SEDE VACANTE 1370

December 19, 1370 —December 30, 1370

Avignon-Papal_bedchamber
The Palace of the Popes, Avignon, Papal Bedchamber

 

Background

From the beginning of his reign Pope Urban had designs for a crusade. His chosen leader, unfortunately, was King John II of France. John had had unfortunate experiences in warfare, and, with a vigorous enemy close at hand, across the Channel, he was not eager to chase after the Turk. In any case, John II returned to captivity in England after the dishonorable escape of his hostage and son, Louis, and died on April 8, 1364. In order to bring peace to Europe so that his crusading project could prosper, Urban also decided to make peace in Italy, by persuading Bernabo Visconti to withdraw from Bologna and other papal territory in exchange for a huge financial subsidy (February 1364). This was despite the fact that Cardinal Gil Albornoz was making headway in northern Italy against the Visconti. It was not a statesmanlike move on the part of the Papacy. But Pope Urban V had finally done what his predecessors for sixty-five years had promised to do: return to Rome. In May of 1366, the Emperor Charles IV had visited Avignon and provided the Pope with many arguments and promises in favor of the project.  He was, of course, eager to get the pope as far away as possible from French domination. Over stiff opposition from the Cardinals and Curia, the Pope departed Avignon on April 30, 1367. Five of the cardinals stayed behind in Avignon; the rest accompanied the Pope ("Prima Vita Urbani V," "Secunda VIta," Baluzius I, 376, 406).

 

New Cardinals

Tomb of Pope Urban V, d. 1370

The Papal Court stopped in Marseille on its way toward Italy. The Pope had restored and fortified the monastery over which he had once been Abbot, St.-Victor de Marseille, and he wished to reconsecrate the buildings. While at Marseille, on May 20, 1367, he created one new cardinal, Guillaume d'Aigrefeuille, "the Younger", OSB, of Limoges, a 27 year-old canon lawyer and Notary, nephew of the Cardinal of Santa Maria trans Tiberim who had been instrumental in the Conclave that had made Urban pope ("Prima Vita," Baluzius I, 376).  On May 20, 1367, the Pope and his retinue departed for Italy. Only four Cardinals remaind behind at Avignon: Raymond de Canilhac, Pierre de Monteruc, Pierre Itier, and Jean de Blandiac. Pierre de Monteruc, the Vice-Chancellor, whom Pope Gregory wanted to accompany the papal suite, claimed illness [Ciampini, De Sanctae Ecclesiae Romanae Vicecancellario, 97-98].  The Pope stopped in Genoa on May 23, where he left behind Cardinal Marco da Viterbo, OFM, with the mission of composing the differences between the Genoese and Bernabo Visconti. On June 1, he was at the port of Pisa. At Corneto he was finally reunited with Cardinal Albornoz. On Saturday, October 16, 1367, the Bishop of Rome finally returned to Rome. He stayed there until the next May 11.

On September 22, 1368, at Montefiascone, Urban V created eight new cardinals.

On June 7, 1370, while still at Montefiascone in Tuscany, the Pope created two new cardinals; Pierre d'Estaing, OSB, of a family of the upper nobility in Rodez; and Pietro Corsini, Bishop of Florence, the son of a papal Auditor, Thomas Corsini.

 

Death of Pope Urban V

On July 26, 1370, Urban wrote to the Romans, that, however pleased he had been by their generous treatment of him during his three-year stay in Italy, he nonetheless had pressing problems  'beyond the mountains', which he needed to address in person [Baronius-Theiner, sub anno 1370 §19, p. 180-181]. The Pope concluded his Italian visit by departing from Montefiascone on August 26, 1370.  He stayed at Corneto until September 15, and sailed for Marseille on the 16th. The Papal Suite returned to Avignon on the 24th, to a joyful welcome.

Urban immediately turned his attention toward ending the Hundred Years' War between England and France, which had been raging for a third of a century. The situation had recently worsened again, when Edward III resumed his claim to the title of King of France, blaming the French kings (and the Pope) for not carrying out the Treaty of Bretigny. [December 30, 1369: Rymer 6, 643-645]. In 1370 the English forces on the Continent were increased, and King Edward was negotiating with Flanders, Brabant and his vassals in Aquitaine for aid against the French, and with the King of Navarre to neutralize his forces [Rymer 6, 645-677]. It appears that Pope Urban appointed two of his cardinals, Simon Langham and Jean de Dormans, to the task of reconciling the two monarchs.

