Interdict in England 1208
Interdict 1208-1214 (Deeds of Pope Innocent)
Excommunication 1209-1213
It was John’s fault
- Warning letter from Innocent III in 1198
- The direct reason provided for the interdict and excommunication in
the Deeds of Pope Innocent was the royal will had no part to play in
the electoral processes of the church
There were precedents for an interdict
- An interdict was placed on France in 1200
- Henry had been on the verge of excommunication in 1105 because
of his failure to restore archiepiscopal lands and are revenues
- John’s great rival, Philip II of France, also experienced an interdict in
1200 although this only lasted for 8 months
- Enforcement of the interdict was patchy at best - confessions
outside of church (panis benedictus)
There were precedents for royal interventions in Church elections
- 1198-1200 royal choice of William Tolomeus at Avranches
- 1201-02 John secured is preferred appointment, Vivian de l’Etang, at
Coutances
- 1202 William de Beaumont elected at Angers
- With papal approval the king conferred the bishopric of Carlisle on
Bernard
Contentious results of John’s interventions:
- Sées Normandy 1201-123 - John attempts to force the election of
Herbert, son of Ralph L’Abbé, however the canons wanted to elect
one of their own
- Innocent had to intervene in June 1201
- Innocent threatened to impose an interdict
John’s prior relations with the Pope
Positive
- In 1200, the canons of Lisieux elected Jordan du Hommet after
John’s appeal to Innocent
- In 1201 Innocent III recognised Otto, John’s nephew, as King of
Germany
- In 1206 Innocent III wrote to the barons ordering them to pay
scutage
- In 1208, in letters to Langton, the Pope acknowledges that the king
felt aggrieved
Interdict 1208-1214 (Deeds of Pope Innocent)
Excommunication 1209-1213
It was John’s fault
- Warning letter from Innocent III in 1198
- The direct reason provided for the interdict and excommunication in
the Deeds of Pope Innocent was the royal will had no part to play in
the electoral processes of the church
There were precedents for an interdict
- An interdict was placed on France in 1200
- Henry had been on the verge of excommunication in 1105 because
of his failure to restore archiepiscopal lands and are revenues
- John’s great rival, Philip II of France, also experienced an interdict in
1200 although this only lasted for 8 months
- Enforcement of the interdict was patchy at best - confessions
outside of church (panis benedictus)
There were precedents for royal interventions in Church elections
- 1198-1200 royal choice of William Tolomeus at Avranches
- 1201-02 John secured is preferred appointment, Vivian de l’Etang, at
Coutances
- 1202 William de Beaumont elected at Angers
- With papal approval the king conferred the bishopric of Carlisle on
Bernard
Contentious results of John’s interventions:
- Sées Normandy 1201-123 - John attempts to force the election of
Herbert, son of Ralph L’Abbé, however the canons wanted to elect
one of their own
- Innocent had to intervene in June 1201
- Innocent threatened to impose an interdict
John’s prior relations with the Pope
Positive
- In 1200, the canons of Lisieux elected Jordan du Hommet after
John’s appeal to Innocent
- In 1201 Innocent III recognised Otto, John’s nephew, as King of
Germany
- In 1206 Innocent III wrote to the barons ordering them to pay
scutage
- In 1208, in letters to Langton, the Pope acknowledges that the king
felt aggrieved
