Question

What was the Avignon Papacy? Why did it occur? Evaluate its importance.

Answer 1

The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1378, during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon, in France, rather than in Rome.[1] This situation arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown.
Following the strife between Boniface VIII and Philip IV of France, and the death of his successor Benedict XI after only eight months in office, a deadlocked conclave finally elected Clement V, a Frenchman, as Pope in 1305. Clement declined to move to Rome, remaining in France, and in 1309 moved his court to the papal enclave at Avignon, where it remained for the next 67 years. This absence from Rome is sometimes referred to as the "Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy".[2][3] A total of seven popes reigned at Avignon; all were French,[4][5] and they increasingly fell under the influence of the French Crown. Finally, on September 13, 1376, Gregory XI abandoned Avignon and moved his court to Rome (arriving on January 17, 1377), officially ending the Avignon Papacy.
Despite this return, in 1378 the breakdown in relations between the cardinals and Gregory's successor, Urban VI, gave rise to the Western Schism. This started a second line of Avignon popes, now regarded as illegitimate. The last Avignon pope, Benedict XIII, lost most of his support in 1398, including that of France; following five years of siege by the French, he fled (March 11, 1403) to Perpignan. The schism ended in 1417 at the Council of Constance after only two popes had reigned in opposition to the Papacy in Rome. [6]

Answer 2

this is copied and pasted from Wikipedia can you please say it in your own words...

Answer 3

Basically, in 1377, Pope Urban VI was elected by the college of cardinals to replace Gregory XI. The French bishops and priests tried to persuade him into moving his residence to Avignon, because previous Popes such as Clement V had ruled from this city.

Urban VI refused, publicly accusing French church officials of corruption through bribery. The relationship between the French clergymen and the Pope dwindled and he quickly lost support among Italian patriarchs as well. In 1378 AD a French catholic council overturned Urban VI's right as Pope and they chose their own, new leader for Christendom, Clement VII.

The only problem was, no one was pious or high enough in rank to remove Urban VI from office officially. So now there were two Popes,one in Avignon and one in Rome. Up until 1417 AD each settlement had their separate Pope. Martin V came into power around this time, where it was agreed by everyone that he was the one and only Pope.

This event is known as the Great Schism. It occured because the French wanted more authority within the Papacy and the ability to intervene with religious affairs.

Answer 4

Ryaan is pretty much spot on. As for the significance of the event, not only was it important for the Great Schism, back then, it was also significant because it severely weakened the Papacy's power when it became a political pawn.

Remember, back then, the Church exercised an extreme amount of direct influence on political power throughout Europe for centuries as it grew. But because of that, it was also seen as a lightning rod for medieval rulers to focus their attentions on in order to further their aims -- often by attempting to force a choice on who would be Pope that was friendly to their interests.

Today, that would be unheard of. But back then, it was business as usual.

Answer 5

Thanks guys! :)