Gregory XI, Pope

BIBL.: Sources: the first attempt at a collection of the sources was made by J. Vossius, Gesta et monumenta Gr. IX cum scholis, Rome 1586. The most important texts are: 1) the original Register, completed after the legation of 1221 (Biblioteca nazionale di Parigi, ms. 5152); indispensable for the history of the cities of northern Italy and for relations with Federico; Registri dei card. Ugolino d'Ostia e Ottociano degli Ubaldini, ed. G. Levi, Rome 1890; 2) the Vatican Register, ed. L. Auvray, Les registres de Grégoire IX, Paris 1896–1910; the final fascicle and the index are still lacking; 3) the Vita (ex Curia), written by a cleric of the Curia and completed before G.’s death (of great value); 4) another Vita, composed by Bernardo Gui O. P., is merely a compilation without much critical use of sources; it deals especially with the details of the Inquisition. Both are published in RIS, III, 575–87 and 570–74. Potthast records approximately 3,500 letters. Further material is found in the sources for the history of Federico II: Huillard-Bréholles, Hist. diplom. Friderici II, Paris 1852 ff., and C. Rodenberg, MGH, Epistolae sae, XIII e regentis pontificum, I, p. 261 ff. – Studies: the oldest bibliography (up to 1905) is indicated by U. Chevalier, Biobibl., I, Paris 1905, p. 1882 ff.; biographies proper: P. Balan, 3 vols., Modena 1872 ff., J. Felten, Freiburg 1886; cf. also Hefele-Leclercq, V, II, pp. 1467–1611; Wadding, Annales, XVII (the most recent collection of all the decrees up to the Franciscan movement); R. Honig, Rapporti fra Federico II e G. IX rispetto alla spedizione in Palestina, Bologna 1896; W. Norden, Papsttum und Byzanz, Berlin 1903, p. 305 ff.; E. Graefe, Die Publizistik im letzten Kampfzwischen Kaiser Fr. und Papst Gr. IX., Heidelberg 1909; E. Bren, Papst Gr. IX. bis zum Beginn seines Pontificates, ibid. 1911; W. Fuchs, Die Besetzung der deutschen Bistümer unter Gr. IX., ibid. 1911; G. Marchetti-Longi, La legazione in Lombardia di Gregorio di Monte Longo negli aa. 1238-51, in Arch. della Soc. romana di st. patria, 36 (1913), pp. 225–85, 585–687, etc.; H. Golubovich, Disputatio Latinorum et Graecorum seu Relatio Apocrisarum

VII. CHARACTER AND IMPORTANCE

G.’s personality is rather that of a formal type than that of an instigator of great initiatives. His highest abilities were also known to Frederick, who described him as «religione perspicuus, facundia eloquentissimus, scientiae titulis circumspectus» (Levi, V. BIBLICA., p. 151). G. in fact demonstrated organizational abilities and, in defending the political rights of the Church, revealed a tenacious energy; against the heretics, a rare firmness; and he fought (as, for example, in the letters