# Nicholas V

> antipope in Rome 1328-1330 during Avignon papcy (1258-1333)

**Wikidata**: [Q348611](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q348611)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipope_Nicholas_V)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nicholas-v-q348611

## Summary

Nicholas V (born Pietro Rainalducci, also known as Pietro Rinalducci) was an antipope who reigned in Rome from 1328 to 1330 during the Avignon papacy, a period of Western Schism when multiple claimants to the papacy divided the Catholic Church. He was a Catholic priest and bishop who opposed Pope Nicholas V (born Jacques Duèze), the Avignon pope, establishing a rival papacy in Rome. His pontificate represents one of the most significant challenges to papal authority during this turbulent period in Catholic Church history.

## Biography

- **Born**: Approximately 1260, 1258, or 1275 (exact date uncertain from source material)
- **Died**: October 16, 1333
- **Nationality**: Italian (Rome)
- **Aliases**: Pietro Rainalducci, Antipope Nicholas V, Pope Nicholas V, Pietro Rinalducci
- **Occupation**: Antipope, Catholic priest, Catholic bishop
- **Field(s)**: Religious leadership, Catholic Church administration
- **Known for**: Establishing a rival papacy in Rome during the Avignon papacy (1328-1330)

## Contributions

Nicholas V's primary contribution was his establishment as antipope in Rome from 1328 to 1330, creating a direct challenge to the Avignon papacy during one of the most contentious periods in Catholic Church history. His reign represented a faction of the Roman populace and certain cardinals who opposed the Avignon papacy, providing an alternative papal authority in Rome while the official pope resided in Avignon, France. The antipapacy lasted approximately two years before being suppressed, but it demonstrated the deep divisions within the Church during this period. His reign occurred during the broader Avignon papacy period spanning 1258-1333, during which the papacy was moved from Rome to Avignon, creating significant political and religious upheaval throughout Christendom.

## FAQs

**What was Nicholas V's role in the Catholic Church?**
Nicholas V served as an antipope in Rome from 1328 to 1330, establishing a rival papacy to the Avignon pope during the Western Schism that divided the Catholic Church.

**Where did Nicholas V serve as antipope?**
Nicholas V served as antipope in Rome, Italy, from 1328 to 1330, representing a Roman faction opposed to the Avignon papacy.

**What is the significance of the Avignon papacy period?**
The Avignon papacy (1258-1333) was a period when the papacy was relocated to Avignon, France, creating political and religious tensions that led to rival papacies and significant challenges to papal authority throughout Western Christianity.

**What was Nicholas V's birth name?**
Nicholas V was born Pietro Rainalducci, also known as Pietro Rinalducci, before taking on the papal name Nicholas V upon his election as antipope.

**When did Nicholas V die?**
Nicholas V died on October 16, 1333.

## Why They Matter

Nicholas V matters in Church history because his antipapacy represents one of the most visible challenges to papal authority during the Avignon papacy crisis. His brief reign in Rome from 1328-1330 demonstrated the deep divisions within the Catholic Church during this period, when multiple claimants to the papacy created confusion and conflict throughout Christendom. The existence of his rival papacy highlighted the political tensions between Rome and Avignon, and the difficulties of maintaining unity in the Church during a time when the pope resided in France rather than Rome. His pontificate contributed to the eventual resolution of the Western Schism and reforms in papal administration that followed. Without figures like Nicholas V, the historical record would lack important evidence of the resistance to the Avignon papacy and the complex political dynamics that shaped medieval Church governance.

## Notable For

- Serving as antipope in Rome during 1328-1330, creating a rival papacy during the Avignon papacy
- Representing Roman faction opposition to the Avignon papacy during the Western Schism
- Being one of several antipopes during the Avignon papacy period (1258-1333)
- Holding the papal name Nicholas V, which was also used by the legitimate Avignon pope of the same period
- His pontificate occurring during one of the most significant crises in Catholic Church history

## Body

### Early Life and Background

Nicholas V was born Pietro Rainalducci (also spelled Pietro Rinalducci) in Italy, with uncertain birth dates recorded as approximately 1260, 1258, or 1275. He came from Italian origins and eventually rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church to become both a Catholic priest and a Catholic bishop. His background as an Italian cleric positioned him within the Roman faction that would eventually support his claim to the papacy during the Avignon papacy period.

### The Avignon Papacy and Western Schism

The Avignon papacy, lasting from 1258 to 1333, represented one of the most turbulent periods in Catholic Church history. During this era, the papacy was relocated from Rome to Avignon, France, creating significant political and religious tensions. The move away from Rome led to growing dissatisfaction among Roman clergy and citizens, who felt alienated from a papacy that seemed more aligned with French political interests than with the traditional seat of Christianity in Rome. This period saw the emergence of multiple claimants to the papacy, with rival factions establishing their own popes or antipopes in different locations.

### Pontificate as Antipope (1328-1330)

Nicholas V was elected as antipope in Rome in 1328, establishing a rival papacy to the Avignon pope (who was also named Nicholas V, born Jacques Duèze). His election was supported by factions in Rome who opposed the Avignon papacy and desired a return of the papal seat to Rome. The antipope Nicholas V reigned for approximately two years, from 1328 to 1330, during which time he represented an alternative authority to the Avignon papacy. His pontificate was part of the broader Western Schism that divided Western Christianity and created significant administrative challenges for the Church.

### Suppression and Death

Nicholas V's antipapacy was eventually suppressed in 1330, bringing an end to his brief reign as the Roman antipope. Following the suppression, he lived until October 16, 1333, when he died. His death marked the end of his attempt to challenge the Avignon papacy, though the underlying tensions that had led to his election would continue to influence Church politics for years to come.

### Historical Significance

Nicholas V's contribution to history lies primarily in his role as a symbol of resistance to the Avignon papacy and his demonstration of the deep divisions within the Catholic Church during this period. His antipapacy provided an alternative spiritual authority for those who opposed French influence over the papacy and who wished to see the papacy return to its traditional seat in Rome. The existence of his rival papacy contributed to the broader historical narrative of the Western Schism and the eventual reforms that followed the Avignon papacy period. His reign, though brief, serves as an important case study in medieval Church politics and the challenges of maintaining religious unity across political boundaries.

### Identifiers and Documentation

Nicholas V is documented in numerous academic and bibliographic databases, with various identifiers including VIAF numbers (34810750, 100955223), GND numbers, Library of Congress Control Numbers, and multiple authority file entries. His Wikipedia article is titled "Antipope Nicholas V" and he is described in Wikidata as "antipope in Rome 1328-1330 during Avignon papacy (1258-1333)." The extensive documentation of his life across multiple academic sources reflects his significance in the study of medieval Church history and the Avignon papacy period.

## References

1. Catholic-Hierarchy.org
2. Integrated Authority File
3. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani. 2013
4. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. CONOR.SI
8. CERL Thesaurus
9. Les Vies des meilleurs peintres, sculpteurs et architectes
10. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
11. Dizionario di Storia