Great schism pope urban vi biography

Click to enlarge

Urban VI, POPE (BARTOLOMEO PRIGNANO), the first Weighty pope during the Western Schism, gauche. at Naples, about 1318; d. guard Rome, October 15, 1389; according nod many he was poisoned by loftiness Romans. At an early age fiasco went to Avignon, where he gained many powerful friends. On March 21, 1364, he was consecrated Archbishop shambles Acerenza in the Kingdom of Napoli, and on April 14, 1377, Hildebrand XI transferred him to the bishop See of Bari, on the littoral of the Adriatic. Meanwhile the CardinalVice-Chancellor, Peter of Pampelona, remaining at Avignon, Prignano was given the management register the papal chancery. After the sortout of Gregory XI the Conclave projected him as a candidate for grandeur tiara. Not only his business facility, integrity, and knowledge of law, on the other hand also his being a subject take Queen Joanna of Naples favored climax eligibility. The Conclave of 1378, which opened on April 7 (nine era after Gregory’s death), was influenced indifference the public opinion of Rome; array consisted of four Italian cardinals, fivesome French, and seven belonging to loftiness Limoges faction. The Italian and Gallic cardinals, though anxious to push evolve their own candidates, unanimously determined break down oppose one of the Limoges aggregation. The latter were not strong inadequate to advance a candidate, but they hoped to make an alliance narrow the less important parties and positive attain their end. Their plan, banish, was frustrated, the French and character Italians having previously resolved to prefer a prelate outside the Sacred Institution. Robert of Geneva (one of grandeur French cardinals) even resigned his state in favor of Prignano, and Pedro de Luna (Robert’s successor in illustriousness See of Avignon) did the aforementioned. In this way Prignano’s chances add-on considerably. An Italian, though not practised Roman, he was supported by glory rivalry of the parties. Perhaps position French and Italian cardinals expected divagate, not being a cardinal, he would be an obedient pope, and weekly this reason some of the Limoges party, uneasy about the coalition halfway the French and the Italian cardinals, were drawn to this candidature.

This conclave was one of the unrefracted in history. When the cardinals entered the Vatican some of the crew stole into the palace and exhausted to extort the promise that almighty Italian pope would be chosen. Indispensable d’Aigrefeuille declared that the cardinals could not make any such concessions, on the contrary the disappointed people remained in nobleness Vatican the whole night, drinking probity wine and crying: “Romano lo volemo, o al manco Italiano.” The following morning, while the cardinals were mistakenness Mass, the tocsin was rung, pointer suddenly the bells of St. Cock mingled their tones with it. Horror and disorder overtook the cardinals; blue blood the gentry guardian of the conclave besought them to hasten, saying that the pass around wanted a Roman or an European, and that resistance would be rickety. Then Pedro de Luna (Benedict XIII) proposed the election of the Archbishop of Bari, adding that he was, as they all knew, a blest, learned man, of mature age. That proposal obtained the desired effect. Tail end some hesitation, the cardinals, excepting Orsini (who declared himself not sufficiently free), agreed to accept Prignano, but higher to keep their choice secret certain that the latter would turn your back on. Prignano was requested to repair play-act the Vatican accompanied by several additional prelates, so as to conceal get round the people the person chosen. Picture uproar did not abate, and birth cardinals began to fear that their choice would not satisfy the group. During a comparative calm they went to breakfast and renewed the vote of Prignano. The lawfulness and redone choice thus having been established, Orsini announced the election of a bishop of rome to the people, omitting to declare the name. Various suppositions soon ran through the crowds, some saying go off at a tangent the chosen one was Tebaldeschi (an aged Italian cardinal) and others ramble Jean de Bar (one of authority most detested servants of Gregory) was elected. The confusion increased. Suddenly decency cardinals took a desperate resolution. They presented Tebaldeschi, in the papal dress, to the people and commenced excellence “Te Deum“, paying no attention hype his refusal and protests. Meanwhile, Prignano had reached the Vatican and self-confessed alleged that he accepted the papal arrogance and the homage of all goodness cardinals. One fact seems evident: influence moment the cardinals regarded the alternative of Prignano as valid, they composed all doubt by a reelection dispatch honored him as the rightful peer of St. Peter.

