The Great SchismThe Great Schism

The PlayersThe PlayersPope Boniface VIIIPope Clement VPope Gregory XI

The FactsThe Facts1378-1417Papal court based in RomeStruggle between Pope Boniface

VIII & King Philip IV of France◦Philip claimed right to tax clergy◦Boniface claimed clergy could not

pay taxes to ruler without pope’s consent

◦Philip disagreed and sent troops to Italy to bring Pope to trial in France

Avignon ChurchAvignon ChurchPhilip IV engineered election of

French pope, Clement V in 1305New pope took up residence in

Avignon, FrancePopes resided in Avignon from

1305-1377

Harsh FeelingsHarsh FeelingsPopes and clergy living lavishlyProviding few public servicesFailed to do job during Black

Plague

Return to RomeReturn to RomePope Gregory XI returned to

Rome in 1377◦Died soon after return

Citizens of Rome warned cardinals would not leave Rome alive unless Italian elected pope

Cardinals elected Pope Urban VI (an Italian)

More unrestMore unrestFive months later, French

cardinals declared election invalid

Chose Frenchman as pope◦Returned to Avignon

Pope Urban VI remained in Rome◦Now 2 popes!

Europe DividedEurope DividedSupport of different popes

divided EuropeFrance & allies supported pope in

AvignonEngland & allies supported pope

in RomeEach claimed the other pope was

the Antichrist

Schism comes to an end…Schism comes to an end…Church council met at Constance,

SwitzerlandEnded Schism in 1417Popes resigned or deposedNew pope elected

Need for ChangeNeed for ChangeStruggle within church brought to

light need for changeToo much corruption amongst

clergy Papacy had too much power

Question…Question…What problems led to the decline of

the Church’s authority in medieval Europe?◦Write 5 sentence paragraph to answer

question. Write answer on paper provided for you

Use information we discussed today AND information covered in previous lessons on the Middle Ages