Antipope -

: This was the most famous era for antipopes (1378–1417), during which the church was split between rival popes in Rome and Avignon, France. At one point, there were even three simultaneous claimants. Why They Arose Antipopes typically came to power for one of three reasons:

While the era of major antipopes ended in the 15th century, the term still appears in contemporary contexts: antipope

: The term is also found in literature, such as Robert Rankin’s fantasy novel The Antipope . : This was the most famous era for

The history of antipopes spans over a millennium, from the early church to the mid-15th century. The history of antipopes spans over a millennium,

: Small traditionalist groups occasionally elect their own "popes" (such as the late Pope Michael ), though they lack the significant following or political recognition of historical antipopes.