Obedience and hierarchy in the empire, papacy, and Franciscan order, 1290-1350

Thesis

This thesis considers the relationship between the concepts of obedience (oboedientia) and hierarchy (hierarchia) in the context of the controversies within and between the Papacy, Empire, and the Franciscan Order from c.1290 to c.1350. Obedience and hierarchy had very different origins: the former rooted in the New Testament as a fundamental characteristic of a Christian life and given extremely strong emphasis in the development of monasticism, influentially transmitted through the Benedictine Rule; the latter derived from the fifth-century Neo-Platonism of the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius. Each concept appeared straightforward, but each contained fundamental internal contradictions, which were further exposed as the two concepts were brought together over the thirteenth century. These manifested themselves in a number of tensions, the most significant of which were between textual and human authorities, between individual conscience and ecclesiastical discipline, and between the single, perfect, celestial hierarchy of the angels and the twofold earthly hierarchies of the Church and the temporal power.

This thesis argues that the events of the period 1290-1350, including the conflicts between Pope Boniface VIII and Philip IV of France, the Franciscan poverty controversy, and the dispute between Emperor Ludwig IV and Pope John XXII, forced philosophers and theologians to address these latent tensions. Although the existence of the issues under discussion had previously been recognised, events compelled contemporaries to undertake a detailed engagement with these concepts’ complex practical consequences and to make and defend choices which could have serious personal ramifications. Obedience and hierarchy were important, nuanced, and fruitful conceptual categories in this period, and their development should be considered as one of its major intellectual products alongside conciliar ideas and the theories of property and natural rights.

Authors: Peplow, A

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-obamevbxr
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Franciscan order; Dominican order; papacy; friars; William of Ockham; conscience; John XXII; religious orders
• Subjects: Philosophy, Medieval; Holy Roman Empire--History--Ludwig IV, 1314-1347; Obedience, Vow of; Monasticism and religious orders; Church; Middle Ages