1417 (Constance) Papal Election
elected Martin V8–11 November 1417 · Conclave law and the Great Schism · Konzilgebäude, Constance
The Council of Constance ended the Western Schism, in which three rival popes each claimed the throne. After deposing John XXIII and Benedict XIII and accepting Gregory XII's resignation, the council held a unique election: 23 cardinals and 30 deputies of the five conciliar nations chose Oddone Colonna, who took the name Martin V, on 11 November 1417.
Elected pope
Martin V
Oddone Colonna
Succeeded
Gregory XII
Duration
4 days
Cardinal electors
53
pre-conclave election
Ballot-by-ballot tallies are destroyed by design — the paper is burned in the stove whose smoke announces the result — so this entry records what the Church documents: the dates, the electors, the number of ballots where known, and the man who walked out onto the balcony.