Urban V

the last of the Avignon popes, reigned from 1362 to 1370. His name was William Grimvard, and he had been a Benedictine monk, abbot at Auxerre in 1353, and at St. Victor's, in Marseilles, in 1358. He was rated as a most capable canonist, and had officiated as teacher of canon and civil law in Montpellier, Avignon, Toulouse, and Paris. He succeeded Innocent VI in the pontificate, and found himself at once in difficult circumstances. In Italy Bernabo Visconte had rebelled and taken possession of several cities belonging to the Church, which could only be recovered through a treaty by which the pope pledged himself to the payment of a ransom amounting to half a million gold florins. — England had refused to pay the customary tribute, and Edward III had even caused a very resolute denial of such revenues to be opposed by the Parliament to the pope's demand. The Turks were threatening danger to Cyprus. Urban sought to advance the papal interests amid these complications by means of legates, the preaching of a new crusade against the Turks, and a removal of the papal seat to Rome. Greatly to the dissatisfaction of many cardinals, the latter project was executed in 1367, the pope leaving Avignon: April 30, and reaching Rome Oct. 16. He was received by queen Joanna of Naples, on whom he conferred a golden rose and a consecrated sword. The emperor John Paleologus came over to the faith of Rome and promised fealty to the papal authority, Oct. 18, 1369. But, urged by the French cardinal, the pope returned to Avignon in September, 1370. Soon afterwards he died (Nov. 13), and was buried, according to his request, at Marseilles. It is to be added that Urban cultivated a strict morality, required bishops to reside in their dioceses, and zealously combated the growing simony and accumulation of benefices in the hands of individual prelates. Several of his bulls condemn, in addition, the formation of unions and the incorporation of benefices. See Mansi, 26:422 sq.; Gieseler, 2, 3, 92 sq., 117 sq.; and Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v.