Pope Martin V facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pope Martin V |
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| Bishop of Rome | |
Portrait of Martin V after Pisanello
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| Church | Catholic Church |
| Elected | 11 November 1417 |
| Papacy began | 14 November 1417 |
| Papacy ended | 20 February 1431 |
| Predecessor | Gregory XII |
| Successor | Eugene IV |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 13 November 1417 |
| Consecration | 14 November 1417 by Jean Franczon Allarmet de Brogny |
| Created Cardinal | 12 June 1405 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Oddone Colonna |
| Born | January/February 1369 Genazzano, Papal States |
| Died | 20 February 1431 (aged 61–62) Rome, Papal States |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Other Popes named Martin | |
| Papal styles of Pope Martin V |
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| Reference style | His Holiness |
| Spoken style | Your Holiness |
| Religious style | Holy Father |
| Posthumous style | None |
Pope Martin V (born Oddone Colonna) was the leader of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 1417 until his death in 1431. He was born in January or February 1369 and died on February 20, 1431. His election as pope helped to end a big split in the Church called the Western Schism, which had lasted for nearly 40 years. He is the last pope to use the name "Martin."
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Family
Oddone Colonna was born in Genazzano, Italy, between January 26 and February 20, 1369. His parents were Agapito Colonna and Caterina Conti. The Colonna family was one of the oldest and most important families in Rome. His brother, Giordano, became a prince, and his sister, Paola, became a lady of Piombino.
Education and Church Career
Oddone studied law at the University of Pavia. He began his career in the Church under Pope Urban VI. In 1405, he became a Cardinal-Deacon (a high-ranking church official) under Pope Innocent VII.
In 1409, Oddone took part in the Council of Pisa. He supported Antipope Alexander V and later his successor, John XXIII. Because of this, Pope Gregory XII excommunicated him (removed him from the Church) in 1411. Oddone was with John XXIII at the Council of Constance. He later helped in the process that removed John XXIII from his position.
Papacy
Becoming Pope
After Antipope John XXIII was removed in 1415, the Council of Constance faced a challenge. There were competing claims for who should be the true pope. On November 11, 1417, Oddone Colonna was elected pope at the age of 48. This day was St. Martin's Day, which is why he chose the name Martin V. Twenty-three cardinals and 30 other church leaders took part in his election. He became a priest on November 13, 1417, and a bishop the next day.
Returning to Rome
Pope Martin V left Constance in May 1418. He traveled slowly through Italy and stayed in Florence for a long time. At this time, the Pope only controlled Rome and its surrounding areas. Other parts of Italy were ruled by local lords. Martin V worked to get back control of these areas. He made agreements with various rulers to gain back lands for the Church.
After a long stay in Florence, Pope Martin V finally entered Rome in September 1420. He immediately started to bring order back to the city. He also began to repair churches, palaces, bridges, and other public buildings that had fallen into disrepair. His efforts helped to start the Roman Renaissance, a period of great art and culture in Rome.
Church Reforms
Pope Martin V worked on reforms within the Church. He negotiated agreements, called concordats, with different countries like the Holy Roman Empire, England, France, and Spain. These agreements aimed to improve relations between the Church and these nations.
Hussite Wars
By 1415, the region of Bohemia (part of today's Czech Republic) was in chaos. Followers of Jan Hus, a religious reformer who had been burned as a heretic, were causing unrest. The Council of Constance tried to deal with this religious movement, but many Bohemian nobles supported Hus.
In 1419, King Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia tried to restore order. However, a preacher named Jan Želivský led a protest in Prague, which turned violent. Many people were killed. King Wenceslaus died soon after. His brother, Sigismund, became the new king and prepared to fight the Hussites.
On March 1, 1420, Pope Martin V called for a crusade (a religious war) against the Hussites and other groups considered heretics. In 1428, he ordered the remains of John Wycliffe, another reformer, to be dug up and burned. However, these crusades against the Hussites were not successful in stopping the movement.
Crusades Against Ottomans
Pope Martin V also declared a crusade against the Ottoman Empire in 1420. The Ottomans were a growing threat in Eastern Europe. He worked with Sigismund, King of the Romans, to organize this crusade. The Pope offered special spiritual benefits to anyone who helped fund or fight in this crusade.
War with Braccio da Montone
From 1423, a major challenge for Pope Martin V was a war against a powerful military leader named Braccio da Montone. In 1424, a combined army of papal and Neapolitan forces defeated Braccio at the Battle of L'Aquila. Braccio died a few days later, ending this conflict.
After this victory, Martin V gained more control over areas like Bologna. He also made peace with the deposed John XXIII, giving him a new title within the Church.
University of Louvain
On December 9, 1425, Pope Martin V founded the University of Louvain in Leuven, which is now in modern-day Belgium. This was an important step for education in the region.
Personal Views
Position on Jews
During his time, the Jewish community was worried due to the unrest caused by the Hussite movement. Through Emperor Sigismund, they received official documents (bulls) from Pope Martin V in 1418 and 1422. These documents confirmed their previous rights and asked church officials to speak moderately about them. However, in his later years, Martin V changed some of these rules. A group of Jewish leaders met and asked the Pope to remove harsh laws made by a previous antipope, and they succeeded.
Position on Slavery
During the Middle Ages, slavery had mostly disappeared in Europe. However, new explorations brought Europeans into contact with other parts of the world where slavery still existed. The Church generally opposed the enslavement of Christians. Pope Martin V issued rules that threatened to remove from the Church anyone who traded in Christian slaves. He also ordered Jewish people to wear a special badge to help prevent them from buying Christians. In 1425, he also condemned those who sold Christian slaves to Muslims. While he opposed the sale of Christians to non-Christians, his actions were not a complete ban on slavery itself.
Death
Pope Martin V died in Rome from a stroke on February 20, 1431. He was 62 years old. He is buried at the St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome.
Images for kids
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Coat of arms of Pope Martin V
See also
In Spanish: Martín V para niños
