ChurchChurch HistoryHistory ChurchChurch HistoryHistory

IntroductionIntroduction toto ChurchChurch HistoryHistory st rd TheThe AncientAncient ChurchChurch AD 11st-3-3rd centuriescenturies th th TheThe RiseRise ofof ChristendomChristendom AD 44th-5-5th centuriescenturies th th TheThe EarlyEarly MiddleMiddle AgesAges AD 66th-10-10th centuriescenturies th th TheThe AgeAge ofof CrusadesCrusades AD 1111th-13-13th centuriescenturies th th TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance AD 1414th-15-15th centuriescenturies Welcome to the Renaissance Turnovers... TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— Okay,Okay, II havehave toto backback upup YouYou rememberremember Temüjin'sTemüjin's otherother,, moremore famousfamous name,name, right?right? ““GenghisGenghis ...”Khan...” BackBack inin 1256,1256, GenghisGenghis Khan'sKhan's grandson,grandson, Hülegü,Hülegü, setset himselfhimself upup asas thethe khankhan ofof aa smaller,smaller, satellitesatellite khanatekhanate inin Persia,Persia, calledcalled thethe IlkhanateIlkhanate (or(or “subordinate“subordinate ”)khanate”) Interestingly,Interestingly, HülegüHülegü waswas raisedraised asas aa NestorianNestorian ChristianChristian (followers(followers ofof thethe teachingsteachings ofof BishopBishop Nestorius,Nestorius, whowho hadhad taughttaught thatthat JesusJesus hadhad twotwo completelycompletely separateseparate natures)natures)

NestorianismNestorianism TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— Okay,Okay, II havehave toto backback upup YouYou rememberremember Temüjin'sTemüjin's otherother,, moremore famousfamous name,name, right?right? “Genghis“...”Khan...” BackBack inin 1256,1256, GenghisGenghis Khan'sKhan's grandson,grandson, Hülegü,Hülegü, setset himselfhimself upup asas thethe khankhan ofof aa smaller,smaller, satellitesatellite khanatekhanate inin Persia,Persia, calledcalled thethe IlkhanateIlkhanate (or(or “subordinate“subordinate khanate”)khanate”) Interestingly,Interestingly, HülegüHülegü waswas raisedraised asas aa NestorianNestorian ChristianChristian SoSo yes,yes, therethere waswas aa time,time, 700700 yearsyears ago,ago, whenwhen IranIran waswas ruledruled byby aa ChristianChristian dynastydynasty ofof MongolianMongolian KhansKhans TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— Okay,Okay, II havehave toto backback upup YouYou rememberremember Temüjin'sTemüjin's otherother,, moremore famousfamous name,name, right?right? BackBack inin 1256,1256, GenghisGenghis Khan'sKhan's grandson,grandson, Hülegü,Hülegü, setset himselfhimself upup asas thethe khankhan ofof aa smaller,smaller, satellitesatellite khanatekhanate inin Persia,Persia, calledcalled thethe IlkhanateIlkhanate (or(or “subordinate“subordinate khanate”)khanate”) ByBy thethe endend ofof thethe 1313th century,century, thethe IlkhanateIlkhanate hadhad growngrown toto becomebecome richrich andand powerfulpowerful AndAnd thatthat meantmeant thatthat therethere waswas goinggoing toto bebe aa strugglestruggle aboutabout whowho shouldshould getget toto leadlead themthem AfterAfter hishis fatherfather waswas murdered,murdered, youngyoung 'sGhazan's uncle,uncle, ,Gaykhatu, reignedreigned forfor fourfour years,years, thanksthanks toto thethe helphelp ofof hishis BhuddistBhuddist supporterssupporters NOTE: During Gaykhatu's reign, Ghazan grew old enough to wed Kököchin—a gift from the powerful , originally brought to Persia to marry Ghazan's father by (helping cement Ghazan's succession— since he was now married to the woman whom Kublai had intended to be the queen of the ) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— Okay,Okay, II havehave toto backback upup YouYou rememberremember Temüjin'sTemüjin's otherother,, moremore famousfamous name,name, right?right? BackBack inin 1256,1256, GenghisGenghis Khan'sKhan's grandson,grandson, Hülegü,Hülegü, setset himselfhimself upup asas thethe khankhan ofof aa smaller,smaller, satellitesatellite khanatekhanate inin Persia,Persia, calledcalled