Gregory exulted in the king's success. He hoped himself to be able now to return to Pome. He was en- couraged to refuse his assent to the appointment of the council proposed to he held at Pisa, which he justly feared miglit prove fatal to his claims. IMeanwhile Ladislaus prosecuted his ambitious plans. He hojied to secure possession of Sienna and Florence. For several months he prosecuted his plans by diplomacy and threats; but the cautious resistance of the republics, and the hostile attitude of the Pisan Council, which ■was now CMarch, 1400) in session, disconcerted him. The new pontiff, Alexander Y, elected by tlie council, fa- vored the jiretensions of Louis of Anjou, the rival pre- tender to the throne <if Xajiles. The latter, followed by an army, and surrounded by his partisans, entered Italy and secured a lodgment in Rome. Ladislaus, in the height of his passion, swore to annihilate the authors of his calamity. He provided for the security of Gregory, who had been holding a council in Aquileia, rivaj to that of Pisa, and ordained his recognition as pontiff
LADISLAUS
193
LADVOCAT
throughout the kingdom. He then proceeded in force to Kome, of -which lie quickly regained possession.
Alexander Y, indignant at the king's course, made up a catalogue of his crimes, and ordered Ladislaus be- fore him to hear the sentence which pronounced liis forfeiture of liis throne. Regardless of the summons, Ladislaus prosecuted his measures of violent rapacity, amassing the means to continue the war. But at this juncture he lost possession of Rome. With treachery within and the forces of Balthasar Cossa without, the city yielded to the allies, and the papal authority was re-established within its walls.
Tlie sudden death of Alexander V (May 3, 1410) opened the way to the election of Balthasar Cossa him- self, the sworn foe of Ladislaus, under the title of John XXIIL Leaving Bologna, which he had ruled as a despot under the title of legate, he advanced in triumph to Rome. Ladislaus was now confronted by an Italian pope and a French army under Louis. The sentence of excommunication was pronounced against him, but, reckless of spiritual terrors, he marshalled his forces and prepared for the conflict. The battle took place May 19, l-tU, near I'onte-Corvo, and, after a desperate con- test, the forces of Ladislaus were defeated. Instead of being disheartened by reverse, however, he exerted him- self successfully to bring into the held a new army large- ly composed of the fragments of the old. In a short time, b}' a liberal use of money, he had greatly profited by the respite which his enemies, too sluggish to pursue their advantage, allowed him. Retracing his disasters, he said that on the first day his crown and personal lib- erty were endangered ; on the second, he feared only for his kingdom ; on the third, his foe could only waste himself.
John XXIII had exulted in the defeat of his foe. The joy at Rome was expressed by pageants and processions ; but the pope soon discovered that he had been too pre- cipitate in his demonstrations. lie encouraged the hopes of Louis, but declined to aid him by arms. He contented himself with sending Ladislaus (August 11, 1411) a summons to appear before him as a heretic and favorer of schism, and with pubUshing a crusade against him. But the withdrawal of Louis from Italy left Lad- islaus without a competitor, and of a sudden the pope saw himself almost helpless in the hands of Ladislaus, and in constant fear of his ravages and assaults. Anx- ious for peace, he proposed a compromise with Ladislaus. Tlie latter was to abandon the anti-pope, Gregorj' XII, and tlrive him from the kingdom. The pope was to confirm the king in possession of his dominions, to ■which other possessions were to bo added, and was to be ap- pointed gonfalionere of the Church, and to be paid spe- cified sums of money. Thus John XXIII sacrificed his ally to his foe, and Ladislaus did the same. The double ingratitude and treachery were endorsed bj' the public recognition of the legitimacy of the pontiff on the p.art of Ladislaus, who ascribed his new and more correct ap- prehensions to the instruction of the Father of light. Gregory was forced to flee to Rimini, and at an inter- view between Ladislaus and the pope, the latter received from the former marks of profound homage.
To this hoUow compromise mutual distrust succeeded. The pope sought to recover his old allies. He excul- pated himself to Louis, and again denounced the king of Naples. The latter responded by hostile demonstra- tions. The council which the pope had meanwhile convoked at Rome was considered by him as depending on the appf)intment and authority of that of Pisa, and, as hostile to his interests, he hoped to disperse it. The prospect of gaining some advantage over his old foe, Sigismund of Hungary, now elected emperor, was also kept in view. Gathering his forces, he approached Rome. The faithlessness and feebleness of the papal forces facilitated its capture. The pope and cardinals fled. From place to place they wandered, yet even Florence dared not entertain them from fear of the vengeance of Ladislaus. John XXIII besought help of v.— N
Sigismimd, which was finally granted on the stipulation that the pope should immediately convoke a General Council See John XXIII.