Pope Innocent VII

Innocent VII, born Cosimo de' Migliorati (Sulmona, around 1336 - Rome, November 6, 1406), was the 204th Pope of the Catholic Church (1404-1406) during the Western Schism. Endowed with deep knowledge in civil and canon law, he taught at the universities of Perugia and Padua. After serving as Archbishop of Ravenna and Bologna, he was created cardinal by Pope Boniface IX. Elected pope in 1404, he attempted to heal the schism with Avignon, but disturbances in Rome delayed his plans.

During his pontificate, Innocent appointed his nephew, Lodovico Migliorati, as captain of the militias, sparking conflicts with the opposing Roman faction. A revolt forced the Pope and his court to flee to Viterbo. The nephew orchestrated an ambush in 1405, killing representatives of the opposing faction and triggering a revolt. After fleeing to Viterbo, the intervention of Ladislaus of Naples restored order in Rome.

The death of Innocent VII in 1406 ended his attempt to restore the Roman university, and his figure is overshadowed by controversies and disturbances during his brief pontificate.