thethe IlkhanateIlkhanate (or(or “subordinate“subordinate khanate”)khanate”) ByBy thethe endend ofof thethe 1313th century,century, thethe IlkhanateIlkhanate hadhad growngrown toto becomebecome richrich andand powerfulpowerful AndAnd thatthat meantmeant thatthat therethere waswas goinggoing toto bebe aa strugglestruggle aboutabout whowho shouldshould getget toto leadlead themthem AfterAfter hishis fatherfather waswas murdered,murdered, youngyoung Ghazan'sGhazan's uncle,uncle, Gaykhatu,Gaykhatu, reignedreigned forfor fourfour years,years, thanksthanks toto thethe helphelp ofof hishis BhuddistBhuddist supporterssupporters Ghazan'sGhazan's cousin,cousin, ,Baydu, murderedmurdered Gaykhatu,Gaykhatu, withwith thethe supportsupport ofof hishis own,own, ChristianChristian allies,allies, effectivelyeffectively stealingstealing Ghazan'sGhazan's thronethrone To regain it, Ghazan would have to look elsewhere for his own political conspirators...... which brought him to the Muslim leader, Emir Nawrūz of the (the Northern ) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam AsAs partpart ofof hishis agreementagreement toto supportsupport GhazanGhazan intointo thethe Ilkhanate,Ilkhanate, NawrūzNawrūz demandeddemanded thatthat hehe convertconvert fromfrom ChristianityChristianity toto ...Islam... whichwhich hehe did...did... InIn fact,fact, thoughthough thethe officialofficial MongolMongol stancestance hadhad alwaysalways beenbeen religiousreligious tolerance,tolerance, GhazanGhazan mademade IslamIslam thethe statestate religion,religion, andand requiredrequired allall MongolsMongols underunder himhim toto convertconvert asas wellwell ThereThere werewere nownow twotwo majormajor IslamicIslamic powerspowers inin thethe world—theworld—the sultanssultans andand emirsemirs ofof thethe IslamicIslamic kingdomskingdoms ofof NorthNorth Africa,Africa, andand thethe khanskhans ofof thethe MongolsMongols ofof AsiaAsia TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam AsAs partpart ofof hishis agreementagreement toto supportsupport GhazanGhazan intointo thethe Ilkhanate,Ilkhanate, NawrūzNawrūz demandeddemanded thatthat hehe convertconvert fromfrom ChristianityChristianity toto Islam...Islam... whichwhich hehe did...did... Ironically,Ironically, thisthis wasn'twasn't asas scaryscary aa timetime forfor EuropeEurope asas itit mightmight looklook toto ourour modernmodern eyeseyes TheThe variousvarious MuslimMuslim powerspowers werewere onlyonly uneasyuneasy allies,allies, atat best—notbest—not aa coalitioncoalition AndAnd thethe ChristianChristian statesstates ofof EuropeEurope andand RussiaRussia werewere strongstrong enoughenough toto repelrepel anyany incursionsincursions fromfrom thethe EastEast byby thisthis timetime SoSo thethe worldworld waswas heldheld inin aa sortsort ofof détentedétente,, withwith aa relativerelative easingeasing backback fromfrom overtovert empire-buildingempire-building Instead of fighting, various kings and khans tended to focus on competing with one another... TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope TryingTrying desperatelydesperately toto undoundo thethe damagesdamages toto thethe papacypapacy byby hishis predecessor,predecessor, PopePope BonifaceBoniface VIII,VIII, BenedictBenedict mademade itit illegalillegal toto speakspeak illill ofof BonifaceBoniface inin public,public, oror toto questionquestion hishis validityvalidity ofof hishis officeoffice HeHe alsoalso liftedlifted thethe excommunicationexcommunication ofof FrenchFrench KingKing PhilipPhilip IVIV toto makemake friendsfriends withwith FranceFrance Though,Though, toto savesave faceface forfor Rome,Rome, hehe stillstill excommunicatedexcommunicated Philip'sPhilip's chiefchief minister,minister, GuillaumeGuillaume dede Nogaret...Nogaret...... who...who thenthen hadhad PopePope BenedictBenedict assassinated,assassinated, eighteight monthsmonths afterafter takingtaking office...office... TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn