1397: Signed by the Messenger from the King to the Holy Roman Empire and the Popes

Sold in the 1950s by Erik Scherling in the Netherlands, then became part of the great Otto Fisher collection

The Avignon Papacy saw the schism of the Catholic Church into a realm of two popes, one in south France and another at the Vatican. A total of seven popes reigned at Avignon, all French, and all under the influence of the French Crown. In 1376, Gregory XI abandoned Avignon and moved his court to Rome (arriving on January 17, 1377). But after Gregory’s death in 1378, deteriorating relations between his successor Urban VI and a faction of cardinals gave rise to the Western Schism. This started a second line of Avignon popes, subsequently regarded as illegitimate and called antipopes. The last Avignon antipope, Benedict XIII, lost most of his support in 1398.

This is the great Western Schism, where the King withdrew French support from the Avignon line of Popes.

On May 22, 1395, a magnificent embassy, headed by the royal dukes of Orleans, Burgundy, and Berry, and reinforced by many cardinals, implored Benedict to resign the tiara and bring peace and unity to the Church. Long negotiations and many solemn audiences and conferences ensued, but Benedict stood firm as a tower; he, God’s Vicar on earth, would yield to no secular pressure; he would resign only if the intruder at Rome first set the example. To all Benedict had one answer : “Sith God of His deveyne grace ha the provyded for me the papalyte, as long as I lyve I ,wyll be Pope and I wyll not depose myself nouther for kyng, duke, erle, nor other treatye, but I wyll abyde Pope.” King Charles VII and clergy then determined to take strong measures, and on September I, 1398, Robert Cordelier and Tristan de Bosco, the royal heralds, stood on the bridge-head at Villeneuve, and at sound of trumpet proclaimed the withdrawal of the realm and clergy of France from Benedict of Avignon. At this time, Charles VI released his people from obedience to Benedict, and forbade his subjects, under severe penalties, to submit to this pope.

Prior to this, Cordelier had served as the messenger of the King to the Holy Roman Empire in France’s ongoing negotiations with them.

Robert Cordelier, document signed, Paris, November 30, 1397, as messenger of the King, “reporter of the king’s affairs” (conseiller et maistre des Requestes de l’ostel du Roy), acknowledges the receipt of 300 francs from “Michel du Sablon receveur general” of matters of war… in payment of his good and agreeable services. Which he has rendered to the king for a long time and, as it is to be hoped, still to be rendered in future.