1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 1: Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of iHeartRadio and Grimm 2 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 1: and Mild from Aaron Manky. Listener discretion advised. In the 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: early evening on May eighth, twenty twenty five, white smoke 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: billowed from the Sistine Chapel in Rome. A new pope 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: had been elected. Onlookers in the Vatican City and across 6 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 1: the world waited with bated breath for over an hour, 7 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: their eyes trained on the central logia of Saint Peter's Basilica, 8 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:36,520 Speaker 1: where the new Pontiff's identity and regnal name would be announced. 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: After fewer than two days of voting. Before too long, 10 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: Cardinal Dominique Mamberti emerged to share with the world that 11 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: the new head of the Catholic Church would be the 12 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: former Cardinal Robert Privost, now Leo the fourteenth. As Momberti 13 00:00:55,280 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: put it in the traditional Latin, we have a new pope. 14 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: This papal conclave, which turned out to be among the 15 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: shortest in history, although not the shortest and not too 16 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: much shorter than the previous two papal elections, inspired a 17 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: great deal of public interest. Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, was 18 00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 1: a widely beloved figure, and many people in the Catholic 19 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: world and beyond were deeply invested in whether and how 20 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: the new pontiff would carry on his legacy. Perhaps spurred 21 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: on by the success of the twenty twenty four film Conclave, 22 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 1: many people were also intrigued by the rituals and secrecy 23 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: defining the election process to select a new pope. In fact, 24 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: many of the rules governing this two day conclave and 25 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: every conclave for hundreds of years, stem from the events 26 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: of a single papal election in the past, the long 27 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: conclave in history, and in many ways, the first conclave 28 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: in history started in twelve sixty eight and took nearly 29 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: three years, changing the way hopes are chosen forever. I'm 30 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: Danish Schwartz and this is noble blood. Clement the Fourth 31 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: was on his deathbed. It was twelve sixty eight and 32 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: he had sat on the throne of Saint Peter for 33 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: just under four years. He had lived a full life. 34 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,959 Speaker 1: He had fought in war, studied law, married and had 35 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,919 Speaker 1: two daughters, all before becoming a widower and joining the church. 36 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 1: And he had made some important achievements during his reign, 37 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:53,519 Speaker 1: having summoned the now Saint Thomas aquinas to serve as 38 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 1: papal theologian, and he made strides towards diplomatic relations with 39 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: the Mongols. Despite his achievements, however, much of Clement's pontificate 40 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,519 Speaker 1: had been defined by the conflict between the papal loyalist 41 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: Guelphs and the anti papal Ghibelines. You might remember those 42 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: factions from our episode on the Cannibal Count of Pisa, 43 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: who by this time was already beginning to betray his 44 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 1: Gibeline sympathies. The election in which Clement had become Pope, 45 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: which began in twelve sixty four and lasted around four months, 46 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 1: had seen significant debate among the College of Cardinals about 47 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: how best to protect the papacy from Gibeline threats. Clement, 48 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: who was French in origin, in fact, had had to 49 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: travel to Italy in disguise upon his election to the 50 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: papacy in order to protect himself from Gibeline violence. Clement 51 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: had reigned throughout the entirety of his pontificate from Viterbo, 52 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: a city fifty miles northwest of Rome, which had been 53 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 1: the seat of the papacy since twelve fifty seven, when 54 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: Pope Alexander the fourth had moved the papal curia there 55 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: in the wake of excessive violence in Rome. That violence 56 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: in Rome had continued during the papacy of Clement's immediate predecessor, 57 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:26,159 Speaker 1: Urban the Fourth, and into Clement's papacy. In fifteen sixty six, 58 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: Clement had overseen the completion of construction begun under Alexander 59 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: the Fourth and commissioned by the Viturban Captain of the people, 60 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: to convert the bishop's palace in Viturbo into a bonafide 61 00:04:40,240 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: papal residence, which became known as the Palazzo de Puppy 62 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 1: or the Palace of the Popes. Clement was devoted to 63 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: protecting the independence of the papacy. Most notably, he allied 64 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: with Charles the First of Anjou, the younger brother of 65 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 1: King Louis the ninth of France, in his controversial conquest 66 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:07,000 Speaker 1: of Naples, offering him the throne in exchange for an 67 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: acknowledgment of the pope as the feudal lord. Fortified with 68 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,719 Speaker 1: papal support and papal funding, Charles defeated the Holy Roman 69 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:22,239 Speaker 1: Emperor's illegitimate son and heir, Manfred, King