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'''The Council of Florence''' was held in Florence, Italy, during 1438-1439, as a second reunion council to heal the Great Schism between East and West, the first being the Council of Lyons in 1274. The Florentine Council was itself a continuation of the Council of Ferrara, which was itself a continuation of the Council of Basel convoked in 1431 by Pope Martin V.
==The Popes==
*'''Martin V''' – The Pope of the initial phase of planning. He sends delegates to the Emperor demanding that the Council be held in Italia. With threats and bribes he manages to secure the promise of the Emperor to come to Italy with his delegates. A clever and conniving man, Martin realizes that his own future job security requires that the East back him as Pope since His Bishops were already gathering in Basle to depose him.
*'''Eugenius IV''' – Was in attendance at the Council of Florence. He holds all the power, the Greek Emperor forbids his theologians from offending the him. His aging counterpart, the Patriarch Joseph , was failing in health and impotent to defend his place of honor and rights. Eugenius holds helds the purse strings as well and the Greeks are even reliant on him for food, shelter, and transportation.
==The Greek Delegates==
*Bessarion of Nicea – Plays the reluctant second chair to Mark during the initial debates and helps throw the match later after Mark is silenced. For his loyalty to the union the Pope rewards him with the title of Cardinal and gives him lavish gifts.
*'''George Scholarius''', philosopher – Plays a supportive roll in the discussions, is faithful to Orthodoxy. Is later in life made Patrirach by the Moslems and takes the name [[Gennadius Scholarius]].
*'''Joseph, Patriarch of Constantinople''' – Initially strongly opposes the councils localcouncil's locale, which was to have it in Constantinople, but capitulates due to weakness and age. Dies mysterious in June before the documents are to be signed, but manages “supposedly” to make all the necessary concesions concessions to the Pope, as to his authority and dignity in a letter left written two days before the request by the Pope was even made.
"To the other afflictions which the Orthodox delegation suffered in Florence was added the death of the Patriarch Joseph of Constantinople. The Patriarch was found dead in his room.
The Patriarch is buried in the cemetery of a Dominican Church dedicated the Theotokos.
*'''Isidore, Metropolitan of all Russia''' – Arrives late to the council in August, but manages to arrive before the transferal of the council from Ferrara to Florence due to “plague” conditions in the city of FerrerraFerrera. Had made a grand tour of his territories before he went on to Italy. After Mark was silenced Isidore takes a minor roll as second fiddle to Besserion as the two trip over each other trying to sell Orthodoxy out. For his attempts to promote the Latin cause he is made a Cardinal by the Pope and given authority not only over the Russian lands but the Churches and Dioceses of the Former Russian lands. He is sent by the Pope to Constantinople to settle the uproar of Patriarchal elections and to officially declare the union there. Due to the uproar Metrophanes’ election by default causes he is results in his being forced to flee. He then goes to the territory of Russia to announce the Union and receives only slightly better treatment there.
*'''Metrophanes of Cyzicus''' - The future Patriarch of Constantinople, you surely wouldn’t guess by the minor roll he played in the debates, a sell out to the Latins and not even a strong figure he is chosen after literally everyone else refuses. I think they may even have asked the Master of the Bed Chamber mentioned earlier.
==The Latin Debaters==
*'''Nicholas Albergati''' – Took the lead with the Purgatory issue.
*'''Jullian Caesarini''' – Lead Led debate on Filioque at first.
*'''John, Dominican Provincial''' – the strongest of the Latin speakers an O.P. he was highly educated and used scholastic methods and arguments to craft his defense of Latin practice. He later led the discussion without opposition on ezymes and papal authority.
*'''Andrew of Rhodes''' – Minor roll in the early discussions.
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=bTgKBlEJGlsC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Council+of+Florence&lr=&ei=ALq1SKf8HaHOjgGP0YiDAQ#PPP1,M1 ''The History of the Council of Florence''] by Basil Popoff, Aleksandr Vasilýevich Gorski, John Mason Neale. Joseph Masters, 1861.
[[Category: Councils]]
[[Category: Robber Councils]]
