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The Influence of the University of Paris Upon Ecclesiastical and Political Affairs in the Early Fifteenth Century

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THE INFLUENCE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PARIS UPON ECCLESIASTICAL AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN THE EARLY FIFTEENTH CENTURY A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts by Patricia Ann Wegner, B.A. The Ohio State University 1971 Approved by TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. 1 Chapter I. THE GREAT SCHISM . 4 II. THE THEORY OF TYRANNICIDE • . 26 III. THE REIGN OF CHARLES VI • • • . 34 IV. THE TRIAL OF JOAN OF ARC. • . 42 CONCLUSION . 59 BIBLIOGRAPHY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 4 • • 61 ii INTRODUCTION "As the weakness of the papacy gave the University (of Paris) the opportunity to assert its authority in the Church, so the weakness of the crown gave it the oppor­ tunity to assert its authority in the state. 111 The prominence of the University of Paris in the Great Schism spanned the period of time from 1379, when the University recognized the pontificate of Clement VII, until the resolution of the Schism through the Council of Constance in 1414-1417. The discord in the Church, ef­ fected by the circumstance of two rival pontiffs, infected all the nations of Western Europe. Ecclesiastical, as well as national and international politics, were part of the struggle between the two popes. The University, as a highly respected organ of the Church felt the responsi­ bility to make efforts to bring the Schism to an end. The prominence of the University in the Schism, as it dealt in the realm of ecclesiastical politics, gave it the impulse to become an active force in the purely sec- ular affairs of the state as well. "Efforts in behalf of peace and reform in the Church would naturally prepare the 1 charles Gross, "The Political Influence of the University of Paris in the Middle Ages," American Histor­ ical Review, Vol. 6 (London: The Macmillan Company, 1900), p. 44 .5. 1 2 way for the exercise of its influence in behalf of peace and reform in the kingdom of France during the dark days of Charles VI: the semi-secular activity of the rector and masters in church politics would predispose them to participate in the purely secular politics of France.•2 Several conditions favored the University's exer­ cise of political power. Accustomed to the priYileges of self-government and free discussion the masters of the University had developed a consciousness of political technique. Located in the great capital city of Paris, the University was in the very midst of activity which dictated the political life of France. Perhaps most importantly of all the University was well organized to disseminate her political ideas and opinions, her members occupied most of the pulpits in Paris and held many bene­ fices throughout the kingdom. Thus the University was well-equipped to exert its influence in behalf of peace and good government. The reign of Charles VI was tormented by the king's insanity and the uncompromising ~eud ~etween the Burgundians and the Armagnacs. At times the very existence of the Univer­ sity was threatened by the struggle between the royal princes. It is understandable that the University refused to remain passive when she was jeopardized with ruin in consequence of the turmoil which paralyzed the political life of France. Although the sympathies of the Univer­ sity were usually with the Burgundians she tried to med­ iate between them and the Armagnacs in order to establish peace. She decried the theory of tyrannicide with which Burgundy sought to justify his murder of Orleans in 1407. Moreover, she made repeated efforts to influence reform measures within the royal government. However, in 1420, her diploma.tic efforts to mediate the conflict for control of the throne were marked by her voice in, and approval of, the Treaty of Troyes; from that point on the Univer­ sity was entirely Burgundian in her position. Therefore, when Charles VII was ultimately successful in withstanding both the English and the Burgundians the University of Paris, understandably, lost much of her voice in the political life of France. CHAPTER I THE GREAT SCHISM The University of Paris, as a body and as reflected in the thought of several of its faculty, played a signi­ ficant rile in the attempts to heal the Schism of the Christian Church in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. •1t was evident already before the event that the death of Gregory XI .as likely to produce a difficult sit­ uation. Gregory, himself, fully aware of the perils facing the church, took steps to prepare the way by auth­ orizing the majority of the cardinals actually present at his court at the time of his death--that is, actually in Italy--to proceed immediately to the choice or a successor, and in this way to avoid the dangers of a long vacancy while those members of the college absent in France and elsewhere gathered to~ther.