But soon a serious illness seized upon the Pope.  In November as he was leaving Avignon, he was stricken with a sudden illness, and had himself carried from the Apostolic Palace to his brother's house, though his brother was residing in Bologna. ["Secunda Vita Urbani V", Baluzius I, 412-413]. He realized his illness was growing worse and so he turned instead to preparing himself for death. He received the sacraments, in the presence of the Camerlengo, his Confessor and many other members of his court. He made his profession of faith. On Thursday, December 19, 1370, he died, in the ninth year of his reign. He was buried in the Cathedral ("Prima Vita Urbani V", Baluzius I, 398), in the Chapel of Pope John XXII. In May, 1371, the remains were transferred to Marseille, to his old Abbey of St. Victor de Marseille, where he had prepared his own tomb during his lifetime ["Secunda Vita," Baluzius I, 413].

Codex Palatinus Latinus 608, f. 97, contains the following interesting entry [Stevenson and De Rossi (editors), Codices Palatini Latini   I (Romae 1886), p. 215]:  "Domini Boboniensis s. Sabinae episcopi card. sermo factus in exequiis dni. Urbani pp. quinti."  The cardinal in question is undoubtedly "Boloniensis", Cardinal Guy de Bologne, prior episcoporum, though he was not Bishop of Sabina; nor can this be a reference to a cardinal with the titulus of S. Sabina on the Aventine.  There was none.  Nonetheless, a sermon given on the occasion of the funeral of Urban V survives.

 

The Electors

Pope Innocent VI (Roger) had named fourteen cardinals in four creations during his eight-year reign (1366: Baluze I, 374 and 990-993; 1367: Baluze I, 376 and 997; 1368: Baluzius I, 384 and 1016-1032; 1370: Baluzius I, 391and 1039-1040). One of them, Arnaldus Bernardi, died before receiving his titulus. Two others died during his reign. In the same period eleven cardinals from the Conclave of 1362, and Cardinal Albornoz, had died. There were therefore twenty surviving Cardinals at the time of Urban's death. (Eubel I, 20 n. 8).  There is a list of cardinals in Codex Palatinus Latinus 726, f. 88v. [Stevenson and De Rossi (editors), Codices Palatini Latini   I (Romae 1886), p. 267], in a hand of the XIV century, and compiled between 1361 and 1368.  The list is headed by Cardinal Guy de Boulogne.

 

