What was so important about the Avignon Papacy in the Middle Ages of Europe?

Answer 1

To answer this question I am going to start at the pinnacle of the Medieval papacy. All western church government centralized in the papacy during the middle ages. After 604 and before 1073 several factors contributed to the Pope's growing power. The Roman bishops became skilledpoliticians and they balanced Italy's secular rulers against each other through strategic alliances. Feudalism also represented a strong hierarchical concept. The chain of command descended from the Holy Roman Emperor to serfs. The Catholic organization saw the power descend from the Pope to the lowliest communicant. The Roman Bishop appeared to be neutral western power and became the arbitrator in numerous differences The popes also extended political control over a widening area and they made use of Pseudo-Isidorian Decretals and other documents. Between 604-1073, Nicholas I was the most powerful Pope. He used the Decretals to establish increased papal power and disposed bishops. Gregory VII ( or Hildebrand) showed great strength when he forced Henry IV to kneel before him as an ex communicant begging forgiveness. Others followed, but none so significant as Innocent III ( 1160-1216) Innocent from a noble Roman family had legal and theological education. He became Pope in 1198 and from the start set out to build a strong papal state in Italy free from interference by secular rulers. He maintained the right of jurisdiction over kings and princes as well as all church offices. He said that no King can rule unless he submits to the Pope. The fourth Lateran Council in 1215 marked the rein of Innocent. This council stated such Catholic doctrines as transubstantiation, formalized canons that made divorce more difficult and ordered bishops to inspect churches to assure the support of certain schools. The council instructed the laity to respect church property, obey ecclesiastical courts and observe marriage rules. Innocent died after sitting in Peter's chair for 19 years. After his death of papacy began to decline. It began with Boniface (1294-1303) called the last of the medieval popes. He tried to rule the Kings like Innocent, but that Europe no longer existed. Regions had developed a national identity and Popes no longer had total domination. Instead people began to become loyal to rulers. From the start Boniface had problems with France's Philip the Fair and England's Edward I. Both kings levied taxes on the clergy and Boniface promised excommunication to rulers who tax without his approval. Philip immediately retaliated forbidding the exportation of silver and gold and cut all papal revenues from France. King Edward refused to protect clergyman summoned to Rome and that made travel impossible. To make matters worse Philip arrested Bernard the Bishop of Pamiers and a papal legate on a charge of treason in 1301. When Bernard was convicted Boniface stated that the state could not judge clerics, but Philip had enough support to reject papal demands. On December 5, 1301 Boniface issued Ausculta fili in which he argued the church's superiority over the state. France and England ignored it. On November 18, 1302 the Pope issued Uman Sanctum as the day he would depose Philip and place France under interdict. The French Parliament declared the Pope without authority in civil matters and the King responsible to none but God. Philip grew tired of Boniface and sent men to Italy in 1303 to capture him. He was held prisoner in Anagni for three days and then the towns people rescued him. Philip's men had beaten and treated Boniface shamefully and he died within a month. Benedict IX (1303-1304) followed Boniface, but he was poisoned after 9 months as pope. Clement V (1305-1314) was selected and was a friend of the French King. He agreed to be crowned in France and political considerations kept him in France. He ultimately moved the entire papal court to the city of Avignon. The papacy reminded there for almost 70 years. The French dominated the church during the whole Avignon period. All seven popes during the period were French . As the popes resided at Avignon Rome stagnated. The population dwindled, buildings fell apart, and conditions got very bad. Romans called for the pope's return as early as 1305, but Italian politics interfered. In 1365 Pope Urban V (1362-1370) prepared to return , but 3 years later he returned to Avignon in September, got sick in November and died in December. Gregory XI (1370-1378) became pope and committed himself to return to Rome, but he didn't return until 1377. With the return to Rome the Avignon period ended. Gregory died in March 1378. Since he died in Rome the Cardinals could select the new pope in Rome. Most of the Cardinals were French and wanted the papal court to return to Avignon, but since it had been 75 years since a papal election was held in Rome the Romans were determined to see the Pope remain and an Italian elected. Urban VI was elected Pope 1378-1389. Urban hated French domination and spent his early church service becoming suspicious of everyone. Rather than seek good relationships with the French Cardinals he accused them of greed, immorality, simony, or neglect of office. Things grew so bad that the French Cardinals left Rome and reassembled in Anagni. They declared Urban's election invalid and the chair empty. They appointed a Frenchman Clement VII as Pope and returned to Avignon with their new "pope". Urban dismissed all French Cardinals and replaced them with Italians. Europe began to chose sides. Poland, Hungary, Germany, England, Italy and the Scandinavian countries sided with Rome. France, Scotland, Spain, southern Italy sided with Avignon. This lasted 40 years and caused a great deal of confusion in Europe. Today the Catholic Church recognizes Urban VI as the true pope and Clement VII as an anti- Pope.