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Alexander V (Peter Philarges c. 1339 - May 3, 1410), pope from June 26, 1409 until his death.He was born in Crete of unknown parents and entered the Franciscan order. His abilities were such that he was sent to study at the universities of Oxford and Paris ( Sorbonne), while in Paris the Great Schism ( 1378- 1417) occurred, Philarges supported Urban VI. He settled in LombardyLombardy ( It. Lombardia is a region in northern Italy between the Alps and the Po Valley. Lombardy's capital is Milan, and the region is divided into the following provinces, all named after their capital cities: Bergamo Brescia ( weapon industries) Como, where, thanks to the favour of Giangaleazzo ViscontiGiangaleazzo Visconti ( 1351- 1406) was the first Duke of Milan and he ruled the city for much of the early Renaissance. Giangaleazzo was a feared and hated tyrant of Milan from 1386 to 1406. He had inherited the streak of insanity and cruelty that runs t the Duke of Milan, he became bishop, first of PiacenzaPiacenza is a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, of approximately 104,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza. It was founded in 218 BC as a Roman military colony, and was formerly called Placentia in both Latin an ( 1386Events End of reign of Poland by Capet-Anjou family. Dan I is succeeded as ruler of Wallachia by Mircea the Old. The Viking colony of Greenland submits itself to the Norwegian king. Births March 12 Ashikaga Yoshimochi, Ashikaga shogun Deaths 1386.), then of Vincenza ( 1387Events June 2 John Holland, a maternal half-brother of Richard II of England, is created Earl of Huntingdon. August 23 Olaf IV of Norway/ Olaf III of Denmark dies. The vacant thrones come under the Regency of his mother Margaret I of Denmark who would soo), then of NovaraNovara is a city of northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. Novara is a city with about 150. 000 inhabitants, it is very calm and grey. In Novara and in the near Vercelli there is a great market of rice, that is the main colture of the zone. In the middle ( 1389Events February 24 Margaret I seizes Albert, thus becoming ruler of Denmark, Norway and Sweden June 15 Battle of Kosovo between Serbs and Ottomans. Both the Serbian Prince Lazar and Murad I were killed in battle. Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire fr), and finally archbishop of Milan ( 1402).
On being created cardinal by Innocent VII in 1405 he devoted all his energies to the re-union of the church, in spite of the two rival popes. He was one of the promoters of the Council of Pisa and his politicing incurred the displeasure of Gregory XII, who ordered Philarges derived of both his archbishopric and his cardinalitial dignity.
At the Council of Pisa (from March 25, 1409) the assembled cardinals chose Philarges as the new prelate for a chair they presumed was vacant. He was crowned on June 26, 1409 making him in reality the third rival pontiff.
During his ten month reign Alexander V's aim was to extend his obedience with the assistance of France, and, notably, of the Duke Louis II of Anjou, upon whom he conferred the investiture of the Kingdom of Sicily, having removed it from Ladislas of Naples. He proclaimed and promised rather than effected a certain number of reforms: the abandonment of the rights of "spoils" and "procurations," the re-establishment of the system of canonical election in the cathedral churches and principal monasterie. He also gave out papal favours with a lavish hand, the mendicant orders benefitted especially.
Death came upon him suddenly while he was with Cardinal Baldassare Cossa at Bologna, in the night of the 3rd- 4th May 1410. His remains were placed in the church of St. Francis at Bologna. A rumour went about that he had been poisoned by Cossa, who did succeed him as John XXIII. Whether Alexander V was a pope or an antipope is still a matter of debate.