Cardinals attending:
  1. Guy de Boulogne, son of Robert VII, Comte d' Auvergne et de Boulogne, and Marie de Flandre, niece of Robert de Bethune, Comte de Nevers et Flandre [Etienne Baluze, Histoire de la maison d' Auvergne (Paris 1708), p. 115-118; and especially 120-129]. Cardinal Guy's niece, Jeanne d' Auvergne, was married to King John of France on September 26, 1349 [Etienne Baluze, p. 114].  He was also a relative of Emperor Charles IV.  He was also Uncle of Cardinal Robert of Geneva (1371-1378), Pope Clement VII, 1378-1394 [Etienne Baluze, p. 119-120].    He was Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina (1350-1373) [Eubel I, p. 19 n. 3], previously Cardinal Priest of S. Cecilia (1342-1350).  Archbishop of Lyons (1340-1342).  Archdeacon of Flandres.   In 1342 he was provided benefices in the Dioceses of Cologne, Trier, and Mainz by Clement VI  [H. Sauerland, Urkunden und Regesten zur Geschichte der Rheinland III (Bonn 1905), no. 71 (October 5, 1342)].   He was appointed Legate to the King of Hungary in 1349, with the mandate to reconcile King Ladislaus and Quenn Johanna of Naples.  In 1350, he was mandated to participate in the Jubilee;  he met Petrarch in Padua in February, 1350.  He was one of the Cardinals appointed to examine the disorders in Rome, including the attempted assassination of Cardinal Annibaldo di Ceccano, Legate for the Jubilee of 1350.  In 1352, he was in Avignon, where he provided the blessing for the new Abbot of l'Isle-Barbe near Lyon, Jean Pilfort de Rabastencs, appointed by Clement VI [Etienne Baluze, Histoire de la maison d' Auvergne (Paris 1708), p. 124; Gallia christiana 4, 230 (May 15, 1352)].  Baluze states that the appointment came from Innocent VI, which cannot be correct;  Clement VI was still alive until December 6, 1352.  Innocent VI was elected pope on December 18, 1352, and crowned on December 30, 1352.  Cardinal Guy, suggested to Clement VI (according to Baluze) an embassy which he would undertake at his own expense to bring peace between the Kings of England and France; Clement, however, died before the embassy could begin, and it was actually authorized by Innocent VI. Cardinal Guy was in Avignon and did participate in the Conclave of December 16-18, 1352, despite the statement of Salvador Miranda,  on information provided him by Dr. Francis Burkle-Young.    In 1353 he was actually Legate in France, and then in England, though his efforts to bring about a peace were doomed to failure.  From 1367 to 1369, he was Legate in Spain.  On June 13, 1369, Cardinal Guy of Porto was named Imperial Vicar in Lucca and surrounding territories, as well as Perugia, by Emperor Charles IV [A. Theiner, Codex diplomaticus dominii temporalis Sanctae Sedis II (1862), no. 453-454, pp. 462-464].   He died on November 25, 1373.     "Boloniensis"
  2. Raymond de Canilhac, Canon Regular of Saint Augustine, Suburbicarian Bishop of Palestrina (1361-1373), previously Cardinal Priest of S. Croce in Gerusalemme (1350-1361).   Both of his uncles, Pons and Guy, were abbots of Aniane (Diocese of Maguelonne, 30 km. from Montpellier). His mother was the sister of Cardinal Bertrand de Deaulx.  His sister, Dauphine, married Guy III d' Auvergne. His niece, Guerine, married in 1345 Guillaume Roger, the brother of Pierre Roger (Clement VI) [Etienne Baluze, Histoire de la maison d' Auvergne (Paris 1708), p. 195].   Raymond was Canon Regular and Provost of Maguelonne.  Archbishop of Toulouse (1345-1350).  He died on June 20, 1373.   Nephew of Clement VI.
  3. Aegidius (Gilles) Aycelin de Montaigu, born in the Auvergne, Suburbicarian Bishop of Tusculum (Frascati) (1368-1378), previously Cardinal Priest of SS. Silvestro e Martino ai Monti (1361-1378).   Chancellor of the King of France (1356-1361) at the time of his promotion to the cardinalate  [Duchesne, Histoire des chancelliers , 344-346].   Bishop of Therouanne (1356-1361). In 1366, he and Cardinal Johannes de Blandiaco were appointed by Pope Urban to conduct the reformation the Statutes of the University of Paris [H. Denifle, Chartularium Universitatis Parisiensis III (1894) no. 1318 (May 2, 1366), and cf. no. 1319, 1350, 1352].   Doctor of Canon Law. Nephew of Clement VI [Baluzius I, 956].   (died December 5,1378).
  4. Guillaume de la Sudré, OP, born in l' Aguene in the diocese of Tulle [Tutellensis], Suburbicarian Bishop of Ostia e Velletri (1367-1373), previously Cardinal Priest in the Title of SS. Giovanni e Paolo (1366-1367).  In 1369, when the Inquisitor Nicolas Eymerich presented the case of Raymond Lull as an heretic, Guillaume de la Sudré, OP, was appointed by the Pope to lead the examination (which led to Raymond Lull's condemnation).  In 1369 he was in Rome and witnessed the profession of faith of John Paleologus.  In 1366 he was one of the Cardinals who accompanied Pope Urban V to Italy, departing from Marseille on April 30 and arriving in Viterbo on June 9.  Previously Bishop of Marseille (from 1361) and then Administrator of the diocese upon becoming Cardinal.   Magister Sacrii Palatii, in succession to Jean de Moulins, who had been elected General of the Order;  he served in the position for twelve years. Thirteenth Prior of the Dominican province of Toulouse (1348-1350).  He had studied theology at Carcassone, Avignon and Paris.   Lector in theology in the Dominican convent of Carcassone  [Baluzius I, 374, 990; A. Touron, Histoire des Dominicains II (Paris 1745), 469-480]  (died April 18, 1373).