RaymondRaymond BertrandBertrand dede Goth,Goth, ClementClement VV waswas decidedlydecidedly pro-Francepro-France HeHe waswas coronatedcoronated inin Lyon,Lyon, andand movedmoved thethe papalpapal thronethrone toto Avignon—whereAvignon—where itit stayedstayed forfor thethe nextnext 6767 yearsyears (NOTE: This Avignon Papacy has become known as the “Captive Papacy” or even the “Babylonian Captivity” in Catholic history) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn RaymondRaymond BertrandBertrand dede Goth,Goth, ClementClement VV waswas decidedlydecidedly pro-Francepro-France HeHe waswas coronatedcoronated inin Lyon,Lyon, andand movedmoved thethe papalpapal thronethrone toto AvignonAvignon ForFor instance,instance, ClementClement tooktook painspains toto explainexplain howhow thethe termsterms ofof Boniface'sBoniface's UnamUnam SanctumSanctum don'tdon't reallyreally applyapply toto FrenchFrench kings...kings...... and...and placedplaced himselfhimself andand thethe ChurchChurch underunder thethe directdirect authorityauthority ofof PhilipPhilip IVIV InIn fact,fact, oneone ofof hishis firstfirst officialofficial actsacts waswas toto elevateelevate ninenine FrenchFrench priestspriests toto thethe statusstatus ofof cardinal...cardinal... andand laterlater elevatedelevated fourteenfourteen more...more... TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn RaymondRaymond BertrandBertrand dede Goth,Goth, ClementClement VV waswas decidedlydecidedly pro-Francepro-France AndAnd yet,yet, ClementClement diddid trytry toto exertexert somesome controlcontrol overover somesome ChurchChurch affairs,affairs, whenwhen itit seemedseemed likelike PhilipPhilip mightmight bebe attemptingattempting toto dominatedominate thingsthings Literally,Literally, thethe dayday ClementClement tooktook office,office, PhilipPhilip openlyopenly condemnedcondemned thethe KnightsKnights TemplarTemplar HeHe accusedaccused thethe Templars—theTemplars—the dede factofacto bankersbankers forfor thethe Church—ofChurch—of usury,usury, creditcredit inflation,inflation, fraud,fraud, heresy,heresy, sodomy,sodomy, immorality,immorality, andand witchcraftwitchcraft (they(they werewere probablyprobably onlyonly guiltyguilty ofof thethe economiceconomic sins—andsins—and probablyprobably ofof onlyonly aboutabout halfhalf ofof those)those) Nonetheless,Nonetheless, thethe wholewhole OrderOrder waswas roundedrounded up,up, arrested,arrested, andand triedtried TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn RaymondRaymond BertrandBertrand dede Goth,Goth, ClementClement VV waswas decidedlydecidedly pro-Francepro-France AndAnd yet,yet, ClementClement diddid trytry toto exertexert somesome controlcontrol overover somesome ChurchChurch affairs,affairs, whenwhen itit seemedseemed likelike PhilipPhilip mightmight bebe attemptingattempting toto dominatedominate thingsthings Literally,Literally, thethe dayday ClementClement tooktook office,office, PhilipPhilip openlyopenly condemnedcondemned thethe KnightsKnights TemplarTemplar HeHe accusedaccused thethe TemplarsTemplars ButBut beforebefore thethe KingKing ofof FranceFrance couldcould convictconvict thethe KnightsKnights ofof thethe Church,Church, ClementClement dissolveddissolved thethe OrderOrder atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof VienneVienne inin 1311—swiping1311—swiping Philip'sPhilip's victoryvictory outout fromfrom underunder himhim (Clement did, however, execute Templar leaders and Geoffroi de Charney as heretics... but under Church law and papal authority) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn RaymondRaymond BertrandBertrand dede Goth,Goth, ClementClement VV waswas decidedlydecidedly pro-Francepro-France AndAnd yet,yet, ClementClement diddid trytry toto exertexert somesome controlcontrol overover somesome ChurchChurch affairs,affairs, whenwhen itit seemedseemed likelike PhilipPhilip mightmight bebe attemptingattempting toto dominatedominate thingsthings Literally,Literally, thethe