Continues from the
previous post –
Continues
from previous post –
By
the end of the century the relationship is even more intense, but it
has turned sour. In 1296, Boniface VIII, is involved in a struggle
with Philip IV of France about whether the king has the right to tax
and punish clergy in his own realm without the pope's permission.
This struggle for temporal power between church and state prolongs,
in another form, the earlier tussle of the investiture
controversy.
Pope's over indulgence with royalties of Europe began to have other
effects and they turned against the interest of Pope. In
1302, Philip enlists the estates
general
in Paris in support of
his cause. Then, claiming that there were irregularities in the
election of Boniface, he sends an envoy to Italy with instructions to
stir up rebellion against the pope.
Hearing
in 1303 that Boniface is about to issue a police action to
excommunicate his royal master, Philip's envoy (Guillaume de Nogaret)
takes a bold step. He raises a small armed force and surprises
Boniface at his birthplace, Anagni. He arrests the pope and holds him
prisoner for two days. This shows Pope's over indulgence in methods
such as excommunications had turned against him. The prestige of the
papacy is severely dented by this episode, while Philip IV's power
seems enhanced. A few years later he even contrives to destroy the
great order of the Templars
(a
knight of a religious military order established in 1118 to protect
pilgrims and the Holy Sepulcher), forcing a French pope, Clement V,
to comply with his wishes. This was repetition of what had happened
with Henry of Germany, this time it was a French king. Such events
were gradually reducing prestige of this august seat of religion.
Over indulgence in field where Pope is not concerned was proved to be
harmful to Pope's authority dignity.
For
much of the 14th century France appears to have the papacy in its
pocket, almost literally. Clement V is the first of seven French
popes in an unbroken succession spanning seventy-three years, to
1378. From 1309 these Popes are based not in Rome but on French soil,
at Avignon. Clement moves his headquarters to Avignon in 1309 to
prepare for a council which he has called in central France, at
Vienne, to discuss the king of France's charges against the Templars.
The town is friendly, for it belongs to a papal protégé - the
Angevin dynasty of Naples.
When major extensions to the bishop's palace are undertaken, from
1316, it becomes evident that the papal residence in Avignon is to be
a long one. Thus, French born Popes began to shift their quarters
from Italy, Rome, to France. A Pope is generally expected to be above
such attachments but this proved that these Popes were not worth
becoming Popes to represent heritage of Jesus, they were ordinary
businessmen and not key holders of Jesus' authority.
The
popes at Avignon: 1309-1379
In
many ways the move to Avignon has a rational justification. This city
is close to the main power of the time, France, but it is in another
kingdom - that of Naples.
It is also the center of western Europe in a way which Rome could
never be. Lines drawn from Britain to Italy
and from Germany to
Spain would cross close to Avignon.
In addition, this place is much more secure than Rome. Italy is in a state of anarchy, dominated by warring aristocratic families and companies of condottieri. At Avignon the French popes have the opportunity to create an efficient papal bureaucracy. Papal dignity is powerfully expressed in the great palace of the popes, constructed from 1334. There was one other intention in shifting the seat of Pope to Avignon; French Popes wanted to have this seat of Pope to be held by only French persons in future and for that it was obviously convenient to have that seat near France and not far away to Rome in Italy.
Yet
the prestige of the Popes derives from Rome, the Seat
of St Peter.
Moreover, their territorial base, the Papal
States,
is Italian. Moreover, there are hopes at this time that some form of
reconciliation may be possible with the Greek
Orthodox church
of
Constantinople. In terms of both history and geography, Rome rather
than Avignon would be the natural setting for such a desirable
development.
Continues
in the next post –
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