  5. Pierre de Salue de Monteruc, of Donzenac in the Limousin, son of a sister of Innocent VI [Baluzius I, 934; Duchesne, Cardinaux françois, 557-560].  Cardinal Priest of S. Anastasia (1356-1385).  Papal Chaplain. Provost of S. Pierre de Lille (1353). Canon, Prebend and Archdeacon of Elne (1354-1385). Treasurer and Canon of Bayeux (1355). Canon of Liege. Notary Apostolic. Prebend and Archdeacon of Hesaye (1355).  Bishop of Pamplona (1355-1356). Prebend of Notre-Dame de Aix-La-Chapelle (1357)  [Ursmer Berlière, OSB,  Bulletin de la Commission Royale d' histoire 75 (Bruxelles 1906), 202-204].     Vice-Chancellor S.R.E.  When Gregory XI departed for Rome on May 20, 1367, Pierre was unwilling to follow, due (he said) to illness, and therefore left the travelling office was put in the hands of Bartholomaeus Prignano, Archbishop of Bari, as locumtenens.  He was one of the seven cardinals who signed the document at Avignon on March 8, 1379, giving notice that Bartholomeo Prignano was an intruder onto the papal throne [Baluzius II, 845-846].  He was the founder of the College of Civil and Canon Law in Toulouse (February 4, 1382), and a patron and almost second founder of the Chartreuse of Villeneuve.  His tomb is in the church of the Chartreuse; his memorial inscription is quoted by Ciaconius-Olduin (II, 534).   "Pampilonensis"  (died May 20, 1385).
  6. Joannes de Blandiaco (Jean de Blauzac), Cardinal Priest of S. Marco (1361-1372), then Bishop of Sabina (1372-1379).  He was born at Blauzac near Uzés; nephew of the late Cardinal Bertrand de Déaulx, who had been Bishop of Sabina (1348-1355), and he was executor of Cardinal Bertrand's Testament.  Jean de Blauzac had been Bishop of Nîmes (1348-1361) [Gallia christiana (1716), 451-452], and before that Canon of Acqui and of Amiens,  and Papal Chaplain.    In 1366, he and Cardinal Gilles Aycelin de Montaigu were appointed by Pope Urban to conduct the reformation the Statutes of the University of Paris [H. Denifle, Chartularium Universitatis Parisiensis III (1894) no. 1318 (May 2, 1366), and cf. no. 1319, 1350, 1352].   (died July, 1379).  Doctor in utroque iure.   "Nemausensis" [Cardella II, 204-206]
  7. Guillaume d'Aigrefeuille, "the Younger", OSB, of Limoges, Cardinal Priest of S. Stefano in Monte Celio (1367-1401). Doctor of Canon Law (Toulouse, 1365). Camerlengo S.R.E. [Baluzius I, 997; Cardella II, 224-225; Eubel I, 20]. Archdeacon of Brabant in the Church of Liège (1368—after ix.7.1378)  [Ursmer Berlière, OSB,  Bulletin de la Commission Royale d' histoire 75 (Bruxelles 1906), 158-159].  Canon of Salisbury,  Prebend of Charminster and Bere [Bliss-Twemlow, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 97 (November 16, 1371)].  Archdeacon of Berks [Bliss-Twemlow, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 168 (October 10, 1371)].   Archdeacon of Taunton in the Church of Wells   [Bliss-Twombley IV, 187 (August 24, 1373); Le Neve, Fasti I, 167].  He died on January 13, 1401.
  8. Simon Langham, OSB, Cardinal Priest of S. Sisto.  Monk and Prior of Westminster. Dean of Lincoln (attested in 1372 and 1376) [Le Neve Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae II, p. 33].   Bishop of Ely (consecrated March 20, 1362 at St. Paul's by William of Winchester: Stubbs, Registrum Sacrum Anglicanum, p. 78).  Chancellor of King Edward III (1363-1367).  Archbishop of Canterbury (1366-1368: Le Neve, Fasti Anglicanae I, 19)  [Baluzius I, 1024; Eubel I, 21].  Treasurer of Wells (1368-1376)  [Le Neve, I, 173]. Prebend of  Wistow in the Church of York, attested 1369-1370 [Le Neve III, 226].  Papal Nuncio to England and France, 1371-1373 [Bliss-Twemlow, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 169-170 (March  9, 1371), 104, 118, 123].   (died July 22, 1376)
  9. Bernard du Bosquet, of Cahors, Cardinal Priest of Ss. XII Apostoli (1368-1371).   Doctor utriusque legis.  Canon of Cahors.  Cantor of the Church of Bordeaux. Chamberlain of Cardinal Auduin Aubert, Bishop of Ostia.  Chaplain of His Holiness of Urban V.  Auditor of Causes in the Apostolic Palace. Archbishop of Naples (1365-1368), in succession to Petrus Amelii.   In 1369 he was one of three Cardinals delegated by Urban V to receive the profession of faith of the Emperor John Paleologus.   (died April 19, 1371)    [Baluzius I, 1026]
  10. Étienne de Poissy, Cardinal Priest of S. Eusebio (1368-1373).  Bishop of Paris (1363-  ).  Provost of Liege (1369-1373) [Ursmer Berlière, OSB,  Bulletin de la Commission Royale d' histoire 75 (Bruxelles 1906), 143].   (died October 17, 1373) Doctor of Canon Law. Major Penitentiary. "Parisiensis" [Baluzius I, 1029; Cardella II, 222]
  11. Francesco Tebaldeschi, Romanus, Cardinal Priest of S. Sabina (1368-1378)  (died September 6/7, 1378). [Baluzius I, 1032; Cardella 222-223].  Former Dean of the Canons of the Vatican Basilica, and thus called the "Cardinal of S. Pietro" .  Canon and Prebend of Milton Ecclesia in the Church of Lincoln, attested in 1372 [Le Neve Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae II, 187]
  12. Pietro Corsini, Florentine, Cardinal Priest of S. Lorenzo in Damaso (died August 16, 1405).  Canon and Prebend of Salisbury [Bliss-Twemlow IV, 128 (February 26, 1373)].    [Baluzius I, 1040]

