Pope Innocent VI
Encyclopedia
Pope Innocent VI born Étienne Aubert; his father was Adhemar Aubert (1260-?) seigneur de Montel-De-Gelas in Limousin province. His niece was Catherine Aubert, Dame de Boutheon, also the wife of Randon II baron de Joyeuse; she is La Fayette's ancestor. King Charles V ennobled the family Aubert in 1338 and Queen Jeanne de Naples, Countess of Provence, gave many lands to Pierre Aubert (Guy Aubert's grandson) in 1364. Pope
at Avignon
from 1352 to 1362, the successor of Pope Clement VI
(1342–52), he was a native of the hamlet of Les Monts, diocese of Limoges (today part of the commune
of Beyssac
, département of Corrèze
), and, after having taught civil law
at Toulouse
, he became successively bishop of Noyon and bishop of Clermont.
In 1342, he was raised to the position of cardinal
. On the death of Clement VI, after each cardinal had bound himself to a particular line of policy should he be elected, Aubert was chosen (December 18, 1352), taking the name of Innocent VI; one of the first acts of his pontificate was to declare the pact to have been illegal and null.
His subsequent policy compares favourably with that of the other Avignon Popes
. He introduced many needed reforms in the administration of church affairs, and through his legate, Cardinal Albornoz
, who was accompanied by Rienzi, he sought to restore order in Rome
, where, in 1355, Charles IV
(1346–78) was crowned with his permission, after previously having made an oath that he would quit the city on the day of the ceremony.
It was largely through the exertions of Innocent VI that the Treaty of Brétigny
(1360) between France
and England
was brought about. During his pontificate, John V Palaeologus (1341–47, 1354–76, 1379–90, 1390–91) offered to submit the Greek
church to the Roman See
on condition of assistance being rendered against John VI Cantacuzenus (1347–54). The resources at the disposal of the Pope, however, were all required for exigencies nearer home, and the offer was declined.
He avoided the Black Death by sitting between two fires by himself so his air was not impure.
Most of the wealth accumulated by John XXII and Benedict XII had been lost during the extravagant pontificate of Clement VI. Innocent VI economised by cutting the chapel staff (or the "capellani capelle") from twelve to eight. Works of art were sold rather than commissioned. His pontificate was dominated by the war in Italy and by Avignon's recovery from the plague, both of which made draining demands on his treasury. By 1357, he was complaining of poverty.
Innocent VI was a liberal patron of letters, and, if the extreme severity of his measures against the Fraticelli
is ignored, he retains a high reputation for justice and mercy. He died on September 12, 1362, and his successor was Pope Urban V
(1362–70). Today his tomb can be found in the Carthusian
monastery of Villeneuve-les-Avignon
.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
at Avignon
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
from 1352 to 1362, the successor of Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI , bornPierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was pope from May 1342 until his death in December of 1352...
(1342–52), he was a native of the hamlet of Les Monts, diocese of Limoges (today part of the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Beyssac
Beyssac
Beyssac is a commune of the Corrèze department in central France.-Population:-Personalities:Beyssac was the birthplace of Étienne Aubert , who became pope as Pope Innocent VI.-References:*...
, département of Corrèze
Corrèze
Corrèze is a department in south central France, named after the Corrèze River.The inhabitants of the department are called Corréziens or Corréziennes according to gender.-History:...
), and, after having taught civil law
Civil law (legal system)
Civil law is a legal system inspired by Roman law and whose primary feature is that laws are codified into collections, as compared to common law systems that gives great precedential weight to common law on the principle that it is unfair to treat similar facts differently on different...
at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, he became successively bishop of Noyon and bishop of Clermont.
In 1342, he was raised to the position of cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
. On the death of Clement VI, after each cardinal had bound himself to a particular line of policy should he be elected, Aubert was chosen (December 18, 1352), taking the name of Innocent VI; one of the first acts of his pontificate was to declare the pact to have been illegal and null.
His subsequent policy compares favourably with that of the other Avignon Popes
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
. He introduced many needed reforms in the administration of church affairs, and through his legate, Cardinal Albornoz
Gil Alvarez De Albornoz
Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz was a Spanish cardinal and ecclesiastical leader.-Early years:Albornoz was born at Carrascosa del Campo, early in the 14th century. He was the son of Gil Állvarez de Albornoz and of Doña Teresa de Luna, sister of Jimeno de Luna, archbishop of Toledo and a member...
, who was accompanied by Rienzi, he sought to restore order in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where, in 1355, Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
(1346–78) was crowned with his permission, after previously having made an oath that he would quit the city on the day of the ceremony.
It was largely through the exertions of Innocent VI that the Treaty of Brétigny
Treaty of Brétigny
The Treaty of Brétigny was a treaty signed on May 9, 1360, between King Edward III of England and King John II of France. In retrospect it is seen as having marked the end of the first phase of the Hundred Years' War —as well as the height of English hegemony on the Continent.It was signed...
(1360) between France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was brought about. During his pontificate, John V Palaeologus (1341–47, 1354–76, 1379–90, 1390–91) offered to submit the Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
church to the Roman See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
on condition of assistance being rendered against John VI Cantacuzenus (1347–54). The resources at the disposal of the Pope, however, were all required for exigencies nearer home, and the offer was declined.
He avoided the Black Death by sitting between two fires by himself so his air was not impure.
Most of the wealth accumulated by John XXII and Benedict XII had been lost during the extravagant pontificate of Clement VI. Innocent VI economised by cutting the chapel staff (or the "capellani capelle") from twelve to eight. Works of art were sold rather than commissioned. His pontificate was dominated by the war in Italy and by Avignon's recovery from the plague, both of which made draining demands on his treasury. By 1357, he was complaining of poverty.
Innocent VI was a liberal patron of letters, and, if the extreme severity of his measures against the Fraticelli
Fraticelli
The Fraticelli, sometimes confusingly called Fratricelli, were medieval Roman Catholic groups that could trace their origins to the Franciscans, but which came into being as a separate entity. The Fraticelli were declared heretical by the Church in 1296 by Boniface VIII...
is ignored, he retains a high reputation for justice and mercy. He died on September 12, 1362, and his successor was Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V , born Guillaume Grimoard, was Pope from 1362 to 1370.-Biography:Grimoard was a native of Grizac in Languedoc . He became a Benedictine and a doctor in Canon Law, teaching at Montpellier and Avignon...
(1362–70). Today his tomb can be found in the Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
monastery of Villeneuve-les-Avignon
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
Villeneuve-lès-Avignon is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. It can also be spelled Villeneuve-lez-Avignon.-Population:-Sights:* Chartreuse Notre-Dame-du-val-de-Bénédiction* Fort Saint-André* Tour Philippe Le Bel...
.