The Conciliar Movement led to the convening of several important church councils, including the Council of Pisa (1409), the Council of Constance (1414-1418), and the Council of Basel (1431-1449). These councils passed a number of decrees that limited the power of the pope, including the decree Frequens (1417), which required that general councils be held regularly.
The Conciliar Movement was ultimately defeated by the papacy, which was able to reassert its authority by the end of the 15th century. However, the movement left a lasting legacy in the form of the conciliarist theory, which held that general councils were superior to the pope in matters of faith and morals. The conciliarist theory would continue to be debated within the Catholic Church for centuries to come.
Here are some specific examples of the significance of the Conciliar Movement:
- The Conciliar Movement led to the development of the conciliarist theory, which challenged the traditional understanding of papal supremacy.
- The Conciliar Movement helped to end the Great Schism, which had divided the Catholic Church for nearly 40 years.
- The Conciliar Movement paved the way for the Protestant Reformation, which would break out in the early 16th century.
- The Conciliar Movement had a lasting influence on the way in which the Catholic Church was governed, leading to increased participation by bishops and other clergy in church decision-making.
- The Conciliar Movement helped to shape the development of modern international law and diplomacy, as it was one of the first examples of a large-scale international negotiation between representatives of different states.