A successful defeat

In the thirties and forties of the fifteenth century, Pope Eugene IV and the council of Basel are caught in a fierce battle over the ultimate power in the Church. In this book the papal politics towards the council of Basel are mapped systematically for the first time, without losing sight of the events and the evolution of conciliarism at the council itself. With a power claim based on the well-known decree Haec sancta of the council of Constance, the council of Basel plunges the papacy into an existential crisis. Only with the help of the cardinals Nicolo Albergati and Giuliano Cesarini is Eugene able to regain control over the situation. The pope has to adjust his ambition. Thanks to his worldly power in Italy and to many concessions to the European princes, he is able to survive the crisis and attain some success in what actually is a bitter defeat.