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The late 14th and early 15th century saw a series of rival popes elected, one line of which is counted by the Roman Catholic Church as popes and the other as antipopes. The scandal of multiple claimants added to the demands for reform that produced the Protestant Reformation at the turn of the 16th century. See Western Schism, Antipope Benedict XIIIAntipope Benedict XIII born Pedro Martinez de Luna (b. Illueca, Aragon, 1328; d. Penyiscola, near Valencia and Barcelona, 1422 or 1423) an Aragonese, was elected by the French cardinals on the death of Clement VII Sept. On the death of Urban VI in 1389 th.
It would not necessarily have been evident, during periods when two (or three) rival claimants existed, which was the antipope, and which was the pope, and the clear-cut distinctions made between them in retrospect can give a false sense that certainty existed among their contemporaries. Supporters might offer assistance to a given candidate, but could not know which would be determined to have been an antipope, and which the pope, until events had run their course.
There has not been an antipope since 1449Events January 6 Constantine XI is crowned Byzantine Emperor. He will be the last in a line of rulers that can be traced to the founding of Rome. September 8 Battle of Tumu Fortress Oyirad Mongolians defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty army and capture Zhengt, unless sedevacantist antipopes are counted (see below). Other schisms like the Church of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and is the mother branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. Christianity was planted in Britain in the first or second c are controlled by lay sovereigns who do not want to have an ecclesiastical rival or begin like the Old Catholic ChurchThe Old Catholic Church is a religious denomination that split from the Roman Catholic church in 1870. The founders of the movement were mainly Austrians, Germans, Swiss and Dutch who were deeply disturbed by the promulgation of the dogma of Papal Infalli and the Chinese Patriotic Catholic AssociationChristian denominations The Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPA or CCPA) is the recognized official Catholic Church established by the Communist government of the People's Republic of China. Critics of the CPCA argue that the main purpose of the C in a rejection of a primary dogma of the papacy.
Today the act of becoming an Antipope is considered a schismatic act by the Roman Catholic Church. This would result in automatic excommunicationExcommunication is religious censure which is used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community. The word literally means "out of communion. Catholic Communion Excommunication is the most serious penalty that can be imposed for Catholics. for the person who became Antipope.