 1431.
His time as pope was full of challenges. He faced conflicts with powerful families, like the Colonna family. He also had disagreements with a group called the Conciliar movement. This group believed that a general council of bishops should have more power than the pope.
Pope Eugene IV also took action against slavery. In 1434, he issued a special order called "Creator Omnium". This order said that Portugal could not conquer the Canary Islands. It also said that no one could enslave newly converted Christians. He even said that anyone who enslaved these Christians would be removed from the Church. This punishment would last until the enslaved people were set free. Later, in 1443, he decided to stay neutral in land disputes between Castile and Portugal.
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Early life and career
Gabriele Condulmer was born in Venice, which was a rich trading city. His family was wealthy. He started his religious training early. In 1400, he and some friends started a religious community. This group was approved by the pope in 1404.
In 1407, when he was 24, his uncle, Pope Gregory XII, made him the Bishop of Siena. He was too young to be a bishop, but his uncle made an exception. However, the people of Siena did not want a young, foreign bishop. So, in 1408, he gave up this role. He then became a church official who managed money. Later that year, his uncle made him a Cardinal Priest.
In 1420, Condulmer became a papal representative in a region called Picenum. He moved to Bologna in 1423. In 1427, Pope Martin V made him Cardinal Priest of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.
Becoming Pope
Pope Martin V died in February 1431. The cardinals met to choose the next pope. This meeting is called a papal conclave. It started on March 1, 1431.
Gabriele Condulmer was quickly chosen as the new pope. He took the name Eugene IV. He was crowned on March 11, 1431. Before becoming pope, he agreed to share half of the Church's income with the cardinals. He also promised to ask them for advice on important matters.
Pope Eugene IV made his first new cardinals in September 1431. One was his nephew, Francesco Condulmer. The other was Angelotto Fusco, a bishop and friend.
People described Pope Eugene as tall and thin. He had a friendly face. However, he sometimes struggled with being tactful. This caused problems with different groups. When he became pope, he took strong actions against the Colonna family. This family was related to the previous pope. They had gained many castles and lands. This led to a big fight with the powerful Colonna family. But they soon made a truce.
Challenges as Pope
The Council of Basel
A major challenge for Pope Eugene IV was his conflict with the Council of Basel. This council was a group of church leaders. It had been called by the previous pope. The council believed that a general council had more authority than the pope.
In December 1431, Pope Eugene tried to close the council. He wanted to start a new one in Bologna. He said this would make it easier for leaders from Eastern churches to join. But the council refused to close. They said that a council was superior to the pope. They even ordered Pope Eugene to come to Basel.
The Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund helped arrange a compromise. In December 1433, Pope Eugene agreed that the council was legitimate. However, he did not approve of the council's early rules. These rules said that the council's power was above the pope's.
Problems in Rome
Pope Eugene also faced problems in the Papal States and Rome. His enemies invaded the Papal States. This led to a rebellion in Rome. The Colonna family took control of the city. On June 4, 1434, Pope Eugene had to escape Rome. He dressed as a monk and fled down the Tiber River. He eventually reached Florence.
A church leader named Giovanni Vitelleschi helped regain control of Rome in October 1434. In 1435, a peace treaty was signed. Pope Eugene made Vitelleschi the archbishop of Florence. Vitelleschi then helped reconquer much of the Papal States. He used strong force to do this. Old enemies of the pope were defeated. The Colonna family was brought under control.
Pope Eugene returned to Bologna in April 1436. He consecrated the Florence Cathedral on March 25, 1436.
Regaining power
The conflict with the Council of Basel started again. Pope Eugene called his own council in Ferrara in January 1438. He also removed the church leaders at Basel from the Church. He moved the papal court to Ferrara.
Some kings, like Charles VII of France, supported the Council of Basel. But other rulers, like the King of England, did not. The Council of Basel tried to remove Pope Eugene from his position in 1439. They then elected a new antipope named Felix V. However, Felix V did not gain much support.
Pope Eugene's council moved from Ferrara to Florence in January 1439 because of the plague. In Florence, he achieved a temporary union with the Eastern Orthodox Church in July 1439. This helped improve the pope's standing. He also made agreements with other Eastern churches. He tried to stop the Turkish advance. He even pledged money for a crusade in 1443. But this crusade was defeated at the Battle of Varna.
In 1442, Pope Eugene made peace with Alfonso V of Aragon, the King of Naples. This removed the last major support for the Council of Basel in Italy.
Pope Eugene IV finally returned to Rome on September 28, 1443. He had been away for almost ten years. The people of Rome greeted him with cheers.
Actions against slavery
By the early 1430s, many people in the Canary Islands had become Christians. However, Castile and Portugal were fighting over who owned these islands. This led to raids on the islands to capture people as slaves. The Church had long condemned Christians enslaving other Christians.
In 1434, Pope Eugene IV issued a papal order called "Creator Omnium". This order canceled any previous permission for Portugal to conquer the islands. It also said that no one had the right to convert the native people by force. Pope Eugene said that anyone who enslaved newly converted Christians would be removed from the Church. This punishment would last until the enslaved people were set free. He also issued another order, Regimini Gregis Dominici, forbidding the enslavement of Christian Canarians.
In 1435, Portuguese soldiers continued to raid the islands. So, Pope Eugene issued another order, "Sicut Dudum". This order strictly forbade wars against the islands. It also repeated the ban on enslavement. He said that all such slaves must be set free immediately. If they were not freed within fifteen days, the enslavers would be removed from the Church.
However, in 1436, Pope Eugene changed "Sicut Dudum" slightly. He allowed the Portuguese to conquer parts of the Canary Islands that were not Christian. This meant that Christians were protected, but unbaptized people could still be enslaved.
Later, in 1442, Prince Henry of Portugal asked Pope Eugene to call Portugal's raids along the West African coast a crusade. This would make it legal to enslave people captured during these raids. Pope Eugene responded with the order "Illius qui se pro divini". This order gave forgiveness of sins to those who fought against enemies of Christianity. In 1443, in the order "Rex regum", the Pope took a neutral position on land disputes between Portugal and Castile in Africa.
Historians have different views on these orders. Some see "Sicut Dudum" as a strong condemnation of slavery. Others believe that Pope Eugene's orders helped shape the idea that enslaving Africans was a way to help Christianity.
Death and legacy
Pope Eugene IV's time as pope was very difficult. He is said to have regretted leaving his monastery. However, his victory over the Council of Basel helped end the idea that a council was more powerful than the pope. He brought the papacy back to a strong position. But he had to make some agreements with European princes to do this. After his time, the popes relied more on income from the Papal States.
Eugene was a serious leader. But he was also sometimes unsure and easily upset. He strongly disliked heresy. But he was very kind to the poor. He worked to improve monasteries, especially the Franciscans. He never showed favoritism to his relatives. Even though his private life was simple, he loved art and learning. In 1431, he reopened the university in Rome. He also consecrated the Florence Cathedral in 1436.
Pope Eugene IV died in Rome on February 23, 1447. He was buried at Saint Peter's Basilica. Later, his tomb was moved to San Salvatore in Lauro.
Fictional depictions
Eugene is played by David Bamber in the 2016 TV show Medici: Masters of Florence. His character helps show the religious thoughts and worries of Cosimo de Medici.
See also
