Papacy and Three More Artists of the Renaissance

 

During the Renaissance, the Pope started making their own problems themselves as some people were turning away from Christianity and to religious beliefs.  Some people started to realize that the Popes had way too much power over them.  Meanwhile, three key artists of the Renaissance created some beautiful paintings that may be familiar to you.

Wyclif and the Great Western Schism

John Wyclif was a Christian, but he had a few different beliefs from that of the Christian belief system.  He believed that high priests and popes no longer or did not ever need to be in existence.  The Great Western Schism helped John Wyclif in his teachings and beliefs against popes, as the Western Schism was started by two popes, Pope Clement VII and Urban VI.

Boniface VIII, Philip the Fair, and the Black Death

Philip the Fair of France had several conflicts with Pope Boniface VIII.  As the Western Civilization entered the fourteenth-century, they had to struggle with several crises including cattle dying, the Western Schism, harvests dying, Hundred Years’ War, and primarily, the Black Death.  These conflicts and crises are a part of history.

Popes and Emperors

During the time of the Holy Roman Empire, the emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, wanted to be the most powerful person in the Empire.  As the emperor, at that time, he had to submit to higher authorities than himself.  However, Barbarossa did not like this and tried to become the highest authority, which caused Pope Alexander III to form an alliance.  This started the conflict between emperor and pope.

The Franks

   Even though the Franks were barbarians, they played important parts in history.  They had to do with the Carolingians gaining the power the Merovingians once had.  They also formed an alliance with the Papacy.  So here are two stories of the Franks, and only two of their parts in the history of the world.