It is fifty pence piece be regretted that after his poll Prignano did not show the fine qualities which had distinguished him at one time. Soon he quarrelled with the Divine College. Desirous of reforming the Religion in head and members, he began aright by a reform of class Curia, though perhaps not with magnanimity necessary prudence. It was unwise consign to abuse the cardinals and high dignitaries of the Church and to offend Otto of Brunswick (husband of Joanna of Naples). Nevertheless, public opinion was in the beginning favorable to him, and not only the cardinals adjust Rome, but also the six who remained at Avignon submitted to him. However the tempest, which broke twig at Fondi in September of grandeur same year, was already brewing certified Rome a few weeks after top election. Urban’s ambassadors, doubtless inspired overtake the French and Limousin cardinals, outstanding Rome too late, when the calumnies concerning the illegitimacy of the pope’s election were widespread. The ground acquiring thus been prepared, the opposition was strengthened at Rome; Castel Sant’ Angelo never hoisted Urban’s colors, and birth discontented found there a refuge extremity the protection of armed soldiers. Illustriousness heat of early May afforded goodness dissatisfied cardinals a pretext for desertion Rome for Anagni, but no overwhelm sign of rebellion showed itself, Urban’s opponents preferring, perhaps, to conceal their project for the present. The pope’s suspicions were eventually aroused, and exterior June he requested the three Romance cardinals who had not followed distinction others to join their colleagues existing to try and restore kinder be rude to. The French cardinals renewed their pronouncement of fidelity to the pope, on the contrary assembled the same day to starting point the unlawfulness of the April choice, Moreover they eventually won over high-mindedness Italian members of the Sacred Institute.

Meanwhile, in the name of greatness pope, the aforesaid cardinals proposed cardinal expedients to settle the differences, expert general council or a compromise. Both these means were made use make stronger at the time of the Fairy tale Schism. But the opponents of City resolved on violent measures and confirmed their intentions in a letter prop up the utmost impertinence. On August 2 this letter was followed by rank famous “Declaration”, a document more lively than exact, which assumed at formerly the parts of historian, jurist, tell accuser. Seven days later they in print an encyclical letter, repeating false lecturer injurious accusations against Urban, and fenderbender August 27 left Anagni for Fondi, where they enjoyed the protection end its lord (Urban’s arch-enemy), and were near Joanna of Naples; the dash at first had shown great anxious in Urban, but was soon admonitory by his capricious ways. On Sept 15 the three Italian cardinals husbandly their colleagues, influenced, perhaps, by authority hope of becoming pope themselves, corruptness perhaps frightened by the news delay Urban was about to create xxix cardinals in order to supply nobility vacancies left by the thirteen Sculptor ones. Charles V of France, further and more doubtful of the rightfulness of Urban’s election, encouraged the Fondi faction to choose a rightful vicar of christ and one more agreeable to Writer. A letter from him arrived put the accent on September 18, and hastened a bloodthirsty solution. On September 20 Robert forestall Geneva was chosen pope, and faux pas this day the Western Schism began.

The Italians abstained from the referendum but were convinced of its rule character. Robert assumed the name cue Clement VII. The obediences of dignity two popes assumed definite limits betwixt September, 1378, and June, 1379. Telephone call Western Europe (except England, Ireland, come to rest the English dominions in France) submitted to Clement VII, the greater section of Germany, Flanders, and Italy (with exception of Naples) recognized Urban. Picture obedience of Urban was more abundant, that of Clement more imposing. Void, Urban created twenty-eight cardinals, four uphold whom refused to accept the colourise. It is very difficult to make up one`s mind exactly how far the schism practical to be attributed to Urban’s action. Indisputably the long exile at Avignon was its principal cause, as speedy diminished the credit of the popes and inversely increased the ambition unredeemed the cardinals, who were always endeavor to obtain more influence in nobleness government of the Church. Whatever might have been the causes of that event, it is certain that magnanimity election of Urban was lawful, ditch of Clement un-canonical.

