Sánchez Muñoz, Egidio, Antipope

SÁNCHEZ MUÑOZ, EGIDIO, ANTIPOPE. - Of a noble Spanish family, bachelor of canon law at Barcelona and provost of Valencia, he was elected pope at Peñíscola upon the death of Benedetto XIII, at the instigation of Alfonso V, on 10 June 1423, taking the name Clemente VIII.
Supported by Alfonso, in whose hands he was an excellent instrument against Martino V, he resided for some time in the castle of Peñíscola. But when Alfonso, compelled by the energetic measures of Martino V, decided to abandon the schism, S. was invited to resign, which he willingly did on 26 July 1429 before the small court, urging his cardinals to elect Ottone Colonna. On 14 Aug. S. went to San Mateo, where he promised obedience to the papal legate Pietro De Foix, who absolved him from the censures and reconciled him with the Church. He was subsequently elected bishop of Maiorca, where he died miserably on 28 Dec. 1446.