of Sicily, whose 70 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: Gibelin ties as a member of the powerful Hohenstauffen family 71 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: and refusal to acknowledge the Pope's feudal power had made 72 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: him an enemy of the Holy See. Manfred had usurped 73 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: power from his young nephew Conradin, the last legitimate heir 74 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: of the House of Hohenstauffen. Manfred was killed by Charles's 75 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 1: forces in the Battle of Benevento in twelve sixty six, 76 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: allowing Charles to take control of Naples. Conradin, who had 77 00:05:55,440 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: been a teenager at that time, attempted to reclaim Naples 78 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: and was captured some two years later in the Battle 79 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 1: of Tagliacozzo. He was imprisoned and eventually publicly beheaded on 80 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:14,799 Speaker 1: Charles's orders on October twenty ninth, twelve sixty eight. Later, 81 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: detractors would spread the rumor that Clement the Pope had 82 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: supported Charles's ruthless tactics, decrying his complicity in the death 83 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: of the young king, but in fact, Clement had actually 84 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: pleaded for Charles to have mercy on the boy. Nevertheless, 85 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: by allowing Charles to take control of Naples, Clement cemented 86 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:42,280 Speaker 1: French power in Italy, which many cardinals saw as a 87 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: threat to the independence of the papacy and that of 88 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: the Italian city states they hailed from in and of itself. 89 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: Exactly one month after conrad In's beheading, on November twenty ninth, 90 00:06:55,480 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: twelve sixty eight, Clement died following what was report cowardly 91 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: a brief illness. Despite the achievements of his pontificate, he 92 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:08,719 Speaker 1: left behind not only the vacant throne of Saint Peter, 93 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 1: but also a cardinalate divided on how best to fill it. 94 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: In twelve sixty eight, the Sacred College boasted twenty cardinals, 95 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: nineteen of whom participated in the papal election. The twentieth 96 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: was busy accompanying Louis the ninth of France on his 97 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: crusade in Tunisia. In keeping with the tradition of holding 98 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: the papal election in the city where the previous pope 99 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: had died, the nineteen cardinals made their way to Viterbo 100 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: in late November, once word had reached them of the 101 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: death of Clement the Fourth. The cardinals oversaw his burial 102 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria in Grotti, which 103 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: stood just outside of the city. Before beginning the election 104 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: proceedings just two days after his death on December one, 105 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: twelve six eight. Immediately it became clear that this conclave 106 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: would not be straightforward. Along with the cardinal's arrival at 107 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: Come that of Charles of Anjou, the newly crowned and 108 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: bloodthirsty King of Naples. Clement had underestimated Charles's ambitions for 109 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: an Italian empire, and with the Pope's death, Charles had 110 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: seen an opportunity to continue to consolidate power. He came 111 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: to the Terbo with the intention of influencing the papal election. 112 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: The issue of Charles's presence and his clear intentions for 113 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:44,239 Speaker 1: the election and thereafter quickly became the central issue dividing 114 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: the cardinals. It's impossible to note the numbers with any accuracy, 115 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,319 Speaker 1: but it seems that there was an even enough split 116 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: between those who wanted to continue the pro French tradition 117 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 1: of the previous two popes and those who wanted to 118 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 1: divorce the papacy from Charles's influence, not to mention those 119 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 1: who were out to elevate their own allies, countrymen, and 120 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: family members. The election was essentially deadlocked from the start. 121 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: At first, the cardinals passed freely between the cathedral and 122 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: their lodgings. They held only one vote each day, which 123 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:28,079 Speaker 1: day after day resulted in nothing but further tensions and 124 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,959 Speaker 1: no clear front runner for pope. Although we know very 125 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: little about the actual deliberations or candidates considered for the papacy, 126 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 1: it's likely that at least a few of the cardinals 127 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: present were considered a pobbulate or potential candidates for pope. 128 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,000 Speaker 1: Although it was not necessary to be a cardinal to 129 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: be elected pope technically it still isn't, and other important 130 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: figures in the church hierarchy were considered. Given the fact 131 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 1: that the cardinals were free to move about as they pleased, 132 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: it's also likely that they were subject to outside pressure 133 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:10,959 Speaker 1: and influence, perhaps most notably from Charles, who would remain 134 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 1: in Viturbo throughout the election proceedings. Later sources would have 135 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: it that two months in the cardinals nearly agreed on 136 00:10:21,679 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: electing Philippo Benitzi, the general of the Servite Order. It's 137 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: likely that this story isn't true and was rather a 138 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: fabrication meant to support Benitzi's later canonization, but he supposedly 139 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 1: came to Viturbo in early twelve sixty nine to scold 140 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: the cardinals for dragging their feet in the electoral process. 