Jan-Maat’s Reviews > Les Papes en Avignon > Status Update

1410, eventually in the absence of Benedict XIII the townspeople of Avignon declare their support for Pope Alexander V, who is pope in Pisa. Unfortunately for them he was also dead, but news hadn't reached Avignon- a kind of schrodinger's Pope situation. He might be alive or he might be dead, but no one would known until the fateful letter was unsealed.

during the night of 11th of march 1403, Benedict XIII made his escape from Avignon. out from the palace, a gate was opened before dawn and the pope and his companions slipped into a waiting boat and set off down the Rhone.Down river they met up with a party of horsemen and a cardinal before stopping at Chateaurenard near Arles

1398 The French seriously try to capture the papal palace digging mines, but the defender's dig countermines.
I am surprised to read this, the damage must have been well repaired.

Five cardinals remain with Benedict XIII. the rest slope off and submit to King Charles VI of France.

Five cardinals remain with Benedict XIII. the rest slope off and submit to King Charles VI of France.

Five cardinals remain with Benedict XIII. the rest slope off and submit to King Charles VI of France.

1397. The King of France withdrew support from Benedict XIII in Avignon. And tried to pressure him to abandon the palace (which is impressively fortress like (ein festes burg ist unser schloss as Luther did not sing ) Benedict withdraws inside and will not come out for five years.

Cardinals in Avignon elect cardinal Pierre de Luna, a professor of Canon law at Montpellier. He had to be consecrated as a priest a few days after his election and eight days later celebrated his first Mass on the 11th October 1394.

Clement VII died in 1394 at the age of 52, he outlived his rival Urban VI but as a successor was elected the schism continued.

The cardinals mysterious abandon Urban VI in Rome and elect another pope in Avignon: clement VII