Pope Clement V, born Raymond Bertrand de Got, was the 14th century French prelate who served as the head of the Catholic Church from 1305 to 1314. He is best known for moving the papal seat from Rome to Avignon, establishing a period known as the Avignon Papacy or the Babylonian Captivity of the Papacy.
Pope Clement V was born in 1264 in Gascony, France, and he entered the clergy at a young age. He quickly rose through the ranks of the church, becoming Archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299. In 1305, after a lengthy papal conclave, he was elected as the successor to Pope Benedict XI.
Clement V faced several challenges during his papacy, including the suppression of the Knights Templar, a powerful military order that was accused of heresy and other charges. Under pressure from the King of France, Philip IV, Clement V ordered the arrest and interrogation of the Templars, eventually dissolving the order in 1312.
Another significant event during Clement V's papacy was the consolidation of ecclesiastical power in France. By moving the papal seat to Avignon, he effectively became dependent on the French monarchy, which had significant influence over the Pope's decisions.
Pope Clement V's reign marked an important historical period for the Catholic Church, characterized by the separation of the papacy from Rome and its alignment with French interests.