141 00:10:44,080 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: They were apparently so impressed with Benizzi that they chose 142 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: him to fill the empty papal throne, but he fled 143 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: the city to prevent his election, forcing the cardinals back 144 00:10:55,240 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 1: to square one. A similar, also likely untrue story of 145 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 1: near election would also crop up long after the fact, 146 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 1: concerning Saint Bonaventure, then known as Giovanni di Fidanza. In 147 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 1: any case, no pope was indeed elected in those first 148 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: few months, and the voting continued apace. Just under a 149 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: year after the election had begun. A new wrench was 150 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: thrown into the proceedings when one of the electors died. 151 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 1: Cardinal Giordano Pironti died of unknown causes on October one, 152 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: twelve sixty nine, at about fifty nine years old. He 153 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 1: had updated his will a few weeks prior, so he 154 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: may have been ill, and with his death only eighteen 155 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: electors remained, an even number that did not bode well 156 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 1: for breaking any future ties. It seems Cardinal Perunti's death 157 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: was something of a turning point for the secular authorities 158 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,760 Speaker 1: in Viturbo, though it would take them several more months 159 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: to take action. Around June twelve seventy, after the anniversary 160 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: of the last pope's death came and went, and the 161 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: erstwhile cardinals entered their twentieth month of unsuccessful voting. Raniero Gatti, 162 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:23,760 Speaker 1: the prefect of Atterbo, and Albertus de Montebono, the Podesta 163 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: ordered that the remaining electors be sequestered in the Polazza 164 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: de Pappi until they could choose the Pope's successor once 165 00:12:32,840 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: and for all. These were drastic times, and the time 166 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: at a long passed for drastic measures, and before long 167 00:12:41,640 --> 00:12:45,599 Speaker 1: it would seem that even more drastic measures would be 168 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: needed to get these cardinals to finally make their choice. 169 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: In the late summer of twelve seventy one, a teenage 170 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 1: Marco Polo was just beginning the journey that would cement 171 00:12:59,320 --> 00:13:03,600 Speaker 1: him as one of history's most famous travelers. He had 172 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: set off from Venice with his father Nicolo and his 173 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: uncle Mafeo, and after a short eastward journey across the Mediterranean, 174 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: they had arrived in the fortified city of Accer, a 175 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: Crusader stronghold on the Levantine coastline. It was there that 176 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:28,559 Speaker 1: they met Archdeacon Toobaldo Visconti of Piacenza, who had followed Edward, 177 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,400 Speaker 1: the First of England to Occer in the Ninth Crusade 178 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: earlier that year. During their visit, the Polos lamented to 179 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: the archdeacon that the papal throne was still vacant after 180 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: over two years of fruitless voting. Marco's father and uncle 181 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: had previously traveled to China, where the Emperor Kubla Khan 182 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: had given them a letter for the pope. They had 183 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 1: been disappointed to return in twelve sixty nine to find 184 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,680 Speaker 1: that they still had no one to give it to. 185 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: That was almost two years ago. Now Here, The brothers 186 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:09,199 Speaker 1: were making their way eastward again, now with Marco and 187 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: still no news from Viterbo. They had been shocked when 188 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: an elector died in twelve sixty nine, and even more 189 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:22,280 Speaker 1: so some six months later, when the viturban authorities ordered 190 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: that the remaining cardinals be locked away in the Palazza 191 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: de Poppy to complete their election. Around the same time, 192 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: it was suggested, supposedly by the English cardinal John of Toledo, 193 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: that the roof of the voting chamber in the palazzo 194 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:43,440 Speaker 1: should be removed, saying, let us uncover the room, else 195 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,920 Speaker 1: the holy ghost will never get at us. For you 196 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 1: papal election fans following along at home. This was the 197 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: first recorded reference to the now essential idea that the 198 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit guides the election of popes. It was also 199 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: suggested that the elector's rations be reduced to just bread 200 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: and water for the remainder of the election. The magistrates 201 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,760 Speaker 1: of the Turbo agreed, likely hoping that some scorching sun, 202 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:18,080 Speaker 1: torrential rain, and stupefying hunger would guide the electors in 203 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: addition to the Holy Spirit. Of course, the cardinals petitioned 204 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: the magistrates that Cardinal Henry of Segusio be excused from 205 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 1: the remainder of the election due to health concerns, which 206 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 1: would have been exacerbated by having to spend every day 207 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: hungry and exposed to the elements. He had renounced his 208 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,479 Speaker 1: right to vote, and his request was granted. The remaining 209 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: seventeen cardinals were locked into the palace, the doors and 210 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: windows barred, and the roof of the voting chamber was removed. 