• 1 The "dangers of a long vacancy• which Gregory fore­ saw were the pressures which the French king on one hand and the Homans on the other might exert on the choice of a papal successor. An immediate election was his solution for avoiding these demands. Gregory died on March 27, 1Geoffrey Barraclough, The Medieval Papacy (Norwich, England: Jarrold & Sons, 1968), p. 164. 4 5 1378, and his successor, Urban VI, was elected pope on April 8. 2 However, although the speed with which the new Pope was chosen apparently eliminated any pressures from the French court, the Roman populace did make their wishes known. "The populace was naturally excited, as there had been no conclave in Rome for well over half a century. Crowds gathered round the Vatican shouting 'Romano lo volemo, o, almeno, italiano' ('We want a Roman, or, at least, an Italian 1 )."3 The influence of the French court became apparent when French support made it possible for the cardinals to resist Urban after they began to exper­ ience his stubborn attempts to reform the Curia. 4 In May, 1378, complaining of the heat in Rome, some of the cardinals received permission to go to Anagni. By June 21, all of the cardinals were there excepting the four Italia.ns. From Anagni on August 9, they published their "Declaratio" which declared the Holy See vacant and the election of Urban VI as null.5 Leaving Anagni on August 29, they elected a new pope, Clement VII (Robert of Geneva) at Fondi on September 20. Clement and his cardinals reached 2Ibid. 3G. J. Jordan, The Inner History of the Great Schism of the West (London: Williams and Norgalt, 1930), p. 13. 4 Barraclough, p. 165. 5walter Ullmann, The Origins of the Great Schism (London: Burns Oates & Washbourne, 1948), p. 52. 6 Avignon on June 20, 1379.6 Both papal claimants evidenced their desire to have the University of Paris in their camp. As Urban began to realize that the cardinals might prove troublesome to him he sent the University his description of the events sur­ rounding his election (July 3, 1378). The cardinals, while they were staying at Fondi, sought to bring the University to their point of view. "They addressed a letter to the Chancellor of the University of Paris on 7th September and another letter to the members of the University on 12th September, in which they described Urban as an intruding archbishop possessed by the spirit of anger (truculenta rabies) and malice against them."7 An earlier letter to the University dated August 21, 1378, states: "We have let you know ••• of the awful fury, cruel tyranny, the unbridled action and sacrilege of the people of Home against our goods and persons when we were occupied with the Elec­ tion of the Pope, who was chosen by force according to their fancy. It is because of the bold malice that the See of St. Peter is occupied by an Apostate who spreads erroneous dogmas which destroy all truth."8 The University had accepted Urban as the new pope 6Jordan, p. 13. 7 Ullmann, p. 55. 8 Jordan, p. 23. 7 immediately following his election. Beginning in July of 1378, however, the renigade cardinals had sent emissaries to the University, as well as the King and Parliament, with some positive results.9 On May 22, 1379, the Univer­ sity of Paris, following lengthy deliberations, decided to n • • • recognize the Pontificate of the Most Holy Father in Christ Our Lord Clement by divine Providence the Seventh. 1110 The University's decision was not a unanimous one and it was certainly induced to some degree by the French king but the effect was none the less one of support for Clement over Urban by "the eldest daughter of kings and popes, the University of Paris, the mother and mistress of all schools of Christendom. It is the University that takes care to give this assurance in a letter addressed to the King, not without a touch of self-satisfaction and vain-glory. 'The obedience of Home is the wider, 1 they say, 'altera amplior; but ours is the more intelligent and hale, altera sanior. 11111 The Schism having been effected, no national forces appeared with sufficient strength to attempt any reconcil­ iations. "For fifteen years the onus of healing the wounds of the Schism rested entirely upon the Universities and private individuals • • • the early efforts for peace 9L. Salembier, The Great Schism of the West (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1907), p. 63. 10Jordan, p. 20. 11salembier, p. 74. 8 (were) local and private, the outcome of the meditations of University doctors •...•• "12 In 1379 Henry of La.ngenstein, a member of the faculty of theology at the University of Paris, wrote the "Epistola Pacis." He used an allegorical setting, a conversation between a supporter of Urban and one of Clement,13 to make an argument in favor "of the Univer­ sity suspending judgement until a General Council should decide between the rival Popes.
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