Peter was born near modern
Neapoli in
Crete, then subject to the
Republic of Venice, in 1339. Born into a Greek family, he was baptised Pietro Filargo, but is often known as
Pietro di Candia and
Peter Philarges. Italian Franciscans raised him after being orphaned in his youth. Peter entered the
Franciscan order, and his abilities were such that he was sent to study at a Franciscan convent in Norwich and later at the Universities of
Oxford and
Paris. While he was in Paris the
Western Schism occurred. Peter supported
Pope Urban VI (1378–89). He became an adviser to Giangaleazzo Visconti, the Duke of Milan, and for almost ten years, Peter was prime minister to Galeatus and his son. He returned to
Lombardy, where, thanks to the favour of
Giangaleazzo Visconti, Peter became bishop, first of
Piacenza (1386), then of
Vicenza (1387), then of
Novara (1389), and finally
Archbishop of Milan (1402).
Pope Innocent VII (1404–1406) elevated him as
cardinal in 1405.
Papal election At the Council of Pisa (from 25 March 1409), the assembled cardinals elected Peter to the Supreme Pontificate, which they had declared vacant. He was also crowned on 26 June 1409 as
Alexander V, rendering him the third rival claimant to the Papal office. Following his election, most polities in Europe recognised him as the true Pope, except the Kingdoms of
Aragon and
Scotland, which remained loyal to the Avignon claimant, and some Italian states, which recognized the Roman Pope. During his reign of 10 months, Alexander's object was to extend obedience to him with the assistance of France and, notably,
Duke Louis II of Anjou, upon whom he conferred the
investiture of the
Kingdom of Sicily, having deprived
Ladislaus of Naples of it. He proclaimed and promised rather than effected many reforms: abandonment of the rights of "spoils" and "procurations", and the re-establishment of the system of
canonical election in the cathedral churches and principal monasteries. He also generously granted Papal favours, from which the
mendicant orders benefitted especially. Alexander suddenly died while he was with Cardinal Baldassare Cossa in
Bologna on the night of 3–4 May 1410. His remains were placed in the
Church of St. Francis in Bologna. A rumour, though now considered false, spread that Cardinal Cossa, who succeeded him as
Antipope John XXIII (1410–5), poisoned him. ==Legacy==