Antipope Clement VII


Clement VII
Count of Geneva
Interview between the duke of Anjou and pope Clement VII (seated) at Avignon, from Froissart's Chronicles.[1]
Elected20 September 1378
Papacy began20 September 1378?
Papacy ended16 September 1394
Predecessor
Successor
Opposed toRoman claimants:
Other post(s)
Orders
Created cardinal30 May 1371
by Pope Gregory XI
Personal details
Born
Robert of Geneva

1342 (1342)
Died16 September 1394 (1394-09-17) (aged 52)
Avignon, Papal States
Coat of armsClement VII's coat of arms
Other popes and antipopes named Clement

Robert of Geneva (French: Robert de Genève; 1342 – 16 September 1394) was elected to the papacy as Clement VII (French: Clément VII) by the cardinals who opposed Pope Urban VI and was the first antipope residing in Avignon, France. His election led to the Western Schism.

The son of Amadeus III, Count of Geneva, Robert became Archbishop of Cambrai and was made a cardinal in 1371. As legate, during the War of the Eight Saints, he is said to have authorized the massacre of over 2,000 civilians at Cesena in 1377. He was elected pope the following year by the cardinals who opposed Urban VI and established himself at Avignon.

  1. ^ BNF ms français 2664, fol. 10v (15th century)