211 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: Some sources say that a makeshift roof was later added 212 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: back onto the election chamber after the cardinal threatened to 213 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: excommunicate the entire city, but it seems that they actually 214 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: at least took their new diet in stride. By the 215 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: time Marco Polo, his father, and his uncle met with 216 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: the Archdeacon in Ocher in twelve seventy one, it had 217 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: been almost a year since the cardinal electors had been 218 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 1: locked up. In that time, yet another cardinal elector had 219 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: died East van BankSA. The first cardinal to hail from Hungary, 220 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: Cardinal Henry of Segusio, had enough time to fully recuperate 221 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: and return to Viturbo to resume voting. King Louis the 222 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: ninth of France died and was succeeded by his son Philip, 223 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: who became Philip the Third. In his as yet unanswered 224 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:53,040 Speaker 1: letter to the as yet unanswered Pope, Kublai Khan had 225 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,440 Speaker 1: requested the dispatch of a hundred missionaries and some oil 226 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: from the lamp of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem to 227 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: his court in where is now known as Beijing. The 228 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: polos told Archdeacon Visconti of those requests and of their 229 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,120 Speaker 1: predicament in having to wait so long to make good 230 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 1: on them, because there wasn't a pope to ask. The 231 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: Archdeacon told the Polo family to bide their time by 232 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:26,160 Speaker 1: traveling to Jerusalem to fetch the oil first, and hopefully 233 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,159 Speaker 1: by the time they finished and returned there would be 234 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: a new pope. They did that and returned to Aker 235 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: to find that a pope still had not been chosen. 236 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: Unable to justify keeping the Polos from their journey indefinitely, 237 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,400 Speaker 1: the scanti sent them on their way. The Polos did 238 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 1: not make it far, however, before receiving an urgent message 239 00:17:49,760 --> 00:17:54,920 Speaker 1: to return to Occer. In August twelve seventy one, under 240 00:17:54,960 --> 00:17:58,919 Speaker 1: pressure from the new King, Philip the Third and Charles 241 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:03,639 Speaker 1: of Anjou, the authorities in Viturbo, and just about everyone else, 242 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: the Cardinal electors had decided to choose the pope by committee, 243 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: selecting six among their numbers and agreeing to abide by 244 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:18,560 Speaker 1: whatever decision they came to through this method. On September one, 245 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:23,720 Speaker 1: twelve seventy one, after one thousand and six days of voting, 246 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: they finally came to a decision from the roofless Palace 247 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:33,199 Speaker 1: in Viterbo. The message of the cardinal's choice, traveled across 248 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: the Mediterranean to Accer with the archdeacon, who was not 249 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: a cardinal or even a priest, was notified that he 250 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: had been chosen to fill the papal throne that had 251 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: been empty for nearly three years. As someone with some 252 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: ties to France, but not so many that he would 253 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: be a puppet of the French crown or of Charles 254 00:18:55,560 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: of Anjou, he was an unexpected candidate that apparently was 255 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:05,480 Speaker 1: satisfying enough for all parties. It is unknown how long 256 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:08,919 Speaker 1: his name had been in contention, but the struggle of 257 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: the sixth Cardinal Committee to select a pope from among 258 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 1: the cardinal electors at first suggests he may have been 259 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:20,719 Speaker 1: a last minute consideration. The Polos made it back to 260 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: Ocher not long after, and were received warmly by their friend, 261 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 1: who had suddenly become the head of the church and 262 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,639 Speaker 1: the prince of the papal states. He formally designated them 263 00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: envoys of the Church to Kubla Khan and sent them 264 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: on their journey with two friars and a collection of 265 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 1: gifts meant to demonstrate his hopes for friendly relations with 266 00:19:42,680 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 1: the emperor. He offered a special blessing to Marco, by 267 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: which the young traveler was reportedly greatly pleased. Tebaldo Visconti 268 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:57,919 Speaker 1: left to Ocer on November ninth, twelve seventy one, and 269 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: reached Viturbo some months later on February twelfth, twelve seventy two, 270 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: where he took the regnal name Gregory the Tenth, breaking 271 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 1: the years long absence of the popes from Rome. He 272 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 1: entered the city a month later in March, and was 273 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 1: ordained a priest six days later. Finally, on March twenty seventh, 274 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: twelve seventy two, over three years after the death of 275 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 1: the previous pope, he was consecrated a bishop and crowned 276 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: in Saint Peter's Basilica. Gregory's papacy lasted for only a 277 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: little over four years. His reign was consequential. On July seventh, 278 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 1: twelve seventy four, his papal bull Ubi Periculum, named for 279 00:20:44,640 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: its opening line Ubi perikulum maius in ten detour, meaning 280 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: where great danger lies, codified many of the practices desperately 281 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 1: undertaken to speed along his election as standard practice for 282 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:06,160 Speaker 1: the election of future popes. In addition to already established 283 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: practices like the rule requiring a two thirds majority for 284 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,639 Speaker 1: a ballot to pass. Gregory ordained that the cardinal electors 285 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 1: should be sequestered for the duration of the election, specified 286 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: the provision of increasingly spare rations the longer the proceedings endured, 287 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:29,439 Speaker 1: and placed various restrictions meant to both speed proceedings and 288 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 1: prevent political intrigue, bribery, and deal making, among other new rules. 289 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 1: Although some later popes would lift these restrictions, Gregory's bull 290 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 1: would go on to be codified into canon law in 291 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:48,920 Speaker 1: twelve ninety eight, and though conclave practices have seen many 292 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 1: changes and updates since, it remains a foundational part of 293 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 1: the way modern papal elections are conducted. Gregory the Tenth 294 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:02,440 Speaker 1: died in the Tuscan city of Atritzo on January tenth, 295 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:07,480 Speaker 1: twelve seventy six, in accordance with his bull, which specified 296 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 1: that the election should begin ten days later if all 297 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:13,680 Speaker 1: electors had arrived at his place of death by then. 298 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: The conclave convened right on schedule on January twentieth. It 299 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: concluded with the election of Pope Innocent the Fifth just 300 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: one day later. That's the story of the longest ever 301 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,399 Speaker 1: papal election. But keep listening after a brief sponsor break 302 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:36,080 Speaker 1: to hear about another fascinating aspect of the legacy of 303 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:46,560 Speaker 1: Gregory the tenth. Among the many questions that arose in 304 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,240 Speaker 1: the weeks leading up to leo The fourteenth election, what 305 00:22:50,359 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: the new Pope's stance would be on social and doctrinal issues, 306 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,359 Speaker 1: where he would hail from, et cetera, was the question 307 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: what would he wear. A pope's first public appearance has 308 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,560 Speaker 1: always been his first statement to the world, a declaration 309 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 1: of what kind of pope he would be, even before 310 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: he opened his mouth. When Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, was 311 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:19,240 Speaker 1: elected in twenty thirteen, he famously bucked tradition by foregoing 312 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: the red muzeta and ornate stole typically worn by newly 313 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:28,239 Speaker 1: elected popes and appearing in a simple white cossack, a 314 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 1: move that endeared him to many who believed the papacy 315 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:35,760 Speaker 1: too removed from the lives and experiences of the common people. 316 00:23:36,600 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 1: While Leo's Ubi et orbi address, which means to the 317 00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: city and the world, the first address made by newly 318 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: elected popes, reflected a clear desire to continue France's legacy, 319 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 1: he chose to wear the mozetta and the stole, perhaps 320 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,640 Speaker 1: symbolizing that he also intended to put his own stamp 321 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: on the papacy. But since then he's mostly been seen 322 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: wearing just the white cossack, as is standard for most 323 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: everyday papal duties like meeting with foreign dignitaries, greeting worshippers, 324 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 1: or riding in the popemobile. And in fact we have 325 00:24:15,600 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 1: our old friend Gregory the Tenth to thank for that 326 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:24,520 Speaker 1: important part of papal sartorial history. While garments like the 327 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: mozetta or the mitra the big hat that the pope 328 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:33,119 Speaker 1: and bishops wear during certain liturgical celebrations have been worn 329 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,719 Speaker 1: by popes since at least the eleventh century, if not before, 330 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: it was Gregory who is first documented wearing the white 331 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:46,199 Speaker 1: cassock during his reign. Over seven hundred years later, it 332 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: remained an iconic symbol of the papacy. Talk about a trendsetter. 333 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: Noble Blood is a production of Eyehe Heart, Radio and 334 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:04,880 Speaker 1: Grim and Mild from Aaron Mankey. Noble Blood is hosted 335 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 1: by me Dana Schwartz, with additional writing and research by 336 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: Hannah Johnston, Hannahswick, Courtney Sender, Amy hit and Julia Melaney. 337 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 1: The show is edited and produced by Jesse Funk, with 338 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 1: supervising producer rima Il Kaali and executive producers Aaron Manke, 339 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: Trevor Young, and Matt Frederick. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, 340 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:33,119 Speaker 1: visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen 341 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: to your favorite shows.