How Did a Struggle for Power Divide the Church?

Throughout history, power struggles between monarchs and religious leaders have shaped the course of civilization. One such conflict erupted in the early 14th century between Philip IV of France and Pope Boniface VIII. The pope, believing in the supremacy of spiritual authority over secular rulers, sought to rally Christians against Philip. But power, in the end, is not simply about divine right—it is about who controls force and resources.

In 1303, Philip responded decisively. He dispatched his advisor, Guillaume de Nogaret, along with soldiers, to Anagni, where they captured, humiliated, and physically abused Boniface VIII. Though locals freed him soon after, the experience shattered the pope. A month later, he was dead—perhaps not from wounds, but from the psychological impact of realizing that his authority had limits.

This event marked the beginning of a shift. The papacy, once firmly rooted in Rome, moved to Avignon in 1309, where it remained under French influence for decades. This period, known as the Avignon Papacy, weakened the church’s spiritual standing while strengthening its political dependence on secular rulers.

By 1378, the crisis deepened. Two rival popes emerged: Clement VII in Avignon and Urban VI in Rome. This division, known as the Western Schism, undermined the legitimacy of the papacy. Attempts to resolve the issue at the Council of Pisa (1409) only made matters worse, as a third pope was elected. Chaos, rather than unity, defined the church.

Finally, at the Council of Constance (1414–1418), the schism was resolved under the influence of leaders like Sigismund of Luxembourg. A new pope, Martin V, was elected in 1417, restoring a single authority to the Catholic Church.

But this crisis also ignited new ideas about power. Thinkers like Marsilius of Padua argued that church councils (synods) should hold more power than the pope, challenging the notion of an absolute religious monarchy. In time, the papacy adapted—by focusing on grandeur and spectacle. From 1401, popes began investing heavily in massive architectural projects, using art and buildings to reaffirm their power. Yet these efforts were not just displays of faith; they were also costly, extravagant, and fueled by financial excess.

At the heart of the medieval church, a tension existed between secular religion and regular religion. The grand institutions of bishops, archbishops, and popes sought control over Christian society. Meanwhile, monastic orders, like the Benedictines (founded in 529 at Monte Cassino by St. Benedict), focused on labor, contemplation, and learning—a different vision of spirituality, one that withdrew from the corruption of worldly power.

In local communities, presbyters (priests) carried out religious duties, bridging the gap between the elite hierarchy of the church and ordinary believers. The Catholic Church was not a single, unified institution but a layered system of power, belief, and competing interests. The medieval world was shaped not just by faith, but by the struggle over who should wield it.

Sources:

Joëlle Rollo-Koster, Avignon and Its Papacy, 1309–1417: Popes, Institutions, and Society (2015)

Joëlle Rollo-Koster and Thomas M. Izbicki (Editors), A Companion to the Great Western Schism (1378–1417) (2009)

Giles of Rome, On Ecclesiastical Power (2004)

Joëlle Rollo-Koster, The Great Western Schism, 1378–1417: Performing Legitimacy, Performing Unity (2022)