Bertrand de Got, Archbishop of Bordeaux, was pope from 1305 to 1314 and moved the seat of the popes to Avignon. According to Lea, he and his retinue plundered the churches along the road on his journey to Bordeaux. In 1305 he had a crusade preached against the Apostolic Brethren led by Dolcino and promised plenary indulgence; more than a thousand died, and after the trial Dolcino and Margherita were handed over to the secular arm. In 1309 he had a crusade preached against Venice. He gave way to King Philip IV in the trial of the Templars and dissolved the order in 1312; according to Lea, he bore the shame and guilt of the ruin of the Templars.
Deaths
more than 1,000(estimated, Dolcinists in the crusade of 1307 (chronicler in Lea))Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580)
„more than a thousand of the heretics perished“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88). Original
On 5 June 1305 he issued bulls for a crusade against the Apostolic Brethren led by Dolcino and later promised plenary indulgence to all who fought them for thirty days or paid a recruit. At the storming of their camp on 23 March 1307 more than a thousand died, according to a chronicler quoted by Lea. On his orders the prisoners were tried at Vercelli; Margherita was burned and Dolcino torn apart with red-hot pincers. See the entry Parma and Vercelli 1300 to 1307.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„On the 5th of June 1305 Pope Clement V., recognizing the impotence of the ordinary methods of repression, issued bulls for preaching a crusade against the Dolcinists.“
„offered plenary indulgence to all who would serve in the army of the Lord for thirty days against them, or pay a recruit for such service“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 116.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 117
„On that day more than a thousand of the heretics perished in the flames, or in the river, or by the sword“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 117.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 118
„About two months passed away before Clement’s orders were received, that they should be tried and punished at the scene of their crimes.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 118.
Original
How were they charged and sentenced?
In the first year of his pontificate King Philip IV demanded the suppression of the Order of the Temple. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the king's plan succeeded owing to the weakness and irresolution of the pope. Clement ordered an investigation; after the arrest of the Templars in October 1307 he protested against the king's action but on 22 November ordered an investigation in all countries. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, nowhere where torture was lacking were confessions obtained like those in France. On 22 March 1312 he dissolved the order by bull. According to Lea, he carried with him to the grave the shame and guilt of the ruin of the Templars.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt Clement V and the Templars
„Owing to the weakness and irresolution of Pope Clement, the royal plan succeeded.“
Pope Clement V, Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt Clement V and the Templars.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt Clement V and the Templars
„Clement had issued another Bull (22 November) commanding an investigation of the anti-Templar charges in all European countries“
Pope Clement V, Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt Clement V and the Templars.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt Clement V and the Templars
„nowhere, given the lack of torture, were confessions obtrained like those secured in France“
Pope Clement V, Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt Clement V and the Templars.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912), Abschnitt zum Konzil von Vienne
„he decreed the dissolution, not the condemnation of the order, and not by penal sentence, but by an Apostolic Decree ( Bull of 22 March, 1312)“
The Knights Templar, Abschnitt zum Konzil von Vienne.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39458), Bd. 2, S. 98
„carrying with him the shame and guilt of the ruin of the Templars“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 2 (New York 1888), Bd. 2, S. 98.
Original
Background
Course of events
Bertrand de Got was born at Villandraut in Gascony in 1264, was Archbishop of Bordeaux and was elected pope at Perugia on 5 June 1305. He was crowned at Lyons on 14 November 1305 in the presence of Philip the Fair, resided at first at various places in France and finally settled at Avignon. He died at Roquemaure on 20 April 1314.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Artikel Pope Clement V
„Born at Villandraut in Gascony, France, 1264; died at Roquemaure, 20 April, 1314. He was elected, 5 June, 1305, at Perugia“
Pope Clement V, Artikel Pope Clement V.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Artikel Pope Clement V
„where he was crowned (14 November, 1305) in presence of Philip the Fair and with great pomp“
Pope Clement V, Artikel Pope Clement V.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Artikel Pope Clement V
After his coronation he travelled with his retinue to Bordeaux and, according to Lea, plundered the churches on the road so thoroughly that the Archbishop of Bourges afterwards had to present himself daily among his canons for a share of provisions. His stay at the wealthy Priory of Grammont so impoverished the house that the prior resigned.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39451), Bd. 1, S. 17
„Clement V., after his consecration at Lyons, made a progress to Bordeaux, in which he and his retinue so effectually plundered the churches on the road that, after his departure from Bourges, Archbishop Gilles, in order to support life, was obliged to present himself daily among his canons for a share in the distribution of provisions“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 1 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 1, S. 17.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39451), Bd. 1, S. 17
„the papal residence at the wealthy Priory of Grammont so impoverished the house that the prior resigned in despair“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 1 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 1, S. 17.
Original
Response of the Church
Against Venice, which had seized Ferrara, he imposed excommunication and interdict, outlawed the Venetians and had a crusade preached against them; his legate defeated them in a terrific battle on 28 August 1309.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908), Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt States of the Church
„When excommunication, interdict, and a general prohibition of all commercial intercourse failed, he outlawed the Venetians, and caused a crusade to be preached against them; finally his legate, Cardinal Pélagrue, overthrew in a terrific battle the haughty aggressors (28 August, 1309).“
Pope Clement V, Artikel Pope Clement V, Abschnitt States of the Church.
Original · Archive copy
Reference work
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 4 (1908): Pope Clement V, 1 January 1908.
Original · Archive copy(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
Reference work
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912): The Knights Templar, 1 January 1912.
Original(retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
Reference work
Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Apostolici, 1 January 1911.
Original(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
Scholarly literature
Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39451): Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 1 (New York 1887/88).
Original(retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
Scholarly literature
Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39458): Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 2 (New York 1888).
Original(retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
Scholarly literature
Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580): Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88).
Original(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
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