  13. Guillaume de la Jugié, son of Jacques de la Jugié and Guillaumette Rogier, sister of Clement VI.  Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Cosmedin.   Archdeacon of Canterbury (1370-1374) [Bliss-Twombley, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 133 (June 24, 1374); Le Neve I, 41].  [Baluzius I, 854]   He is said to have died on April 28, 1374 [Eubel I, p. 18], though the Church of Notre Dame de Chartres observed his anniversary on May 4, and its record specifically states that May 4 was the day of his death, and that the anniversary was instituted by one of their own canons, who was a benefactor of Cardinal Guillaume [A. Molinier & A. Lognon, Obituaires de la province de Sens. Tome II (Diocese de Chartres) (Paris 1906) p. 141-142].
  14. Pierre Roger de Beaufort (aged ca. 40), of Limoges, Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria Nuova (1348-1370). (died March 27, 1378). [Baluzius I, 259, 275].  Archdeacon of Rouen (His uncle had been Archbishop of Rouen). Archdeacon of Bourges. Archdeacon of Orleans. [Testament of Gregory XI: D'Achery, Spicilegium III (Paris 1723), 742].  Nephew of Clement VI.
  15. Rinaldo Orsini, Cardinal Deacon of S. Adriano. [Baluzius I, 907]. Archdeacon of Campine in the Church of Liège (1323-1374)  [Ursmer Berlière, OSB,  Bulletin de la Commission Royale d' histoire 75 (Bruxelles 1906), 168-171].  Dean of Salisbury [Bliss, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 168 (October 10, 1371)].  He died June 6, 1374. His funeral monument in S. Peter's Basilica: Forcella, Inscrizioni delle chiese di Roma 6, no. 27, p. 26.
  16. Hugues de Saint-Martial, born in the diocese of Toul in Aquitaine, Cardinal Deacon of S. Maria in Portico (1361-1403. Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica. Doctor in utroque iure [Cardella II, 207-208]. Canon and Prebend of Milton Manor and of Milton Ecclesia in the Church of Lincoln, attested in 1365, but resigned before 1372 [Le Neve Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae II, 187 and 189].  Archdeacon of Meath [Bliss-Twemlow, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 104-105 (April 1, 1372); 120 (April 1, 1372); 190 (October 19, 1373); 465 (November 3, 1393)].  Prebend of Driffield in the Church of York, from June 7, 1363 to 1372 [Bliss-Twemlow, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 123 (March 17, 1373); Le Neve, Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae III, 182]. (died 1403)]. Precentor of Lincoln, attested in 1365 and 1380 [Le Neve II, 83].

