Michael Brooks
The Papal States were territories in central Italy that were directly governed by the pope and the Catholic Church, not only spiritually but also in a temporal, secular sense. The official beginning of the Papal States came in the 8th century and lasted until 1870, though their extent and the degree of papal control varied over the centuries. The year 1650 saw the papacy's authority weakened by Pope Innocent X's denunciation of Emperor Ferdinand III for agreeing to the Treaty of Westphalia. This marked a period of political powerlessness for the pope, who had to act in secret when excommunicating Louis XIV and his ministers in 1688. The Papal States were considered one of Europe's major centres of art and culture during the Renaissance, and their capital was in Rome.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | 756 to 1870 |
| Territory | Territories in central Italy, including Lazio (Latium), Umbria, Marche, and part of Emilia-Romagna |
| Rule | Pope and the Catholic Church |
| Military forces | Volunteers, mercenaries (including Corsican Guard), and Catholic military orders |
| Navy | Small Papal Navy based at Civitavecchia on the west coast and Ancona on the east coast |
| Seat of the Catholic Church | Rome, relocated to Avignon (1309-1376/1377), then back to Rome |
| Art and culture | One of Europe's major centers of art and culture during the Renaissance |
| Political situation in 1650 | Pope Innocent X denounced Emperor Ferdinand III for agreeing to the Treaty of Westphalia (1648), weakening the papacy's authority |
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What You'll Learn
- The Papal States were ruled by the Pope and the Catholic Church
- The Pope's power in the Papal States waxed and waned
- The Pope's residence moved to Avignon in 1309
- The Reformation signalled the beginning of the end of the Papal States
- The Papal States were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula
The Papal States were ruled by the Pope and the Catholic Church
The Papal States were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the pope and the Catholic Church. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th century until the unification of Italy in the mid-19th century.
The official beginning of the Papal States can be traced back to the year 756, when Pepin the Short, king of the Franks, gave Pope Stephen II lands previously held by the Lombards. This "Donation of Pepin" added to lands already held by the bishops of Rome, and it formed the basis for the papal claim to temporal power in central Italy. The territories included present-day Lazio (Latium), Umbria, Marche, and part of Emilia-Romagna, though the extent of papal control varied over the centuries.
The popes maintained control over the Papal States throughout the volatile political situation in Europe, even during periods when the papacy fell under the influence of secular leaders or rival popes, such as during the Great Schism and the Avignon Papacy. The popes' rule was challenged at times by the rise of commune governments in Italy and conflicts with foreign powers, but the Papal States saw their greatest extent and prestige in the early 16th century under the warrior-pope Julius II.
The Reformation in the 16th century, however, signaled the beginning of the end for the Papal States. The spiritual head of the Catholic Church holding so much temporal power was one of the aspects that reformers objected to, and much of Europe left the Catholic Church, causing the Papal States to lose much of their foreign revenue. The power and authority of the Pope continued to wax and wane until the unification of Italy, which culminated in the end of the Papal States in 1870.
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The Pope's power in the Papal States waxed and waned
The Papal States were territories in central Italy that were directly governed by the pope, not only spiritually but also in a temporal, secular sense. The official beginning of the Papal States can be traced back to the 8th century when Pepin the Short, king of the Franks, gave Pope Stephen II lands that had been held by the Lombards. This marked the start of the pope's sovereignty over these territories, which lasted from 756 until 1870.
Over the centuries, the extent of papal control and the geographical boundaries of the region fluctuated. During the 9th century, for example, the breakup of the Carolingian Empire led to the papacy falling under the control of the Roman nobility. Despite this, the Papal States remained strong due to the secular leaders of Rome prioritizing their preservation.
The power of the pope in the Papal States experienced periods of growth and decline. During the Renaissance, the political power of the pope increased significantly. In addition to his religious role, the pope became a prominent secular ruler in Italy, and the territory under his control expanded. However, the Protestant Reformation dealt a significant blow to the pope's influence, as much of Europe left the Catholic Church, resulting in a substantial loss of foreign revenue for the Papal States.
The relocation of the Catholic Church's centre from Rome to Avignon in France, known as the Avignon Papacy, also impacted the pope's authority. During this period, from 1309 to 1376, the French king exerted considerable influence over the pope, causing resentment among other European powers. The Black Plague further weakened the Papal States during this time, decimating its population.
The rise of commune governments in Italy during the 12th and 13th centuries posed another challenge to papal authority, particularly in central Italy and Rome, where revolts against papal rule occurred in the early 1150s. Despite these challenges, the popes worked to rebuild their dominance over the Papal States, achieving considerable success in the 15th century through their focus on temporal power.
The Papal States reached their greatest extent and prestige in the early 16th century under the warrior-pope Julius II. However, the Reformation signalled the beginning of the end, as reformers objected to the spiritual head of the Church holding so much temporal power. The power of the pope in the Papal States waxed and waned, influenced by the political climate in Europe and the changing fortunes of the Catholic Church.
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The Pope's residence moved to Avignon in 1309
The Papal States were territories in central Italy that were directly governed by the pope, not only spiritually but also in a temporal, secular sense. The official beginning of the Papal States can be traced back to the 8th century, and they lasted until 1870.
