Western Schism

20 September 1378, in Caetani's castle

Twelve non-Italian cardinals assembled at Fondi on 20 September 1378, in the castle of Count Onorato Caetani, and unanimously elected Cardinal Robert of Geneva. Three Italian cardinals were present but refused to vote.

Robert took the name Clement VII. The electors' own letter dates the election to 20 September and says it was solemnly made public to the clergy and people the following day.

The case the twelve were making

The dissident cardinals had repudiated Urban VI's April election as coerced — made under fear and violence — and declared the papal seat vacant. Negotiations with Urban and the Italian cardinals failed, and they proceeded to a new election under Caetani's protection.

They wrote to Charles V of France announcing Clement's election and requesting French protection.

According to a contemporary account discussed by Treccani, Robert of Geneva had entered that April conclave wearing armour beneath his clerical robes, because he feared the Roman crowd.

Two claimants, and a long way still to go

The modern Catholic Church recognises Urban VI and the subsequent Roman line as legitimate, so Robert is conventionally called an antipope. Contemporaries faced a genuine and contested legitimacy problem.

Clement was not crowned until 31 October, and he did not install his curia at Avignon until 20 June 1379. Urban remained in Rome and began reconstructing his own College of Cardinals.

By the next day Christendom had two men claiming the papacy; the familiar map of European allegiances records choices made afterwards, not a roll call taken on 20 September.