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Pisa (COUNCIL OF a church council)

COUNCIL OF, a church council generally included in those called ecumenical, met and opened in Pisa March 25, 1409, and the 23d and last session of which was held Aug. 7 following. Its aim was to end the schism which had divided the Western Church for 30 years; and with this view the leading cardinals, finding that neither of the rival Popes, Gregory XII. and Benedict XIII., would keep their promises to abdicate, had set aside the claims of both, and themselves convoked a general council. It was attended from first to last by 24 cardinals, 4 patriarchs, 80 bishops, 102 proctors of bishops, 87 abbots, 200 delegates of abbots, besides many generals of orders, doctors, deputies of universities, and amals 171 000 THE BAPTISTERY, PISA dents. Galileo, who was a native of bassadors. After the rival Popes failed Pisa, was formerly one of the professors.

A library, botanical garden, a cabinet of natural history, and an observatory are connected with the university. Pisa is supposed to have been founded shortly after the Trojan War. It became a Roman colony about 179 в. c., but did not attain to distinction before the 10th century, when it became the leading commercial republic of Italy. During the 11th century it maintained its superiority in the Mediterranean, materially assisting the French in the Crusades. A war with Genoa ended in the ruin of Pisa in 1284. The city afterward became the prey of various factions, till finally united to Florence in 1406. Pop. about 70,000. to appear in obedience to its summons, the council formally tried the claims of both in turn, and deposed them as schismatics and heretics. The cardinals then formed themselves into conclave and elected Cardinal Philargi, who assumed the name of Alexander V. But the council, instead of getting rid of the contending Popes, had only added a third, and the faithful continued to be distracted in their allegiance for eight years longer, down to the time of the Council of Constance.