promise that he will continue Emeric's launched measures, including the support of John's candidacy. He urged the pope to transfer John "without delay". By that time, on 22 November 1204, Pope Innocent III ordered both sides to send their representatives to Rome to deadline of 7 February 1205. The pope was infuriated by the fact that John had celebrated the coronation of Ladislaus III, violating the privileges of Esztergom (which also strengthened the arguments of the canons' representatives). Innocent postponed the decision to February 1205 and encouraged the parties to conclude a compromise, thus the pope refused to confirm John's nomination for the time being. Upon hearing of the pope's decision, some members of the Cathedral Chapter of Esztergom gathered and withdrew their support from John, who also lost his strongest promoter, King Emeric. Around December 1204 or January 1205, they elected Kalán Bár-Kalán for the position of Archbishop of Esztergom. His candidacy was also supported by Duke Andrew, but the majority of the canons and the suffragan bishops (excepting John of Nyitra) did not recognize the legitimacy of the election. Andrew sent a letter around February 1205 to Innocent to request the confirmation of Kalán, who was considered Andrew's loyal partisan during his struggles against the late Emeric. Formerly Kalán had numerous scandals; for instance, he was accused of incestuous relationship with his niece, but the investigation conducted by his six fellow bishops cleared him. Nevertheless, Innocent refused to confirm Kalán's election, because of shortcomings in the election process. In his letter to the chapter (22 June 1205), Innocent ordered the canons to elect or unanimously nominate their archbishop within a month, and obtain the support of the suffragan bishops too, "if it is required" in Hungary. If they fail to do it, the pope himself will appoint an archbishop to administer the province, as the letter wrote. In June 1205 (before receiving the pope's order), the chapter summoned and nominated John as archbishop again, in accordance with the 22 November 1204 instructions. Three suffragan bishops, Boleslaus, Kalanda and Peter, Bishop-elect of Győr expressed to support John without reservations, while John of Nyitra was forced to write a letter to Innocent, in which he stated that he will withdraw his support from Kalán if the pope does not accept his protegee's nomination. Among the prelates, only Kalán contested the outcome of the election, even Andrew (now as king) acquiesced