dayday ClementClement tooktook office,office, PhilipPhilip openlyopenly condemnedcondemned thethe KnightsKnights TemplarTemplar HeHe accusedaccused thethe TemplarsTemplars ButBut beforebefore thethe KingKing ofof FranceFrance couldcould convictconvict thethe KnightsKnights ofof thethe Church,Church, ClementClement dissolveddissolved thethe OrderOrder atat thethe CouncilCouncil ofof VienneVienne inin 1311—swiping1311—swiping Philip'sPhilip's victoryvictory outout fromfrom underunder himhim TheThe Templars'Templars' landslands andand holdingsholdings werewere thenthen turnedturned overover toto thethe FrenchFrench KnightsKnights Hospitaller,Hospitaller, sincesince theythey weren'tweren't attackingattacking allall religiousreligious OrdersOrders ofof Knights...Knights... TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— ClementClement supposedlysupposedly thenthen presidedpresided overover thethe creationcreation ofof aa new,new, mysticalmystical OrderOrder inin 1313—the1313—the RosicrucianRosicrucian OrderOrder (or(or “Knights“Knights ofof thethe RoseRose Cross”)Cross”) ——basedbased onon thethe ancientancient philosophyphilosophy ofof thethe “rosy“rosy cross,”cross,” whichwhich predatespredates ChristianityChristianity byby millenniamillennia ThisThis OrderOrder waswas foundedfounded byby thethe GermanGerman mystic,mystic, ChristianChristian RosenkreutzRosenkreutz (whose(whose namename fortuitouslyfortuitously means,means, “Christian“Christian RoseRose Cross”),Cross”), whowho hadhad travelledtravelled extensivelyextensively andand learnedlearned esotericesoteric knowledgeknowledge fromfrom thethe EasternEastern adeptsadepts TheThe OrderOrder mixedmixed secretsecret rituals,rituals, handshakes,handshakes, andand recitationsrecitations withwith aa focusfocus onon doingdoing goodgood worksworks inin thethe community,community, settingsetting upup hospitalshospitals inin God'sGod's name,name, etc.etc. AsAs such,such, itit formedformed thethe basisbasis forfor pettypetty muchmuch everyevery otherother EuropeanEuropean mysterymystery cultcult thatthat appearedappeared later—includinglater—including thethe FreemasonsFreemasons TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment2—— OfOf course,course, thoughthough thethe FreemasonsFreemasons referencereference thethe RosicruciansRosicrucians inin theirtheir ritualsrituals andand theology,theology, theythey stillstill maintainmaintain thatthat FreemasonryFreemasonry waswas establishedestablished wayway backback duringduring thethe buildingbuilding ofof Solomon'sSolomon's TempleTemple (the(the truthtruth is,is, FreemasonryFreemasonry waswas establishedestablished inin thethe earlyearly 1700s1700s asas aa fraternityfraternity ofof richrich EuropeanEuropean guysguys whowho metmet atat aa pubpub calledcalled thethe “Goose“Goose andand Gridiron,”Gridiron,” butbut thatthat doesn'tdoesn't soundsound asas impressive)impressive) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment2—— OfOf course,course, thoughthough thethe FreemasonsFreemasons referencereference thethe RosicruciansRosicrucians inin theirtheir ritualsrituals andand theology,theology, theythey stillstill maintainmaintain thatthat FreemasonryFreemasonry waswas establishedestablished wayway backback duringduring thethe buildingbuilding ofof Solomon'sSolomon's TempleTemple SoSo thatthat meantmeant thatthat thethe RosicruciansRosicrucians mustmust havehave (retroactively)(retroactively) beenbeen inin existenceexistence sincesince beforebefore thethe foundingfounding ofof thethe Temple,Temple, oror elseelse it'sit's allall bogusbogus AndAnd nownow we'rewe're backback toto thethe ancientancient “rosy“rosy cross”cross” thing...thing... (by(by thethe way,way, wewe havehave nono historicalhistorical documentationdocumentation ofof thethe “rosy“rosy cross”cross” thingthing priorprior toto whenwhen thethe RosicruciansRosicrucians startedstarted referencingreferencing itit asas anan ““ancient”ancient” philosophy...)philosophy...) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment3—— TheThe oldestoldest recordsrecords ofof thethe RosicruciansRosicrucians (dating(dating fromfrom thethe earlyearly 1717th century)century) saysay thatthat ChristianChristian RosenkreutzRosenkreutz (if(if hehe everever existed)existed) waswas bornborn inin 13781378 ...which...which wouldwould makemake thatthat 13131313 foundingfounding ofof thethe OrderOrder aa littlelittle complicatedcomplicated forfor himhim toto accomplishaccomplish ForFor thatthat matter,matter, thethe RosicruciansRosicrucians claimedclaimed thatthat hehe livedlived forfor anotheranother centurycentury—if—if notnot eveneven longerlonger thanthan that—inthat—in secretsecret In the 18th century, the Comte de Saint Germain claimed to be Christian Rosenkreutz...... as well as the “Wandering Jew,” condemned to walk the Earth for eternity for mocking Christ on His way to Golgotha, and other fanciful, quasi-historical characters (NOTE: The Comte was a popular showman at wealthy parties— Voltaire referred to him as “The Wonderman” and “a man who never dies, and who knows everything”) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching momentmoment4—— InIn short,short, don'tdon't trusttrust “secret“secret societies”societies” oror magiciansmagicians toto presentpresent anythinganything eveneven remotelyremotely resemblingresembling aa trustworthytrustworthy historyhistory forfor themselves...themselves...... so...so wewe havehave nono reliablereliable sensesense ofof whenwhen thethe RosicrucianRosicrucian OrderOrder actuallyactually beganbegan (other(other thanthan sometimesometime inin thethe Renaissance...)Renaissance...) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial DeDe NogaretNogaret demandeddemanded thatthat thethe anti-Frenchanti-French PopePope BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII bebe triedtried andand convictedconvicted forfor heresy...heresy... eveneven thoughthough he'dhe'd beenbeen deaddead forfor eighteight years...years... WitnessesWitnesses camecame forwardforward onon bothboth sides,sides, andand itit seemedseemed likelike itit wouldwould bebe aa deadlockdeadlock ButBut thenthen (very(very tough)tough) twotwo knightsknights stoodstood up,up, threwthrew downdown theirtheir gauntlets,gauntlets, proclaimedproclaimed thatthat BonifaceBoniface waswas totallytotally innocent,innocent, andand demandeddemanded thethe rightright ofof trialtrial byby combatcombat IfIf someonesomeone couldcould beatbeat themthem inin aa fairfair fight,fight, thenthen BonifaceBoniface waswas obviouslyobviously guilty,guilty, sincesince GodGod wouldwould clearlyclearly favorfavor thethe sideside ofof truthtruth NoNo oneone tooktook themthem upup onon thethe offeroffer SoSo BonifaceBoniface waswas declareddeclared innocentinnocent andand thethe mattermatter waswas droppeddropped TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial DeDe NogaretNogaret demandeddemanded thatthat thethe anti-Frenchanti-French PopePope BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII bebe triedtried andand convictedconvicted forfor heresy...heresy... eveneven thoughthough he'dhe'd beenbeen deaddead forfor eighteight years...years... ClementClement dieddied inin 1314,1314, andand whilewhile hishis bodybody waswas layinglaying inin state,state, lightninglightning struckstruck thethe cathedral,cathedral, burningburning itit toto thethe ground...ground... TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn JacquesJacques d'Euse,d'Euse, hehe waswas alsoalso decidedlydecidedly French,French, muchmuch likelike ClementClement VIIIVIII InIn fact,fact, hehe waswas soso FrenchFrench thatthat hehe ampedamped upup thethe feudfeud betweenbetween thethe (pro-Pope)(pro-Pope) GuelphsGuelphs andand thethe (pro-Emperor)(pro-Emperor) GhibellinesGhibellines againstagainst thethe newnew contendercontender toto thethe ImperialImperial throne,throne, thethe decidedlydecidedly GermanGerman LudwigLudwig VIVI ofof