Ep. 171 - Cleaning House – The Council of Constance Part 1

11 snips

Nov 21, 2024

A historic gathering unfolds as the Council of Constance addresses the church's deep schism and rampant corruption among clergy. Tension rises when Pope John XXIII navigates political turmoil, ultimately leading to his resignation. Sigismund of Luxembourg's role in the proceedings highlights a shift in national identities and the emergence of literature in vernacular languages. The council ignites pivotal reforms and embarks on a journey towards unifying the church while reshaping European self-perception.

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ANECDOTE

The Pope's Journey

Pope John XXIII traveled to Constance for a church council.
His carriage tipped over en route, but he continued to Constance.

INSIGHT

Council's True Purpose

Pope John XXIII called the Council of Constance due to a prior agreement.
He aimed to address church reform, not the existing schism.

ANECDOTE

Choosing Constance

Sigismund suggested Constance as the council's location.
The city was chosen for its proximity to the Alps and its amenities.

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The Council of Constance marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Catholic Church and the history of Europe in general.

One issue on the agenda was the ongoing schism that the council of Pisa had failed to resolve. Another the reform of the increasingly corrupt clergy all the way up to the pope himself. And then there were a number of individual questions this gathering of thousands had to address.

Whilst all these were crucial questions, the way the council constituted itself foreshadowed a fundamental change in the way European saw themselves.

This part 1 deals with the establishment of the council and the removal of the popes, most importantly the pope who had convened the council on the first place, John XXIII and his counterpart, the emperor Sigismund.

Chapters:

00:18 - The Unusual Procession
03:54 - The Journey to Constance
10:35 - The Council of Constance: A New Chapter in Church History
16:51 - The Arrival of Sigismund
20:15 - The Shift Towards National Identity in the Church Council
27:41 - The Turning Point: The Council's Decree
34:47 - The End of the Schism and the Rise of New Leadership

The music for the show is Flute Sonata in E-flat major, H.545 by Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach (or some claim it as BWV 1031 Johann Sebastian Bach) performed and arranged by Michel Rondeau under Common Creative Licence 3.0.

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To make it easier for you to share the podcast, I have created separate playlists for some of the seasons that are set up as individual podcasts. they have the exact same episodes as in the History of the Germans, but they may be a helpful device for those who want to concentrate on only one season.

So far I have:

The Ottonians

Salian Emperors and Investiture Controversy

Fredrick Barbarossa and Early Hohenstaufen

Frederick II Stupor Mundi

Saxony and Eastward Expansion

The Hanseatic League

The Teutonic Knights

The Holy Roman Empire 1250-1356

The Reformation before the Reformation