Conrad of Gelnhausen was a German theologian and canon lawyer, and one of the founders of the conciliar movement of the late fourteenth century.

Details of his life are sketchy. He was baccalaureus at the University of Paris

University of Paris

The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...

 in 1344. For the two decades after than he can be tracked by prebends he is known to have had, in various places in Germany. He turned towards the law later in his career.

His influence was through writings from around 1380, after the Western Schism

Western Schism

The Western Schism or Papal Schism was a split within the Catholic Church from 1378 to 1417. Two men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope. Driven by politics rather than any theological disagreement, the schism was ended by the Council of Constance . The simultaneous claims to the papal chair...

 of 1378, the Epistola brevis and the Epistola concordiae. These appealed for the calling of an autonomous General Council

General council

General council may refer to:In education:* General Council , an advisory body to each of the ancient universities of Scotland...

 to settle matters. This idea was taken up by others, such as Henry of Langenstein

Henry of Langenstein

Henry of Langenstein, also known as Henry of Hesse the Elder was a German Scholastic philosopher, theologian and mathematician.-Biography:...

.