Papal Inquisition (1340s)

Timeline

1. 1342–1345Papal Palace · AvignonAfter acceding in 1342, Clement VI continued to appoint inquisitors to try heresy cases, expanded papal oversight of local Church justice, and collected fines and offerings through inquisitorial procedures to support the expenses of the Avignon court.
2. 1343–1348Languedoc · LanguedocIn the 1340s papal inquisitors in Languedoc continued investigating residual heresy suspects, while in northern Italian cities such as Florence and Siena they worked with local authorities on religious heresy and moral cases to uphold papal orthodoxy.
3. 1348–1350Europe · EuropeAfter the Black Death erupted in 1348, the papacy issued indulgences and plenary pardons on a massive scale while maintaining heresy trials; the inquisitorial bodies also helped distinguish 'heretics' from 'apocalyptic prophets,' and the flagellant movement of 1349 drew Church attention and suppression.