Renaissance Papacy
1417 CE to 1517 CE
The Renaissance Papacy is a period of papal history between the Western Schism and the Protestant Reformation.
From the election of Pope Martin V of the Council of Constance in 1417 to the Reformation, Western Christianity is largely free from schism as well as significant disputed papal claimants.
Although there are important divisions over the direction of the religion, these are resolved through the now-settled procedures of the papal conclave.The popes of this period are a reflection of the College of Cardinals that elects them.
The College is dominated by cardinal-nephews (relatives of the popes that elevated them), crown-cardinals (representatives of the Catholic monarchies of Europe), and members of the powerful Italian families.
There are two popes each from the House of Borgia, the House of della Rovere, and the House of Medici during this period.
The wealthy popes and cardinals increasingly patronize Renaissance art and architecture, (re)building the landmarks of Rome from the ground up.The Papal States begin to resemble a modern nation-state during this period, and the papacy takes an increasingly active role in European wars and diplomacy.
Popes are more frequently called upon to arbitrate disputes between competing colonial powers than to resolve complicated theological disputes.
To the extent that this period is relevant to modern Catholic dogma, it is in the area of papal supremacy.
None of these popes have been canonized as a saint, or even regarded as Blessed or Venerable.
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James Douglas has obtained a papal dispensation to marry his brother's widow, Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway, in order to keep the family estates together. (It is not entirely clear that this marriage ever took place, but it was certainly planned.)
He is involved in intrigues with the English court, and in 1455 rebels against James II once more, seizing Inverness.
Meanwhile another branch of the Douglas family, known as the Red Douglases, has risen into importance, and George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus, great-grandson of the first earl of Douglas, takes sides with the king against the Earl of Douglas.
Douglas, again deserted by his chief allies, flees to England, and his three younger brothers, Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, and John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie, are defeated on May 12 at the Battle of Arkinholm, near Langholm on the Esk, possibly by Angus.
Moray is killed, Ormonde taken prisoner and executed, and Balvenie escapes to England.
Their last stronghold, Threave Castle in Galloway, falls.
James Douglas is attainted in 1455, and his lands and estates are forfeit to the crown.
The lands of the Douglases are divided among their rivals, the lordship of Douglas falling to the Red Douglas 4th earl of Angus.