Church Timeline (A2 European History)

East-West Schism

Jan 1, 1054

For a long time, language barriers and other factors caused miscommunication between the eastern and the western churches. The East-West Schism finally separated the Christian church into Greek and Latin as the the Roman and Byzantine officials excommunicated each other. I chose this to add to my timeline because the Western church has almost zero connection with the Eastern church after 1054 and this schism is the reason why.

First Crusade ordered

Nov 27, 1095

Pope Urban II orders first crusade to capture the Holy Lands. I chose the First Crusade to add on to this timeline because it marks the start of two centuries of war and had increased the power of the pope and the Christian Church dramatically.

Siege of Jerusalem

Jul 15, 1099

Jerusalem is captured and the First Crusade ends. I chose the Siege of Jerusalem (1099) because it marks the first success of the crusades. The event also expanded the territories and boosted the economy of Europe, which still impacts the world today.

Concordat of Worms

Sep 23, 1122

The Holy Roman emperor, Henry V, allows the Catholic church to appoint their own bishops and abbots - and in turn, Pope Calixtus II grants Henry the right to be present during the elections. I chose this because it established the independence of the church from the states it operated within - this concordat created the base for the Christian Church to gain humongous power in the later centuries.

Waldenses begins

Jan 1, 1173

Peter Waldo establishes the Waldensians, a spiritual group where followers believe in a life of voluntary poverty and religious simplicity. I chose the beginning of the Waldensian movement to add to my timeline because they are considered as one of the most largest heretical group; and it signifies how sects with different ways of thinking crashed with the Catholic church until they were hunted down by the inquisitors.

Dominican Order founded

Jan 1, 1215

Spanish priest Saint Dominic establishes a new Christian order to preach the gospel and combat heresy. I chose the foundation of the Dominican Order to add to this timeline because the Dominicans were very influential and contributed a lot in terms of missionary activity, multiplying the number of converts and being many Dominicans appointed as Inquisitors.

First Inquisitors appointed

Jan 1, 1232

Pope Gregory IX appoints the first inquisitors to combat the Abilgenses, a heretical sect in France. I chose the Inquisition to add to my timeline because it signifies how heresy was such a big problem during the Middle Ages.

Unam Sanctam issued

Sep 18, 1302

Pope Boniface VIII issues the Unam Sanctam, which assures his rights against King Phillip the Fair of France. I added this to my timeline because it declares that the pope has complete authority even over the king; and many historians believe it is the most extreme statements of papal supremacy ever made.

Avignon Papacy begins

Jan 1, 1309

Pope Clement V moves the pope's seat from Rome to France. I chose this to add to my timeline because it later causes the long-lasting Great Schism and the political and religious split in Europe.

The Avingon Papacy ends

Jan 1, 1377

The Avingon Papacy ends and the seat of the pope is returned from France to Rome. I chose this event to add to my timeline because although it technically ended many followers still honored the bishop in Avignon as the head of church and soon a second pope would be elected causing the Great Schism.

The Western Schism begins

Jan 1, 1378

In the same year that Italians elected Urban VI as pope Celement VII is also elected pope by the opposing French cardinals starting a period when two popes existed at once. I chose this event to add to my timeline because it separated the whole Europe into pro-French pope and pro-Roman pope.

Council of Pisa

Jan 1, 1409

A council is held in Pisa in an attempt to end the Great Schism - but instead, one more pope becomes elected, and the church is divided into three. I chose the Council of Pisa to add to my timeline because although the situation becomes worse, it is an important background that leads to the Council of Constance and final end of the Schism in 1418.

Counci of Constance begins

Jan 1, 1414

The Council of Constance begins and runs for four years in an attempt to end the Great Schism, get rid of heresy and reform the Christian Church. I chose this because it unified the church and weakened the power of the pope.

Council of Constance ends

Sep 14, 1418

The four-year council ends drastically changing the pope and church. I chose this because it marks the end of the Great Schism and the start of the Catholic church's surpreme authority.

Joan of Arc matryred

May 30, 1431

Joan of Arc, who lead the French into victory in the Hundred Years' War, is burned at stake. To be honest I'm not sure if it's really a historical church event or not but I needed more events and May 30 is my birthday and Joan of Arc is an important figure that turned the losing country into the winner ending the war so I added this in my timeline to honor her death.