Antonio Correr (cardinal)
A cardinal and papal nephew whose elevation during the Great Schism reflected the tangled politics of a divided Catholic Church seeking unity.
1359–1445 (age 86)·Roman Catholic cardinal (1359 – 1445)·Birthday: July 15
Biography
Antonio Correr's life was inextricably bound to the most profound crisis of the late medieval church: the Great Western Schism. As a nephew of Pope Gregory XII, his rise was fueled by family loyalty, a common practice of the time, but it placed him at the heart of a historic storm. Created a cardinal in 1408, his tenure began just as his uncle's authority was crumbling under pressure to end the schism. Correr stood by Gregory during the tumultuous negotiations that led to the Council of Constance, a gathering convened to heal the rupture of three rival popes. In a pivotal act, he accompanied his uncle to the council and witnessed Gregory's conditional resignation in 1415, a key step toward resolving the decades-long division. After Gregory's abdication, Correr's career continued under the reunified papacy, serving subsequent popes. His legacy is less about individual deeds and more about his role as a supporting player in a monumental ecclesiastical drama, a man who navigated the perilous transition from a church in pieces to one struggling to mend itself.
#1 When Antonio Was Born
The biggest hits of 1359
Antonio's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1359Born
1364Started school
1372Became a teenager
1375Could drive
1377Could vote
1380Turned 21
1389Turned 30
1399Turned 40
1409Turned 50
1419Turned 60
1429Turned 70
1439Turned 80
1445Died at 86
Key Achievements
- Appointed a cardinal by his uncle, Pope Gregory XII, in 1408 during the Great Western Schism.
- Accompanied Pope Gregory XII to the Council of Constance, which aimed to end the papal schism.
- Served as Cardinal Protopriest, the senior Cardinal-Priest in the College of Cardinals, later in his life.
- Was a member of the Roman Curia for both Gregory XII and the subsequent popes Martin V and Eugene IV.
Did You Know?
He was a member of the prominent Correr family of Venice, which also produced Pope Gregory XII.
He is buried in the Basilica of San Marco in Rome, not in Venice.
Before becoming a cardinal, he served as the Bishop of Bologna for a brief period.
He was one of the cardinals who subscribed to the decree of the Council of Constance that deposed the Avignon antipope Benedict XIII.
“My duty was to end the schism, even if it meant my uncle's abdication.”
