The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · Character
John the Twenty-third
Also known as Pope John XXIII, antipope John XXIII
- Minor
- First seen · Book 1 · Ch. 303
There's something almost theatrical about this papal claimant, as if the sacred vestments cannot quite conceal a nature given to excess and worldly pursuits rather than spiritual contemplation.
- Gender
- male
- Age
- adult
- First appears
- Book 1 · Ch. 303
- Books
- 1
John the Twenty-third emerged as one of the papal pretenders during the Western Schism, when multiple claimants contested the papal throne. Among these various pretenders, he gained particular notoriety for his profligate character, representing the depths to which papal claimants could descend during this period of division.
Description
John the Twenty-third presents himself in the elaborate vestments of papal authority, though his reputation for profligacy suggests these sacred garments rest uneasily upon shoulders more accustomed to worldly indulgence than spiritual discipline.
Story so far
BOOK 1The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire / Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes)
Appearances
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