A Century A Century of Turmoilof Turmoil

As the kingdoms of England and France began to develop, the Church and Mother Nature had other plans…

A Church Divided

Crusades were an epic fail. The Church is losing followers, along with all of its credibility

It’s 1300. Philip 4 sets the rule of kings above papal rule.

Pope Boniface 8 responds with a papal bull: “The subjection to the Roman Pontiff is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature.”

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 1303. Philip invites

Boniface over to France for, um… “discussion.’

Pope obliges, and quickly finds himself at home in Philip’s dungeon.

Pope executes an escape attempt, but dies before getting back to Rome, which means there’s a vacancy in the Vaticano

Phillip also had a larger overbite.

Home Sweet Avignon

Philip forces the election of a French cardinal as Pope. In 1305, the papacy move moves its headquarters from Rome to Avignon, France.

This period in Church history is known as “The Captivity.”

This move eventually leads to the “Great Schism.”

The Great Schism 1378. French Pope Gregory 11 dies on a

mission in Rome. How sad. Italians riot and clamor for a new ITALIAN

Pope and elect Urban 6. French say he’s an antipope and elect Clement 7. Confusion ensues.

Note: not actual size

Who’s the Boss of you? For the next 39 years, both sides spend most

of their time excommunicating each other.

HRE calls the Council of

Constance. They elect a

THIRD Pope, Martin V.

Papacy is moved back

to Rome for good.Everyone was happier with the Italian in charge.

Everybody’s a critic! Scholars who criticized Church excesses

were dealt with harshly. John Huss and John Wycliffe argued that

the Bible alone was the ultimate authority for Christian teaching – NOT the Pope.

John Huss John Wycliffe Winner, “Sweetest Beard Contest”, 1405 2nd Runner-up, “Sweetest Beard Contest”, 1408

The Bubonic Plague: European World Tour,

1347 The Bubonic Plague begins in Asia and sweeps across

Europe, to the tune of 25 million dead (that’s 1/3 of Europe at the time!)

Every few years, the plague resurfaces and further reduces population and disrupts society: trade declines, prices rise, towns become smaller.

Lack of workers breaks down the manorial system. Peasants demand wages or their freedom (usually via revolt)

Revenge of Mother Nature Church further loses prestige, as it is unable to

stop God’s “punishment” for mankind. People tend to become more pessimistic about the

future, and preoccupied with pleasure. Art and literature shows

a deep awareness of death.

Welcome to Creepytown

The Hundred Years War.

The Hundred Years War pits France against England in a struggle for French Land.

When Charles IV, king of France died in 1328, he left no heir. Edward III, king of England (and nephew of Charles) is the closest male relative.

France claims Philip Valois (brother-in-law of Chuck’s dad) to be king.

King Edward III

Pretty fly for a white guy.

Let’s get ready to Rumblllllle!

Although the French eventually won the War, English forces had a number of key victories

Early on, castles offered adequate protection and armored knights dominated the battlefield.

Then the English longbow was used to p’wn the French and spelled the end of chivalrous warfare.

The Maid of Orleans By 1429, the French were in desperate

shape. Most of their army was trapped in the city of Orleans, which the English were about to seige.

A teenage girl named Joan arrived on the scene.

Convinced by visions of angels that she could save the day, the French dauphin allowed her to lead the army (which was later victorious at Orleans!)

Pictured above: Not Noah’s wife

BBQ Anyone?

Joan d’Arc lead the French in a number of decisive battles, and as a result Charles VII was crowned King. Woot!

Later she was captured by the English, placed on trial for heresy, and burned at the stake.

Long Term Effects of the War

Greater sense of nationalism in England and France

Longbow and cannon undermine the value of knights and castles

English Parliament gains the “power of the purse” and looks to overseas trading ventures

Church looks worse than it ever had, ushering in a time of secular rebirth.