Cardinals not attending:
  1. Anglicus Grimoaldi (Angelic de Grimoard), Canon Regular of Saint Augustine, brother of Pope Urban V.    Suburbicarian Bishop of Albano (1367-1388).  Previously Bishop of Avignon (1362-1366) [Gallia christiana I (1716), 823-824].   Prior of S. Pierre de Die.  Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica.    On November 15, 1367, he was named Papal Vicar the Marches, Umbria, Tuscany and the province of Marittima e Campagna, and was made superior to Cardinal Androinus. Legate in the Romandiola [A. Theiner, Codex diplomaticus dominii temporalis Sanctae Sedis II (1862) no. 431, p. 450; no. 433, p. 452]; he resided in Bologna.  [Baluzius I, 380-381, 412, and 993; Cardella II, 208-211; Theiner, Codex diplomaticus, no. 438, p. 455 (January 18, 1368)].   He sided with Pope Clement VII in Urban VI's schism.  He died on April 13/16, 1388, and was buried before the high altar of the monastery Church of S. Ruf, where he had made his first profession as a monk.
  2. Philippe de Cabassole, of Avignon but born in Cavaillon.  Suburbicarian Bishop of Sabina since May 31, 1370.  Previously he had been Cardinal Priest of SS. Marcellini et Petri (1368-1370).   He had been titular Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (1361-1378),  and Vicar General of Avignon.   Archdeacon of York [Bliss-Twemlow, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 168 (October 10, 1371)].  [Baluzius I, 1024; Cardella II, 217-219; Audiffret, 506]
          Earlier, he had been Canon of Cavaillon at the age of twelve. He was Archdeacon of Cavaillon in 1330, and then Provost of Cavaillon.   Bishop of Cavaillon (1334-1361).  In 1343 he had been called to Naples, where he had been appointed to the Council of Regency by the Last Will and Testament of King Robert, during the minority of his two daughters, Joanna and Marie.  He was named Grand Chancellor by Queen Joanna.  When Joanna's husband, Andrea of Hungary, was assassinated,  he resigned and left Naples on December 23, 1345.  He returned almost immediately, at the request of the Queen, to stand-in for the Pope at the Baptism of her child.  But then he returned to Avignon (January 1346).  He was sent by the Pope to arrange a peace between Jeanne de Bourbon and Jean de Châlons (1347).  In 1358, he was sent by Innocent VI to collect the 10% tax due to the Apostolic Camera from Germany;  there was an assembly of the German princes at Mainz, and the response to the Legate was that Avignon seemed to regard Germany as nothing but their gold mine.  The Emperor Charles VI told the Legate that Germany would not pay the subsidy.  Cardinal Philippe's mission was a failure, and he returned to Avignon in 1359.  But the Papacy rewards failure, and Bishop Philippe was made Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1361.  In 1366 he was appointed Administrator of the Diocese of Marseille (1366-1368), upon the elevation of Archbishop Guillaume Sudre, OP, to the Cardinalate .  When Urban V departed on his journey to Rome in 1367, he left Patriarch Philippe as his Vicar in Avignon.  On September 22, 1368,  Phillipe was named Cardinal. In the summer of 1369, the Patriarch travelled to Italy and met the Pope at Montefiascone;  the Pope appointed him Legate to Perugia. and the Curia returned to Avignon.  The Pope set sail from Corneto on September 15, 1370.   Cardinal Philippe de Cabassole died in Perugia on August 27, 1372.     He did not attend the Conclave of 1370  [Eubel I, 21 n. 8].  "Hierosolymitanus" 
  3. Jean de Dormans, of the diocese of Soissons, Cardinal Priest (of SS. Quattuor Coronati).   "Bellovacensis"   Chancellor of King Charles of France [Baluzius I, 1027]; he was succeeded by his brother Guillaume.  He was one of the cardinals who did not travel to Italy with Pope Urban (1367-1370). On July 21, 1369, Pope Urban wrote [Prou, p. 164] to Cardinal Jean, in partibus Galliae commoranti, authorizing the payment of a subsidy by the clergy of France to King Charles V for two years.   At the time of the Conclave he was at the French Court [Baluzius, 1028].  Pope Gregory XI appointed him  Papal Nuncio to England and France, with Cardinal Simon Langham 1371-1373   [Bliss-Twemlow, Calendar of Papal Registers IV, 123; 170 (March  9, 1371)].  He was the founder of the College Dormans at the University of Paris [A. Molinier & A. Lognon, Obituaires de la province de Sens Tome I (Diocese de Sens) (Paris 1902) 762].  He died on November 7, 1373 [Gallia christiana 10. Instrumenta, no. xlvi, p. 273-276; xlvii, pp. 276-279]. The Obituary of Notre Dame de Paris places his commemoration on June 13 [A. Molinier & A. Lognon, Obituaires de la province de Sens Tome I (Diocese de Sens) (Paris 1902) 227].
  4. Pierre d'Estaing, OSB, of Rodez, Cardinal Priest of S. Maria in Trastevere (died November 25, 1377). [Baluzius I, 1039].   Papal Vicar in the Patrimony and adjacent provinces (Italy) from 1370 [Cardella II, 224-225].

The Camerarius S. R. E. was Msgr. Arnaud Aubert, Archbishop of Auch (1357-1371), nephew of Innocent VI and brother of Cardinal Audouin Aubert, the late Bishop of Ostia  [cf. L. Fumi, Archivio della Società romana di storia patria 9 (1886), 154].  He died on June 11, 1371.  He was succeeded by Pierre de Cros, Archbishop of Bourges (1370-1374), both as papal chamberlain and as Camerarius S. R. E. [Testament of Gregory XI, May 5, 1374, in Lucas D'Achery, Spicilegium III (Paris 1723), 738-742].  Pierre de Cros became a cardinal in December, 1383.   The Papal Treasurer was Gaucelmus de Deux, Bishop of Maguelonne [Prou, 168;  Gallia christiana 6, 791].

