318. The "Babylo CHAPTER XV THE CHURCH IN THE FOURTEENTH AND FIFTEENTH A. THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY AND GREAT SCHISM THE fourteenth and fifteenth centuries saw a great decline in the power and influence of the Popes. The chief events in church history in this period were: (1) a seventy years' "Babylonian Captivity" of the papacy to France; nian Captiv- (2) a schism which divided the nations of western Europe in their church allegiance for forty years; and (3) a series of great church councils, which sought to wrest power from the hands of the Pope and to remedy a number of church abuses. ity" 1377) (1305 The "Babylonian Captivity" was a result of the triumph of Philip IV of France over Pope Boniface VIII (§§ 263, 264). It lasted from 1305 to 1377, during most of which time the Popes resided at Avignon on the river Rhone. The fact that all of the Popes and most of the cardinals during this period were Frenchmen, and under the influence of the French king, inevitably injured the papacy in other countries. When England entered upon its long war with France, it treated the papacy as a French ally. It refused the tribute which John had agreed to pay, and also passed statutes forbidding papal appointments to English benefices (Statute of Provi'sors) and appeals to papal courts (Statute of Praemuni're). 1 The first four years of the Babylonian Captivity were spent in various parts of France. In 1309 the papacy fixed its seat at Avignon. This city was not then included within the limits of France, but was a fief of the Empire. It was held in 1309 by the son of that French prince, Charles of Anjou, who had secured the throne of Sicily (§ 137). Avignon was purchased by the papacy in 1348. It was not formally annexed to France until 1791. In Germany a similar conflict with the papacy arose. The resistance there was notable on account of the appearance of certain writings (by Marsiglio of Padua) which contained the ideas of the sovereignty of the people, and the right of nations to govern themselves in both church and state affairs. Later these ideas were to prove fruitful of momentous changes; at the time, however, the papacy was able to triumph over the opposition in Germany and to a less degree in England also. But the outcry against the Pope's residence at Avignon still continued. There was also great danger that the long absence Built 1336-1364. One of the best specimens of medieval military architecture of the Popes from Italy would result in a loss of the Papal States, through municipal revolts and the seizure of territory by Italian tyrants. In 1377, therefore, the Pope returned to Rome, where he died the following year. In the election which followed, the Roman mob demanded "a Roman Pope, or at least an Italian!" The majority 319. The of the cardinals were French, but their own dissensions Schism and the fear of mob violence led them to choose a Nea- (1378-1417) Great politan, Urban VI. Within a few months, Urban's rough violence and obstinacy led the cardinals to repent of their choice; and on the ground of mob intimidation, they then tried to set aside this election. They chose in place of Urban a cardinal who took the name of Clement VII, and who set up his court at the former papal residence in Avignon. A schism in the church was thus produced which lasted for forty years. "All our West land," wrote the Englishman Wyclif, "is with that one Pope or that other, and he that is with that one, hateth the other with all his. Some men say that here is the Pope in Arnold, 401-402 Erected 1063-1350. The meetings of the council were held in the cathedral Avignon, for he was well chosen; and some say that he is yonder at Rome, for he was first chosen." France and the Spanish kingdoms supported the Avignon Popes; Germany, England, and Scandinavia adhered to Urban VI and his successors. But earnest men everywhere were shocked at the spectacle of two rival Popes, each claiming to be the representative of God on earth, and each denouncing the other as antichrist. B. THE GREAT CHURCH COUNCILS The failure of the Popes themselves to find a way to heal the schism produced a revival of the idea of action through a val of representative council of the whole western church (§ 93). But according to the canon law, only a Pope could summon a general council. The cardinals of the two Popes, however, 320. Revisolved that difficulty by abandoning both Popes and church uniting in the call for a council, which met at Pisa in councils 1409. This body declared both Popes deposed, and elected a new one who took the name of Alexander V. cil of Con stance Instead of ending the schism this course only added a third claimant to the papacy, for neither of the old Popes recognized the act of deposition. On the death of Alex- 321. Counander V the cardinals chose as his successor John XXIII, a man of infamous life, but one who seemed to them to have (1414) the needed political vigor to make good his position. In 1413 the capture of Rome by the king of Naples forced Pope John to appeal for aid to the Emperor Sigismund. The latter then demanded, as the price of his assistance, the summoning of a council on German soil, so as to be free from the Pope's control. The result was the important Council of Constance summoned by Pope John to meet on the borders of Switzerland, where it sat from November, 1414, to April, 1418. With the Papacy, The Council of Constance was one of the most imposing assemblages of the Middle Ages. "Princes and prelates, nobles and theologians, from every court and every nation Creighton, of Europe" flocked to the little Alpine lake town. History of them came throngs of attendants, sightseers, and ad- I, 132-134 venturers of every sort. The number of strangers present during the council varied from 50,000 to 100,000. An enumeration of its members will show something of the pomp, magnificence, and importance of this assembly. The number of prelates (i.e. higher clergy) was: 29 cardinals, 3 patriarchs, 33 archbishops, about 150 bishops, and 100 abbots. In addition there were present 50 provosts (representatives of cathedral chapters), 300 doctors of theology, and 1800 priests. More than 100 dukes and earls, and 2400 knights, are also recorded as attending, together with 116 representatives of cities. All the states of Europe recognized this assembly, and it was thus enabled to succeed where the Council of Pisa. had failed. It asserted its authority in the most far-reaching terms. It declared that it had power "immediately from Christ," and that all men, "of every rank and dignity, even the Pope," were bound to obey it "in matters pertaining to (1) the faith, (2) the extirpation of the present schism, and (3) the general reformation of the church of God in head and members." 322. John as a heretic In carrying out this threefold program, the council condemned the heresies of Wyclif, and burned at the stake John Hus and Jerome of Prague, who had started a movement Hus burned in Bohemia similar to that of Wyclif in England. Hus had come voluntarily to Constance under a safe-conduct from the Emperor Sigismund; but the violation of this was excused on the plea that faith should not be kept with those who are unfaithful to God. It is said that, as Hus was being degraded and the paper cap of the condemned heretic was placed upon his head, he looked fixedly at Sigismund, who blushed with shame. Both Hus and Jerome of Prague met their deaths with heroic constancy. The action of the council, instead of stamping out heresy in Bohemia, kindled a religious war there, in which the Hussites not merely long maintained themselves, but carried destruction into the heart of Germany. 323. The Great Schism ended In healing the schism the council was more successful than in dealing with heresy. The Pope who represented the line of Urban VI sent envoys from his refuge in northern Italy to offer his abdication. The successor to Clement VII was deposed and left without a following. John XXIII, who had opened the council as its president, was confronted by a long list of charges against his character and life; and after ineffectual efforts to avoid his fate, he submitted to deposition as "unworthy, useless, and harmful." Representatives from the five "nations" into which the council was divided were then added to the cardinals, and the united body chose as Pope a Roman cardinal who took the name of Martin V. All western Christendom recognized him, and the schism thus came to an end (1417). |