handling papal business. The Avignon popes, particularly
John XXII (pope 1316–34), were highly effective in reor-
ganizing their finances, exploiting every possible means of
extracting money from religious foundations and their
subjects. These included the introduction of the annate
(payment of a newly appointed bishop’s first year’s in-
come) and the payment to the papacy of all incomes de-
rived from vacant sees. Most importantly they helped
prepare the way for LUTHER’s conflict with Johann Tetzel
by their increased reliance on the sale of INDULGENCES.
Using such methods the Avignon popes eventually suc-
ceeded in collecting an income three times greater than
that of the king of France.
In 1348 Clement VI bought the city of Avignon from
Queen Joanna I of Naples. The papal palace (built 1316–
70) and fortified walls remain there as witness to the
popes’ presence. Several Italian artists were attracted to
Avignon to work on the papal palace; they include Simone
MARTINIand Matteo Giovanetti, who was responsible for
the beautiful frescoes in the Chambre du Cerf and Grande
Audience.
The new tradition of an Avignon-based papal seat was
fundamental to the development of the Great Schism fol-
lowing the departure of Gregory XI (pope 1370–78) for
Rome (1377) to restore order in the Italian Papal States.
After the election of Urban VI (pope 1378–89) to the
Roman seat in April 1378, the majority of Frenchmen
among the cardinals (11 out of 16), all chose to share in
the election of the antipope, Clement VII, at Avignon in
August of the same year. Although the schism was effec-
tively ended by the abdication of the Avignon candidate,
Benedict XIII, in 1417, Avignon continued to put up rival
claimants until about 1430.3388 AAvviiggnnoonn,, ppaappaaccyy aatt