Sigismund, << SIHJ ihs muhnd or SIHG ihs muhnd >> (1368-1437), was Holy Roman emperor from 1410 until his death. He also ruled as king of both Hungary and Bohemia. Sigismund helped end the Great Schism, a dispute in the Roman Catholic Church involving rival popes. See Pope (The troubles of the papacy).
Sigismund was born on Feb. 15, 1368, in Nuremberg, Germany. He was the son of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. Sigismund was crowned king of Hungary in 1387. After he was elected Holy Roman emperor, Sigismund brought about the Council of Constance, a meeting of Catholic leaders. Sigismund was a leading force at the council, which settled the Great Schism in 1417 and elected Martin V as pope (see Martin V).
In 1420, Sigismund was crowned king of Bohemia. However, he was expelled by followers of John Hus, a Bohemian religious reformer who had been condemned to death by the Council of Constance. Sigismund had guaranteed Hus’s safety but later approved his execution (see Hus, John). The Bohemians recognized Sigismund as king in 1436 after the pope accepted their demands on some church matters. Sigismund died on Dec. 9, 1437.