In 1309, the papal residence moved from Rome to Avignon, marking a significant shift in the history of the Papal States. This relocation, known as the Avignon Papacy, lasted from 1309 to 1376, during which seven successive popes resided in Avignon instead of Rome. The move arose from the conflict between Pope Boniface VIII and the French crown, which culminated in the pope's arrest and maltreatment, and subsequent death at the hands of agents of King Philip IV of France.
Following Pope Boniface VIII's death, Pope Benedict XI was elected. However, he died within eight months, and Bertrand de Got, a Frenchman and a friend of King Philip IV, became Pope Clement V in 1305. Clement V refused to move to Rome and, in 1309, relocated his court to Avignon, where it remained for 67 years. This period of absence from Rome is sometimes referred to as the "'Babylonian captivity' of the Papacy."
During the Avignon Papacy, the papacy's claims to Italian territory weakened due to their absence from Italy. They faced challenges from the Visconti of Milan and the city of Florence, and their representatives were rejected by Bologna and other territories. The popes' focus shifted to rebuilding their dominance over the Papal States, which they successfully achieved in the 15th century through their concentration on temporal power.
The return of the papacy to Rome was initiated by Pope Gregory XI in 1377, marking the onset of the Great Western Schism. However, the rivalry between the Orsini and Colonna families for control of Rome continued, and the schism persisted until the Council of Constance in 1414-1418, which settled the question of papal succession and declared the French conclave of 1378 invalid.
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The Reformation signalled the beginning of the end of the Papal States
The Papal States were territories in central Italy that were directly governed by the pope, not only in a spiritual sense but also in a temporal, secular sense. The official beginning of the Papal States can be traced back to the 8th century when, in 756, the Frankish ruler Pippin III ("the Short") defeated the Lombard leader Aistulf and returned the captured lands to the pope. This "Donation of Pippin" provided the legal basis for the pope's claim to temporal power.
Over the centuries, the extent of papal control and the geographical boundaries of the region fluctuated. During the Avignon Papacy, for instance, papal claims to Italian territory weakened as the popes no longer resided in Italy. The Great Schism further exacerbated this issue, as rival popes tried to rule from both Avignon and Rome.
The Reformation, a 16th-century movement in Western Christianity, posed a significant challenge to the papacy and the authority of the Catholic Church. Led by Martin Luther, the Reformation marked the beginning of Protestantism and the end of the Middle Ages in Europe. One of the key objections of the reformers, who were becoming Protestants, was the concentration of temporal power in the hands of the spiritual head of the Church.
The death of the warrior-pope Julius II, who had brought the Papal States to their greatest extent and prestige in the early 16th century, coincided with the rise of the Reformation. This signalled the beginning of the end for the Papal States. The Papal Army was disbanded in 1870, and the remaining forces were gradually dissolved, with only the Swiss Guard continuing to serve at the Vatican. The Papal States officially ended in 1870 when they became part of Italy, later known as Vatican City.
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The Papal States were a conglomeration of territories on the Italian peninsula
The Papal States were a collection of territories on the Italian peninsula, also known as the Papal State. They were ruled by the popes in central Italy from 756 to 1870, though the geographical boundaries of the region varied over the centuries. The territories included present-day Lazio (Latium), Umbria, Marche, and part of Emilia-Romagna.
The official beginning of the Papal States can be traced back to the 8th century when Pepin the Short, king of the Franks, gave Pope Stephen II lands formerly held by Arian Christian Lombards. This was known as the Donation of Pepin and added to lands already acquired by the bishops of Rome. The pope consequently became the ruler of the area around Ravenna, the Pentapolis, and the Roman region.
The extent of papal control varied throughout the history of the Papal States and was influenced by the political climate in Europe. During the Renaissance, the political power of the pope in the Papal States grew, and the territory under his control expanded. The popes in this period focused on temporal power, and the Papal States reached their greatest extent and prestige under the warrior-pope Julius II in the early 16th century.
However, the Protestant Reformation signaled the beginning of the end for the Papal States. The spiritual head of the Church having so much temporal power was one of the aspects of the Catholic Church that the reformers objected to. The relocation of the center of the Catholic Church from Rome to Avignon in France, known as the Avignon Papacy, also weakened papal claims to Italian territory. During this period, the popes faced challenges from local tyrants, as well as from the Visconti of Milan and the city of Florence.
The Papal States ended when they became part of Italy in 1870, and what remained of the territory was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. The Vatican City, located within the city of Rome, is all that remains of the Papal States today.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Papal States were Catholic in 1650. The Papal States were territories in central Italy that were directly governed by the Pope and the Catholic Church.
The Papal States began in 756 and ended in 1870 when they became part of Italy.
The territories of the Papal States included modern Italian regions of Lazio (Latium), Umbria, Marche, and part of Emilia-Romagna.
Rome was the seat of the Catholic Church during the Papal States. However, from 1309 to 1376, the center of the Catholic Church was relocated to Avignon in France, which was known as the Avignon Papacy.
The military force of the Papal States was known as the Papal Army, which was disbanded in 1870. It included volunteers, mercenaries, and Catholic military orders.