BavariaBavaria (NOTE: It didn't help that Ludwig was a big supporter of the Franciscans, who had fallen out of favor with the wealthy Papacy, what with their belief that all clergy should live in poverty) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn JacquesJacques d'Euse,d'Euse, hehe waswas alsoalso decidedlydecidedly French,French, muchmuch likelike ClementClement VIIIVIII JohnJohn whippedwhipped outout Boniface'sBoniface's UnamUnam SanctumSanctum andand remindedreminded LudwigLudwig thatthat he—likehe—like allall thethe world—wasworld—was underunder thethe authorityauthority ofof thethe PopePope LudwigLudwig whippedwhipped outout MarsiliusMarsilius ofof Padua—Padua— aa “Renaissance“Renaissance man”man” trainedtrained inin justjust aboutabout everythingeverything (medicine,(medicine, politics,politics, theology,theology, etc.)etc.) In his Defensor Pacis, Marsilius argued that the Papacy was corrupt, and that it should never have logically or theologically been given political power in the secular realm Thus, he argued, the Emperor and the Pope rule separate, non-overlapping kingdoms, with the Emperor acting as “defender of the peace” for the general populace TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn JacquesJacques d'Euse,d'Euse, hehe waswas alsoalso decidedlydecidedly French,French, muchmuch likelike ClementClement VIIIVIII JohnJohn whippedwhipped outout Boniface'sBoniface's UnamUnam SanctumSanctum andand remindedreminded LudwigLudwig thatthat he—likehe—like allall thethe world—wasworld—was underunder thethe authorityauthority ofof thethe PopePope LudwigLudwig whippedwhipped outout MarsiliusMarsilius ofof Padua—Padua— aa “Renaissance“Renaissance man”man” trainedtrained inin justjust aboutabout everythingeverything (medicine,(medicine, politics,politics, theology,theology, etc.)etc.) This line of thinking was also echoed by other pro-Ludwig, scholarly luminaries such as the popular but controversial Franciscans William of Occam (of “Occam's Razor” fame) and Michael of Cesena—who championed faith and reason TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope BornBorn JacquesJacques d'Euse,d'Euse, hehe waswas alsoalso decidedlydecidedly French,French, muchmuch likelike ClementClement VIIIVIII JohnJohn whippedwhipped outout Boniface'sBoniface's UnamUnam SanctumSanctum andand remindedreminded LudwigLudwig thatthat he—likehe—like allall thethe world—wasworld—was underunder thethe authorityauthority ofof thethe PopePope LudwigLudwig whippedwhipped outout MarsiliusMarsilius ofof Padua—Padua— aa “Renaissance“Renaissance man”man” trainedtrained inin justjust aboutabout everythingeverything (medicine,(medicine, politics,politics, theology,theology, etc.)etc.) SoSo JohnJohn XXIIXXII excommunicatedexcommunicated LudwigLudwig IVIV TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— LudwigLudwig marchedmarched onon RomeRome andand waswas officiallyofficially crownedcrowned HolyHoly RomanRoman EmperorEmperor inin 13281328 (N(NOTE:: HeHe waswas actuallyactually crownedcrowned byby thethe RomanRoman senatorsenator SciarraSciarra Colonna—theColonna—the guyguy whowho hadhad soso famouslyfamously slappedslapped PopePope BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII inin thethe faceface 2525 yearyear earlier)earlier) TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— LudwigLudwig marchedmarched onon RomeRome andand waswas officiallyofficially crownedcrowned HolyHoly RomanRoman EmperorEmperor inin 13281328 TheThe firstfirst thingthing hehe diddid waswas toto deposedepose PopePope JohnJohn XXIIXXII ThenThen hehe installedinstalled hishis ownown PopePope NicholasNicholas V—anV—an ItalianItalian Franciscan—whoFranciscan—who waswas veryvery popularpopular NicholasNicholas presidedpresided overover aa mockmock trialtrial ofof JohnJohn XXIIXXII ((inin absentiaabsentia),), wherewhere aa strawstraw dummydummy waswas publiclypublicly ridiculedridiculed andand “executed”“executed” byby thethe newnew EmperorEmperor TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance FunkyFunky littlelittle teachingteaching moment—moment— LudwigLudwig marchedmarched onon RomeRome andand waswas officiallyofficially crownedcrowned HolyHoly RomanRoman EmperorEmperor inin 13281328 TheThe firstfirst thingthing hehe diddid waswas toto deposedepose PopePope JohnJohn XXIIXXII ThenThen hehe installedinstalled hishis ownown PopePope NicholasNicholas V—anV—an ItalianItalian Franciscan—whoFranciscan—who waswas veryvery popularpopular LudwigLudwig thenthen marchedmarched outout ofof RomeRome inin 13291329 and...and... JohnJohn immediatelyimmediately deposeddeposed Nicholas,Nicholas, whowho ranran awayaway (later, Nicholas would beg John's forgiveness, and would be allowed to live out the rest of his days as a prisoner in the Pope's palace) JohnJohn alsoalso excommunicatedexcommunicated WilliamWilliam ofof OccamOccam forfor hishis partpart inin thethe coupcoup TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13201320 TheThe MuslimsMuslims movedmoved againstagainst ChristiansChristians ButBut theythey didn'tdidn't attackattack EuropeanEuropean territories—theyterritories—they crackedcracked downdown onon ChristiansChristians inin thethe EastEast insteadinstead TheThe IlkhanateIlkhanate underunder ÖljaitüÖljaitü KhanKhan attackedattacked ArbelArbel (in(in northernnorthern )Iraq) slaughteringslaughtering 150,000150,000 ChristiansChristians therethere TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13201320 TheThe MuslimsMuslims movedmoved againstagainst ChristiansChristians ButBut theythey didn'tdidn't attackattack EuropeanEuropean territories—theyterritories—they crackedcracked downdown onon ChristiansChristians inin thethe EastEast TheThe IlkhanateIlkhanate underunder ÖljaitüÖljaitü KhanKhan attackedattacked ArbelArbel (in(in northernnorthern Iraq)Iraq) TheThe TughlaqTughlaq DynastyDynasty underunder GhiyasuddinGhiyasuddin invadedinvaded northernnorthern ,India, slaughteringslaughtering 200,000200,000 ChristiansChristians therethere TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13201320 TheThe MuslimsMuslims movedmoved againstagainst ChristiansChristians ButBut theythey didn'tdidn't attackattack EuropeanEuropean territories—theyterritories—they crackedcracked downdown onon ChristiansChristians inin thethe EastEast TheThe IlkhanateIlkhanate underunder ÖljaitüÖljaitü KhanKhan attackedattacked ArbelArbel (in(in northernnorthern Iraq)Iraq) TheThe TughlaqTughlaq DynastyDynasty underunder GhiyasuddinGhiyasuddin invadedinvaded northernnorthern IndiaIndia TheThe MongolsMongols ofof thethe GoldenGolden HordeHorde underunder AbuAbu Sa'idSa'id mademade theirtheir movemove onon CentralCentral Asia,Asia, attackingattacking bothboth ChinaChina andand thethe Ilkhanate,Ilkhanate, slaughteringslaughtering stillstill moremore thousandsthousands TheThe RenaissanceRenaissance TheThe earlyearly 1414th centurycentury waswas aa timetime ofof changechange 12951295 GhazanGhazan IlkhanIlkhan convertedconverted toto IslamIslam 13031303 BenedictBenedict XIXI becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13051305 ClementClement VV becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13091309 BonifaceBoniface VIIIVIII waswas putput onon trialtrial 13161316 JohnJohn XXIIXXII becamebecame thethe newnew PopePope 13201320 TheThe MuslimsMuslims movedmoved againstagainst ChristiansChristians CentralCentral Asia'sAsia's populationpopulation waswas soso decimateddecimated byby allall ofof thisthis thatthat nono oneone waswas leftleft toto farmfarm thethe landland CropsCrops werewere leftleft toto rotrot inin thethe fields,fields, andand thethe verminvermin populationpopulation swelledswelled toto thethe millionsmillions OnceOnce thethe foodfood waswas gone,gone, thethe massivemassive populationpopulation ofof ratsrats movedmoved intointo whatwhat waswas leftleft ofof thethe cities...cities...... and...and broughtbrought thethe BlackBlack DeathDeath withwith them...them...