10.1 The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism

The Avignon Papacy and Great Schism shook the Catholic Church's power in the Late Middle Ages. Moving the papal court to France and having multiple popes competing for authority exposed the Church's vulnerability to political manipulation.

These events weakened the Church's unity and sparked calls for reform. The resulting power struggles between popes, monarchs, and reformers set the stage for major religious and political changes in Europe.

The Avignon Papacy

Relocation and Political Influence

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• The Avignon Papacy, also known as the Babylonian Captivity, refers to the period from 1309 to 1377 when the papal court was moved from Rome to Avignon, France
• The relocation was primarily due to the political instability in Rome and the influence of the French King Philip IV over Pope Clement V
• During this period, the papacy became increasingly dependent on the French monarchy for protection and financial support, leading to a perception of the papacy as a tool of French political interests
• The perceived subordination of the papacy to French interests during the Avignon period undermined the Church's claim to universal authority and fueled anti-papal sentiment in other parts of Europe (England, Holy Roman Empire)

Centralization of Papal Authority and Consequences

• The Avignon Papacy resulted in a centralization of papal authority and a significant increase in the wealth and power of the papal court through the collection of taxes and the sale of indulgences
• The absence of the papacy from Rome led to a decline in the city's prestige and a deterioration of its infrastructure and religious institutions
• The Avignon Papacy contributed to the growing discontent with the Church's leadership and calls for reform, setting the stage for future religious and political upheavals
• The relocation exposed the deep-seated political rivalries among European monarchs and their willingness to exploit religious divisions for their own gain

The Great Schism

Competing Papal Claimants

• The Great Schism, also known as the Western Schism, was a period from 1378 to 1417 when the Catholic Church was divided between two, and later three, competing papal claimants
• The schism began with the election of Urban VI in Rome and the subsequent election of Clement VII in Avignon, as a result of disputes over the validity of Urban VI's election and his policies
• The division of the Church was exacerbated by political rivalries among European monarchs, who supported different papal claimants based on their own interests (France supported Avignon popes, while England and the Holy Roman Empire supported Roman popes)

Undermining Church Authority and Unity

• The existence of multiple popes undermined the Church's unity and authority, as each claimant excommunicated the others and their supporters
• The schism led to widespread confusion and uncertainty among the clergy and the laity, as they were forced to choose between competing claims to papal legitimacy
• The Great Schism weakened the Church's ability to respond to the challenges posed by the rise of national monarchies and the spread of heretical movements (Lollardy, Hussitism)
• The prolonged crisis of papal authority weakened the Church's ability to provide spiritual leadership and maintain its influence over secular affairs

Resolving the Great Schism

Attempts at Resolution

• The Church and secular leaders made several attempts to resolve the Great Schism, including negotiations, church councils, and the abdication or deposition of rival popes
• The Council of Pisa (1409) attempted to resolve the schism by deposing both existing popes and electing a new one, but this only resulted in a third papal claimant and further confusion
• The Council of Constance (1414-1418) was called to address the schism and other issues facing the Church. It secured the abdication or deposition of all three papal claimants and elected Pope Martin V, effectively ending the schism

Conciliarism and Its Limitations

• The Council of Constance also asserted the authority of church councils over the pope, a principle known as conciliarism, which aimed to prevent future schisms and limit papal power
• However, the conciliar movement ultimately failed to establish a lasting system of Church governance, as subsequent popes reasserted their authority and resisted the implementation of conciliar decrees
• While the Great Schism was resolved, the underlying issues of papal authority and the need for Church reform persisted, contributing to the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century

Impact of the Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism

Political and Religious Consequences

• The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism had far-reaching consequences for the political and religious landscape of Europe
• The schism exposed the deep-seated political rivalries among European monarchs and their willingness to exploit religious divisions for their own gain
• The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism contributed to the rise of national churches and the growth of secular power, as monarchs sought to assert greater control over religious affairs within their territories (Gallicanism in France, Statute of Praemunire in England)

Intellectual and Religious Ferment

• The experience of the schism and the conciliar movement fostered a climate of intellectual and religious ferment, as scholars and reformers questioned traditional sources of authority and called for renewal within the Church
• The resolution of the schism at the Council of Constance set important precedents for the role of church councils and the relationship between the papacy and secular authorities, which would shape the course of European history in the centuries to come
• The Avignon Papacy and the Great Schism contributed to the growing criticism of the Church's wealth, corruption, and lack of spiritual leadership, which would fuel the calls for reform during the Renaissance and the Protestant Reformation