Basel

Council of, a celebrated Ecumenical council of the Church, convoked by Pope Martin V. and his succe or, EKugenius LY. It was opened Dec. 14, 1431, under the presidency of the Cardinal Legate Juliano Cesahini of St. Angelo. The objects of its deliberations were to extirpate heresies (that of the Hu ites in particular), to unite all Christian nations funder the Catholic Church, to put a stop to wars between Christian princes, and to reform the Church. But its first steps toward a peaceable reconciliation with the Hu ites were displeasing to the Pope, who authorized the Cardinal Legate to di olve the Council. That body opposed the pretensions of the Pope. On the Pope continuing to i ue bulls for its di olution the Council commenced a formal proce against him, and cited him to appear at its bar. On his refusal to comply with this demand the Council declared him guilty of contumacy, and, in May, 1439, it declared Eugenius, on account of his disobedience of its decrees, a heretic, and formally deposed him.