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Perugia was a long-time papal residence during the 13th century. Five popes were elected here:Pope Honorius III (1216–1227),Pope Clement IV (1265–1268),Pope Honorius IV (1285–1287),Pope Celestine V (1294), andPope Clement V (1305–1314).[1] These elections took place in thePalazzo delle Canoniche adjoining thePerugia Cathedral.
The Cathedral contained the tombs ofPope Innocent III (1198–1216),Pope Urban IV (1261–1264), andPope Martin IV (1281–1285).[1] These were destroyed byGérard du Puy, thecardinal-nephew ofPope Gregory XI (1370–1378).[2]
During du Puy's tenure as papal governor during theWar of the Eight Saints he pillaged the Duomo construction site for materials for his private fortress.[3] According to Heywood, due to du Puy's construction, "so certain did it appear that thePapal Curia was about to be transferred to Perugia that foreign merchants began to negotiate for the hire of shops and warehouses in the city."[3] The tomb ofPope Benedict XI (1303–1304) isstill extant inS. Domenico.
At least five popes spent significant periods of residence in Perugia.
Pope Zacharias convinced Lombard KingRatchis to abandon his siege of the city in 749.[1] The city was also included in the "Donation of Pepin", and thus added to thePapal States.[1]
Pope Innocent III (1198–1216) was in Perugia in September 1198 to consecrate S. Lorenzo; by October, he had left forTodi.[4] Innocent III died in Perugia in 1216, where the cardinals gathered to elect Honorius III.
According to Heywood,
According to Heywood, Perugia "virtually assumed the position of Papal Vicar in Umbria."[6] The two apparently had a falling-out by the time of Martin IV, who excommunicated the entire city of Perugia for disobeying his order not to exact vengeance upon theBishopric of Foligno, and he and his cardinals were burned in effigy in Perugia.[7]
After the death of Frederick II,Pope Innocent IV (1243–1254) returned to Italy and reached Perugia in November 1251.[8] He did not resume his journey towards Rome until 1253, when he was summoned by Senator Brancaleone.[8] According to Heywood,
Pope Urban IV (1261–1264) lived in Perugia in 1264, while fleeing with his Curia fromPietro Di Vico, who was planning to ambush him inOrvieto.[10] Urban Iv remained in Perugia until his death.
Pope Benedict XI (1303–1304) took refuge in Perugia upon his election where he died in July 1304, triggering an eleven-month election in the "Palazzo del Papa."[11]Pope Clement V (1305–1314) was elected, who moved the papacy to Avignon, causing theAvignon Papacy.[11]
Pope Boniface IX (1389–1404) lived in Perugia from September 1392 until 1393 during theWestern Schism.[12] His legate, Pileo, the archbishop of Ravenna, had been guarding the citadel and the city in his absence.[12] While in the city, Boniface IX recalled the Guelphic exiles and achieved a military victory againstGiovanni Sciarra da Vico.[12] One of these exiles was murdered in the streets in July 1393 andPandolfo de' Baglioni, a noble, interfered with the Podesta's ability to hand down a sentence; in retaliation, an angry mob killed Pandolfo and much of his family.[12] As the city erupted in violence, the pope and his aides fled toAssisi.[12]
A portion of theCanonica (rectory), which had previously been "invaded" by the civic magistrates, was occupied by the popes, and later became known as thePalazzo del Papa; it was later used as the residence of the papal governor (Palazzo del Governatore).[13] TheCanonica was connected to the Bishop's Palace by massive arches which now comprise theVia delle Volte.[13] The Great Hall was capable of seating 600 persons.[13] The palace, then the residence of the papal governor, burned to the ground in 1534.[14]Pope Pius IV (1559-1565) granted the site and the remains to CardinalFulvio della Corgna.[14]
ThePiazza della Paglia was renamedPiazza del Papa in 1816, when a statute ofPope Julius III (1550–1555) was moved there.[15]
In 1375, Perugia was one of the first cities to joinFlorence in rebellion against Gregory XI in the War of the Eight Saints.[1]Pope Boniface IX (1389–1404) reclaimed the city in 1403.[1] In 1416,Pope Martin V (1417–1431) recognizedBraccio da Montone as lord of Perugia.[1]Pope Julius II (1503–1513) conqueredGian Paolo Baglione in the city in 1506, andPope Leo X (1513–1521) ordered him decapitated in 1520.[1] Thereafter, Perugia was again an immediate dependency of theHoly See.[1] The city rebelled againstPope Paul III's (1534–1549) salt tax in 1540.[1]Pierluigi Farnese suppressed the rebellion for Paul III, who built a fortress in the city.[1]Pope Julius III (1550–1555) restored many of the cities privileges thereafter.[1] When the Perugians rebelled again in 1848 they demolished Paul III's tower.[1] Pontifical troops retook the city again in 1859.[1]
Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903), a former bishop of Perugia, made the see anarchdiocese upon his election.[1]
