BONIFACE IX, POPE. — When Urban VI died in Rome on 15 October 1389, he left the papacy in a state of difficulty and disarray: Clement VII was seated as antipope in Avignon, while those who had remained faithful to Roman obedience were dismayed by the harsh and intemperate conduct of Urban. The fourteen cardinals loyal to Urban quickly assembled in Rome and on 2 November elected as pope the cardinal Pietro Tomacelli, a Neapolitan, who took the name Boniface IX. He was in the prime of life, courteous and conciliatory in manner, yet decisive and shrewd; thus he soon won back those who had strayed from Urban and restored the fortunes of his obedience, despite the rebellion of some cardinals. Excommunicated by Clement VII, he responded with a counter-excommunication, making any personal reconciliation to end the schism impossible.
The state of mind of the Avignonese party was clearly revealed at the death of Clement (16 September 1394), when his cardinals, deaf to the plea of Charles VI of France to postpone a new election, proceeded after twelve days to elect the cardinal Pietro de Luna as Benedict XIII, thus thwarting every attempt at reunion.
To weaken the power of Louis II of Anjou, who had succeeded in seizing much of the kingdom of Naples, Boniface IX favored the house of Durazzo by every means at his disposal; he also moved to disperse the Breton bands still powerful around Lake Bolsena and to recover Viterbo. Forced to leave Rome in October 1392 because of discord with the Romans, he took refuge in Perugia; he returned to Rome on 26 September 1393 after compelling the Romans to accept terms that made him the true lord of the city. Having broken the power of Onorato Caetani, count of Fondi, and of Giovanni di Sciarra, with the help of Ladislaus, king of Naples, he secured preeminence over all his enemies. In 1400, accordingly, he set about rebuilding Castel Sant’Angelo, which the Romans had damaged under Urban VI, and fortifying the Capitoline Hill.
In these perilous undertakings Boniface IX was effectively aided by his brother Andrea and by his nephews, toward whom he showed a favor that seemed excessive, though it may be excused by the exigencies of the moment. He did not shrink from procuring the necessary funds through the granting of indulgences and spiritual favors, the conferral of benefices in violation of ecclesiastical laws, and the imposition and retention of taxes such as the “annates” on lesser benefices; for this he was accused of simony, and ecclesiastical discipline was certainly gravely compromised, while abuses spread widely—abuses that later ages vainly sought to uproot.
The jubilees of 1389 (already proclaimed by his predecessor) and of 1400 likewise served to enhance Boniface’s prestige throughout the lands of his obedience, especially in Germany, where Robert was recognized after the deposition of Emperor Wenceslas.
His Avignonese adversary was in far greater difficulties: on 8 January 1404 he issued five bulls permitting efforts to restore religious unity; at the end of June he decided to send an embassy to Rome charged with seeking an interview with Boniface to bring peace to the Church. The envoys reached Rome on 22 September; on 10 October Boniface IX died without having been able to conclude anything in this regard.
During his pontificate he created six cardinals and canonized Saint Bridget of Sweden.