Kirchenakte Documented events from judgments, reports and church documents
Person 1370-1378 · about 8 years old · show in timeline

Gregory XI (pope 1370 to 1378): Made a cardinal by his uncle at eighteen; waged war on Milan, placed Florence under interdict and outlawed its citizens, and under him the massacre of Cesena took place

Pierre Roger de Beaufort, a nephew of Clement VI, became a cardinal in 1348 at eighteen. As pope he declared war on Bernabò Visconti in 1372 and hired the mercenary captain John Hawkwood. He placed Florence under interdict, excommunicated its citizens and outlawed them and their property. In 1377 he returned to Rome. The massacre of Cesena, ordered by Cardinal Robert of Geneva, embittered the Italians further. Both reference works call him learned but charge him with nepotism. After his death the Great Schism began.

Life dates
1370-1378 (about 8 years old)
Country
France, Italy, Vatican City
Institutions
Holy See
Category
Financial misconduct
Level of evidence
B two independent scholarly sources · what does this mean?

What happened to the people

How were they charged and sentenced?

  1. Against Florence he imposed the interdict, excommunicated the inhabitants and outlawed them and their possessions. The Catholic Encyclopedia calls the financial loss inestimable.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 2
    „He put Florence under interdict, excommunicated its inhabitants, and outlawed them and their possessions“
    Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, Abs. 2. Original
  2. In 1377 he condemned the teachings of Wyclif in five bulls and ordered their investigation in England.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 3
    „he issued five Bulls in which the errors of Wyclif were condemned“
    Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, Abs. 3. Original
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Gregory XI.
    „commanding an investigation of Wycliffe’s doctrines“
    Gregory XI, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 12, Gregory XI.. Original

What happened to those affected?

  1. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the notorious massacre of Cesena, ordered by Cardinal Robert of Geneva, embittered the Italians still more against the pope.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 3
    „The notorious massacre of Cesena, which was ordered by Cardinal Robert of Geneva“
    Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, Abs. 3. Original

Background

Course of events

  1. After the ban on Bernabò Visconti he declared war in 1372 and bought the English condottiere John Hawkwood into his service.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 2
    „Hereupon Gregory XI declared war upon him in 1372“
    Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, Abs. 2. Original
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 2
    „bought into his service the English condottiere John Hawkwood“
    Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, Abs. 2. Original

Response of the Church

  1. His uncle Clement VI heaped benefices on him and made him cardinal deacon in 1348 at eighteen. Both reference works call him learned and charge him with nepotism. They give different birth years, 1331 and 1330.
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 1
    „who heaped numerous benefices upon him and finally created him cardinal deacon in 1348“
    Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, Abs. 1. Original
    Evidence: Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource), Abs. 3
    „He was learned and pious, though not free from nepotism“
    Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, Abs. 3. Original
    Evidence: Cambridge University Press (Wikisource), Gregory XI.
    „irresolute and guilty of nepotism“
    Gregory XI, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 12, Gregory XI.. Original

See also

Scholarly literature and reference works

  1. Reference work
    Cambridge University Press (Wikisource): Gregory XI, in: Encyclopædia Britannica (1911), Bd. 12, 1 January 1911. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
  2. Reference work
    Robert Appleton Company / The Encyclopedia Press (Wikisource): Pope Gregory XI, in: Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), Bd. 6, 1 January 1909. Original (retrieved 31 Oct 2026)
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Last changed on 31 October 2026. Is something missing or wrong? Suggest an addition or correction.