mber 1305. From the beginning Clement V. was subservient
to French interests. Among his first acts was the creation of nine
French cardinals. Early in 1306 he modified or explained away those
features of the bulls _Clericis Laicos_ and _Unam sanctam_ which were
particularly offensive to the king. Most of the year 1306 he spent at
Bordeaux because of ill-health; subsequently he resided at Poitiers and
elsewhere, and in March 1309 the entire papal court settled at Avignon,
an imperial fief held by the king of Sicily. Thus began the seventy
years "Babylonian captivity of the Church." On the 13th of October 1307
came the arrest of all the Knights Templar in France, the breaking of a
storm conjured up by royal jealousy and greed. From the very day of
Clement's coronation the king had charged the Templars with heresy,
immorality and abuses, and the scruples of the weak pope were at length
overcome by apprehension lest the State should not wait for the Church,
but should proceed independently against the alleged heretics, as well
as by the royal threats of pressing the accusation of heresy against the
late Boniface VIII. In pursuance of the king's wishes Clement summoned
the council of Vienne (see VIENNE, COUNCIL OF), which was unable to
conclude that the Templars were guilty of heresy. The pope abolished the
order, however, as it seemed to be in bad repute and had outlived its
usefulness. Its French estates were granted to the Hospitallers, but
actually Philip IV. held them until his death.

In his relations to the Empire Clement was an opportunist. He refused to
use his full influence in favour of the candidacy of Charles of Valois,
brother of Philip IV., lest France became too powerful; and recognized
Henry of Luxemburg, whom his representatives crowned emperor at the
Lateran in 1312. When Henry, however, came into conflict with Robert of
Naples, Clement supported Robert and threatened the emperor with ban and
interdict. But the crisis passed with the unexpected death of Henry,
soon followed by that of the pope on the 20th of April 1314 at
Roquemaure-sur-Rhone. Though the sale of offices and oppressive taxation
which disgraced his pontificate may in part be explained by the
desperate condition of the papal finances and by his saving up gold for
a crusade, nevertheless he indulged in unbecoming pomp. Showing
favouritism toward his family and his nation, he brought untold
disaster on the Church.

BIBLIOGRAPHY--See "Clement