 

Conclave

The Conclave opened in the Apostolic Palace in Avignon on December 29, 1370, according to a letter written some six years later by Gregory XI himself (Baronius-Raynaldi, sub anno 1370, xxvi, p. 195). The Conclave was very brief. On the morning of December 30, without a scrutiny, Cardinal Pierre Roger de Beaufort was elected "by inspiration".  He took the name Gregory XI. He was the son of Guillaume, comte de Beaufort en Vallée, the brother of Pope Clement VI. The "First Life" (Baluzius I, 426) notices that he was humble, modest, circumspect, and generous that both secular leaders and prelates were delighted with him whenever they had business to do with him; the author of the Life remarks, "habuit etiam magnam gratiam in collegio Cardinalium, adeo quod demum, suis suffragantibus meritis per debitam concordiam fuit, ut praemittitur, ab ipsis electus in Papam..."

 

Election of Cardinal de Beaufort

In his own Electoral Manifesto, Rerum omnium providus, dated December 30, 1370, the day of his election, and addressed to the King of France, Gregory XI (Pierre Roger de Beaufort) speaks of the election as having been carried out by "inspiration"—per viam Sancti Spiritus (Baronius-Raynaldi, sub anno 1370, xxvii, p. 195-196):

Sane felicis recordationis Urbano Papa V. predecessore nostro de praesentis valle miseriae ad supernam patriam evocato, venerabiles fratres nostre episcopi, presbyteri et diaconi sacrosanctae Romanae ecclesiae Cardinales, pro futuri substitutione pastoris convenientes in unam, sub deliberationis magnae consilio, quam tanti negotii qualitas exigebat, licet potuissent in alios consentire majorum meritorum claritate conspicuos, et plurium virtutum titulis insignitos ad tantae administrationis praecellentiam digniores; tamen ad personam nostram dirigentes unanimiter vota suam nos tunc sanctae Mariae novae diaconum Cardinalem ad celesitudinis apostolicae speculam, sicut Domino placuit, hodie per viam Sancti Spiritus evocarunt.

 

The New Pope, Gregory XI

The new Pope, who had been appointed a cardinal when he was about seventeen years old, was now forty. He had never attended University, but was home-schooled:

Hic, quamquam esset satis juvenis quando fuit factus Cardinalis, cum nondum attingeret octavum decimum annum suae aetatis, tamen erat totus ingeniosus et aptus ac studio litterarum valde intentus. volensque in eis proficere amplius post promotionem suam ad statum hujusmodi, accersitis sibi notabilibus clericis, quos secum continue habuit, audiendo et legendo circa legalem scientiam diutius insudavit, et adeo in ipsa profecit quod unus de profundioribus et sufficientioribus totius orbis in ea fuit effectus. Demum se convertit ad canones, ad theologiam, ac philosophiam moralem, in quibus se adeo notabiliter profundavit quod in collationibus et consiliis ac aliis actibus suo statui congruentibus, in quibus de pertinentibus ad hujusmodi facultates actum fuit, sufficientissime peroravit. Cum hoc etiam circa decisionem causarum diligenter institit, habuitque in ipsa tam juris quam facti experientiam tantam quantam quicunque alius status sui.

His tutor was Pierre Masuyer, Doctor of Laws, the future Bishop of Arras (Baluzius I, 1060).

 

Coronation of Gregory XI

Since he had never been ordained, he was made a priest on Saturday, January 4, by Cardinal Guy de Boulogne ("Vita Secunda", Baluzius I, 452): "quarta die dicti mensis per Dominum Cardinalem de Bolonia factus fuit presbyter". On the next day, the Vigil of the Epiphany he was consecrated a bishop and crowned Pope ("Prima Vita Gregorii XI," Baluzius I, 425). The "Vita Secunda" (Baluzius I, 452) says that he was crowned in the Apostolic Palace at Avignon: "fuit electus in Papam penultima die mensis Decembris in Avinione et ibidem coronatus in palatio apostolico quinta die januarii, quae fuit die dominica, in vigilia epiphaniae." This, however, is probably a case of a slightly misplaced phrase.

On January 12, 1371 the new Pope had already reappointed as Nuncios Cardinals Simon Langham and Jean de Dormans, with the task of reconciling King Edward and King Charles (Calendar 4, p. 92). It was many months, however, before either cardinal even set foot in England or had an interview with King Edward.

It is said  ("Quarta Vita Gregorii XI", Baluzius I, 481) that, during the Sede Vacante, before he was elected pope, Cardinal Roger vowed that, if he were elected Pope, he would return to his own see  [Rome].

 

 

 

Bibliography

Stephanus Baluzius [Étienne Baluze], Vitae Paparum Avinionensium 2 volumes (Paris: apud Franciscum Muguet 1693): "Prima Vita Innocentii VI", 321-344; "Secunda Vita Innocentii VI, auctore quodam Canonico Ecclesiae Bunnensis in dioecesi Coloniensi," 345-356; "Prima Vita Urbani V," 363-398; "Secunda Vita Urbani V, auctore quodam Canonico Ecclesiae Bunnensis in dioecesi Coloniensi," 399-414. "Prima Vita Gregorii XI", 425-452; "Secunda Vita Gregorii XI," 451-478.

