The Babylonian Captivity

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30325, 28 December 1963, Page 3

The Babylonian Captivity

The Popes At Avignon. By G. Mollat. Nelson. 344 pp. Index. Students of ecclesiastical history will welcome this work dealing with a period of the Papacy when seven Popes ruled in Avignon from 1305-1378, and often referred to as “the Babylonian Captivity.” r Much controversial writing has poured out regarding the Avignon occupancy, most of it tinctured by the mental slant of the writers. Professor Mollat’s book will settle questions which have rankled for centuries. The ninth edition of the book written in French, appeared in 1949. This particular book is a translation from the ninth edition. The writer says in his preface that he is “not writing a defence, but an historical account . . . without any preconceived notion save that of stating what the texts imply.” He has succeeded to a notable degree. Professor Mollat divides his subject into three; The Popes, Papal Relations with Christendom. and Papal Institutions. There were seven Popes, all Frenchmen, at Avignon Clement V <13051314) John XXII (13131334), Benedict XII (13341342), Clevent VI (1342-1352) Innocent VI (1352-1362), Urban V (13621370), Gregory XI (1370-1378)

Pope John XXII was the most outstanding. He faced serious financial problems and had to invent and exploit every device for extracting 1 money for the coffers of the Papacy. Associated with this period was the institution of the Templars. This ancient order has as many detractors as it has advocates. During the Avignon period the order was severely attacked by the French King who was able to coerce Pope Clement V. indeed made him a catspaw for despoiling the Templars and confiscating their great wealth. “The trial of the Templars was a trumped-up affair” says Professor Mollat, “the charges of immorality, superstition and heresy were false and their innocence is now generally admitted.” The division dealing with 1 the Papacy in Italy, France, Spain and England is marked : with a balanced outlook, or backlook, on history. A chapter on Papal Institutions 1 is full of information. The . extravagant living at the court of Avignon is revealed by the bill of fare at the marriage of a great niece of John XXII it was a gargantuan feast. Historians and students will find this book not only interesting but also, in factual accounts, a very necessary corrective to much careless and uninformed criticism.