Baldesarre Cossa
Baldesarre Cossa, antipope John XXIII from 1410-1415, was a pirate before he studied law at Bologna. Boniface IX appointed him archdeacon of Bologna and papal treasurer. Named legate to Bologna in 1402, Cossa restored it to the Papal States. Six years later, he withdrew support for Gregory XII and supported Benedict XIII, the antipope. Cossa was a leading figure at the Council of Pisa in 1409 and was elected to succeed Alexander V the next year. As John XXIII, Cossa condemned Hus and Wycliffe and called the little-attended Second Council of Pisa (1412). The Council of Constance (1415) deposed John, Gregory, and Benedict. John, disguised as a layman, fled. He was captured and became the prisoner of Ludwig III of Bavaria. Having bought his freedom four years later, John submitted to Martin V and ended his days as Bishop of Tusculum. John died in November of that year.
Karen Rae Keck
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