Jean de Froissart: Chroniques de J. Froissart (publiées par Siméon Luce) Tome sixième (Paris: Jules Renouard 1876).

Abbé Magnan, Histoire d' Urbain V et de son siècle (Paris: Amrboise Bray 1862). J. Albanès and U. Chevalier, Actes anciens et documents concernant le B. Urbain V. pape (Paris 1897). Johann Peter Kirsch, Die Ruckkehr der Papste Urban V. und Gregor XI. von Avignon nach Rom (Paderborn 1898) [Quellen und Forschungen, 6].

Raynaldi: Caesaris S. R. E. Cardinalis Baronii, Od. Raynaldi et Jac. Laderchii Annales Ecclesiastici   Tomus septimus (Lucca: Typis Leonardi Venturini 1752) [Baronius-Raynaldi]. Caesaris S. R. E. Cardinalis Baronii, Od. Raynaldi et Jac. Laderchii Annales Ecclesiastici denuo excusi et ad nostra usque tempora perducti ab Augusto Theiner Tomus Vigesimus sextus 1356-1396 (Barri-Ducis: Ludovicus Guerin 1872) [Baronius-Theiner]

Matteo Villani, Cronica di Matteo Villani (edited by Francesco Gherardi Dragomanni) Tomo I (Firenze: Sansone 1846).

Ludovicus Antonius Muratori, Rerum Italicarum Scriptores Tomus Tertius, pars altera (Milan 1734), 610-645. 

Bartolomeo Platina, Historia B. Platinae de vitis pontificum Romanorum ...cui etiam nunc accessit supplementum... per Onuphrium [Panvinium]... et deinde per Antonium Cicarellam (Cologne: Cholini 1626). Bartolomeo Platina, Storia delle vite de' pontefice edizione novissima Tomo Terzo (Venezia: Ferrarin 1763).   Aubery, Histoire generale des cardinaux (Paris 1642).   Lorenzo Cardella, Memorie storiche de' cardinali della Santa Romana Chiesa Tomo secondo (Roma: Pagliarini 1792). Giuseppe Piatti, Storia critico-cronologica de' Romani Pontefici E de' Generali e Provinciali Concilj Tomo ottavo (Poli: Giovanni Gravier 1767).  Ludovico Antonio Muratori, Annali d' Italia Volume 19 (Firenze 1827).

J.-B. Christophe, L' histoire de la papauté pendant le XIV. siècle Tome deuxième (Paris: L. Maison 1853) 388-403 [very Gallican in outlook, hostile to Italian sources].   Abbé Magnan, Histoire d' Urban V et son siècle (Paris 1862) [pious, with some deductions and conclusions more appropriate to hagiography than to history].   J.-F. André, Histoire de la papauté à Avignon deuxième edition (Avignon: Seguin Frères 1887).   Martin Souchon, Die Papstwahlen von Bonifaz VIII bis Urban VI (Braunschweig: Benno Goeritz 1888). F. Gregorovius, History of Rome in the Middle Ages, Volume V.2 second edition, revised (London: George Bell, 1906).

H. Audoffret, "Cabassole, Philippe de,"  Biographie universelle (ed. J.Michaud). Supplément  59 (Paris 1835), 506-508.

L. Guiraud, Les fondations du Pape Urbain V a Montpellier  3 vols. (Montpellier 1889, 1890, 1891).  Maurice Prou,  Étude sur les relations politiques du Pape Urbain V avec les rois de France Jean II et Charles V (Paris: Vieweg 1887).  Bernard Guillemain, La cour pontificale d' Avignon (1309-1376) (Paris: E. de Boccard, 2nd edition 1966).  Luigi Fumi, "Un' ambasciata de' Sanese a Urbano V, nel trasferimento della Sede in Roma,"  Archivio della Società romana di storia patria 9 (1886) 129-162.  P. R. Thibault, Pope Gregory XI: the Failure of Tradition (University Press of America 1986).

Thomas Rymer, Foedera, Conventiones, Literae et cujuscunque generis Acta Publica inter Reges Angliae et alios quosvis... Tomus VI (Londini: A. & J. Churchill, 1708). W. H. Bliss and C. Johnson (editors), Calendar of Entries in the Papal Registers relating to Great Britain and Ireland. Papal Letters. Volume IV, A.D. 1362-1404 (London: Eyre and Spottswoodie, 1902). [Calendar]

 

 

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