If the cheeriness days of Urban’s pontificate were cut, his whole reign was a pile of misadventures. It is true delay he was successful in reducing Castel Sant’ Angelo and subduing a revolution of the Romans, but these classic the only successes of his control. Naples was soon in turmoil. Queen consort Joanna went over to the Clementines and was deposed by Urban. River of Durazzo took her place. Unquestionable arrested the queen and took period of office of the kingdom, but soon strayed favor with the pope for categorize fulfilling his engagements towards Francesco Prignano (Urban’s unworthy and immoral nephew), grind whose regard Urban is not appearance from nepotism. The pope now went to the south of Italy, surface the advice of his cardinals, was received at Aversa by the striking himself, but imprisoned on the threadbare of his arrival (October 30, 1383). Through his cardinals a compromise was reached, and Urban left Aversa sponsor Nocera. Here he had to remain the most unworthy treatment from Margaret, the wife of Charles. The disorder between Urban and Charles increased abaft the death of the latter’s contrary, Louis of Anjou; the pope, stubborn and intractable, continued in a half-hostile, half-dependent, attitude towards Charles, and actualized fourteen cardinals, only the Neapolitans taking accedence the dignity. He became daily alternative estranged from the older members appeal to the Sacred College. No one acquainted with the ideas current at that time in the Sacred College testament choice wonder that the example of 1378 found imitation. Highly irritated by Urban’s inconsiderate behavior, the Urbanist cardinals future a more practical way of proceeding; they proposed to depose or, force least, arrest him. But their conspiracy was revealed to him, and shock wave of them were imprisoned and their possessions confiscated. Those who did call for confess were tortured, and the Social event and Queen of Naples, being under suspicion as accomplices, were excommunicated. In moment Nocera was besieged by the awkward. Urban courageously defended the place, glimmer or three times a day anathematizing his foes from the ramparts. Provision nearly five months, Nocera was jutting by the Urbanists, Urban escaping memo Barletta, whence a Genoese fleet exultant him and the imprisoned cardinals comprise Genoa. During the voyage the Minister of Aquila, one of the conspirators, was executed, and the cardinals, exception AdamAston, were put to death accessible Genoa, in spite of the engagement of the doge. It may suitably taken for certain that the cardinals had conspired against Urban, with systematic view of deposing him; that they intended to burn him as harangue heretic may be a fantastic rumour. At all events he acted complete unwisely by treating them so in cold blood, for he then alienated faithful nursery school, as is proved by the proclamation of the five cardinals, who remained at Nocera and renounced his accordance.

After King Charles was murdered increase twofold Hungary (February, 1386). Urban again undertook to establish his authority in delay kingdom; he left for Lucca, refused to treat with the dowager-queen Margaret, and declined the proposal of swell general council, which some German princes proposed at the insistence of Lenient VII, though he himself had before proposed the same expedient. He abused the ambassadors and pressed the European king, Wenceslaus, to come to Malady. In August, 1387, he proclaimed a-ok crusade against Clement, and in Sept set out for Perugia, where perform remained till August, 1388, recruiting joe six-pack for a campaign against Naples, which had again fallen into the safe and sound of the Clementines, and the hold of which was very important assistance his own safety. The soldiers, wail receiving their pay, deserted, and Municipal returned to Rome, where his ungovernable temper brought him into difficulties turn this way could only be removed by mainly interdict. It was at Rome, too, that he fixed the interval halfway the jubilees at thirty-three years, decency first of which was to get into celebrated the next year, 1390. However he did not live to initiate it. Urban might have been spiffy tidy up good pope in more peaceful circumstances; but he certainly was unable swap over heal the wounds which the Sanctuary had received during the exile leverage Avignon. If the genius of natty Gregory VII or an Innocent Leash was scarcely able to triumph transmission the ambition of the cardinals, nobility bad conduct of the higher with lower clergy, and the unruliness announcement the laity, these impediments could beg for but shipwreck the inconstant and argumentative Urban.

WILLIAM MULDER