Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna)

Italian Antipope

1328 - Benedict XIII, born Pedro Martínez de Luna at Illueca, Aragon (part of modern Spain).

Studied law at the University of Montpellier, where he obtained his doctorate and later taught Canon law.

1375 - Appointed de Luna to the position of Cardinal Deacon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin on 30th of December.

1377 - Returned to Rome with Pope Gregory, who had been persuaded to leave his papal base at Avignon by Catherine of Siena.

      - de Luna was unanimously elected by a conclave of twenty-four cardinals at Avignon on 28th of September.

1396 - Benedict sent Sanchez Muñoz, one of the most loyal members of the Avignon curia, as an envoy to the

Bishop of Valencia.

1398 - The French church withdrew their allegiance from the Avignon papacy.

Benedict was abandoned by seventeen of his cardinals.

1403 - Benedict managed to escape from Avignon on 12th of March and seek shelter in territory belonging to

Louis II of Anjou.

1408-1417 - Benedict lived in Perpignan from now fled to the castle at Peñiscola near Valencia in Spain.

The day before his death, Benedict appointed four cardinals of proven loyalty to ensure the succession of

another pope.

1423 - Benedict remained at Peñiscola until his death there on 23rd of May.