Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of iHeartRadio and Grimm and Mild from Aaron Manky. Listener discretion advised. In the early evening on May eighth, twenty twenty five, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel in Rome. A new pope had been elected. Onlookers in the Vatican City and across the world waited with bated breath for over an hour, their eyes trained on the central logia of Saint Peter's Basilica, where the new Pontiff's identity and regnal name would be announced.
After fewer than two days of voting. Before too long, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti emerged to share with the world that the new head of the Catholic Church would be the former Cardinal Robert Privost, now Leo the fourteenth. As Momberti put it in the traditional Latin, we have a new pope. This papal conclave, which turned out to be among the shortest in history, although not the shortest and not too much shorter than the previous two papal elections, inspired a
great deal of public interest. Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, was a widely beloved figure, and many people in the Catholic world and beyond were deeply invested in whether and how the new pontiff would carry on his legacy. Perhaps spurred on by the success of the twenty twenty four film Conclave, many people were also intrigued by the rituals and secrecy
defining the election process to select a new pope. In fact, many of the rules governing this two day conclave and every conclave for hundreds of years, stem from the events of a single papal election in the past, the long conclave in history, and in many ways, the first conclave in history started in twelve sixty eight and took nearly three years, changing the way hopes are chosen forever. I'm Danish Schwartz and this is noble blood. Clement the Fourth
was on his deathbed. It was twelve sixty eight and he had sat on the throne of Saint Peter for just under four years. He had lived a full life. He had fought in war, studied law, married and had two daughters, all before becoming a widower and joining the church. And he had made some important achievements during his reign, having summoned the now Saint Thomas aquinas to serve as papal theologian, and he made strides towards diplomatic relations with
the Mongols. Despite his achievements, however, much of Clement's pontificate had been defined by the conflict between the papal loyalist Guelphs and the anti papal Ghibelines. You might remember those factions from our episode on the Cannibal Count of Pisa, who by this time was already beginning to betray his
Gibeline sympathies. The election in which Clement had become Pope, which began in twelve sixty four and lasted around four months, had seen significant debate among the College of Cardinals about how best to protect the papacy from Gibeline threats. Clement, who was French in origin, in fact, had had to travel to Italy in disguise upon his election to the
papacy in order to protect himself from Gibeline violence. Clement had reigned throughout the entirety of his pontificate from Viterbo, a city fifty miles northwest of Rome, which had been the seat of the papacy since twelve fifty seven, when Pope Alexander the fourth had moved the papal curia there in the wake of excessive violence in Rome. That violence in Rome had continued during the papacy of Clement's immediate predecessor,
Urban the Fourth, and into Clement's papacy. In fifteen sixty six, Clement had overseen the completion of construction begun under Alexander the Fourth and commissioned by the Viturban Captain of the people, to convert the bishop's palace in Viturbo into a bonafide papal residence, which became known as the Palazzo de Puppy or the Palace of the Popes. Clement was devoted to
protecting the independence of the papacy. Most notably, he allied with Charles the First of Anjou, the younger brother of King Louis the ninth of France, in his controversial conquest of Naples, offering him the throne in exchange for an
acknowledgment of the pope as the feudal lord. Fortified with papal support and papal funding, Charles defeated the Holy Roman Emperor's illegitimate son and heir, Manfred, King of Sicily, whose Gibelin ties as a member of the powerful Hohenstauffen family and refusal to acknowledge the Pope's feudal power had made him an enemy of the Holy See. Manfred had usurped power from his young nephew Conradin, the last legitimate heir
of the House of Hohenstauffen. Manfred was killed by Charles's forces in the Battle of Benevento in twelve sixty six, allowing Charles to take control of Naples. Conradin, who had been a teenager at that time, attempted to reclaim Naples and was captured some two years later in the Battle of Tagliacozzo. He was imprisoned and eventually publicly beheaded on
Charles's orders on October twenty ninth, twelve sixty eight. Later, detractors would spread the rumor that Clement the Pope had supported Charles's ruthless tactics, decrying his complicity in the death of the young king, but in fact, Clement had actually
pleaded for Charles to have mercy on the boy. Nevertheless, by allowing Charles to take control of Naples, Clement cemented French power in Italy, which many cardinals saw as a threat to the independence of the papacy and that of the Italian city states they hailed from in and of itself. Exactly one month after conrad In's beheading, on November twenty ninth, twelve sixty eight, Clement died following what was report cowardly
a brief illness. Despite the achievements of his pontificate, he left behind not only the vacant throne of Saint Peter, but also a cardinalate divided on how best to fill it. In twelve sixty eight, the Sacred College boasted twenty cardinals, nineteen of whom participated in the papal election. The twentieth was busy accompanying Louis the ninth of France on his
crusade in Tunisia. In keeping with the tradition of holding the papal election in the city where the previous pope had died, the nineteen cardinals made their way to Viterbo in late November, once word had reached them of the death of Clement the Fourth. The cardinals oversaw his burial in the Dominican convent of Santa Maria in Grotti, which stood just outside of the city. Before beginning the election proceedings just two days after his death on December one,
twelve six eight. Immediately it became clear that this conclave would not be straightforward. Along with the cardinal's arrival at Come that of Charles of Anjou, the newly crowned and bloodthirsty King of Naples. Clement had underestimated Charles's ambitions for an Italian empire, and with the Pope's death, Charles had seen an opportunity to continue to consolidate power. He came to the Terbo with the intention of influencing the papal election.
The issue of Charles's presence and his clear intentions for the election and thereafter quickly became the central issue dividing the cardinals. It's impossible to note the numbers with any accuracy, but it seems that there was an even enough split between those who wanted to continue the pro French tradition of the previous two popes and those who wanted to divorce the papacy from Charles's influence, not to mention those who were out to elevate their own allies, countrymen, and
family members. The election was essentially deadlocked from the start. At first, the cardinals passed freely between the cathedral and their lodgings. They held only one vote each day, which day after day resulted in nothing but further tensions and
no clear front runner for pope. Although we know very little about the actual deliberations or candidates considered for the papacy, it's likely that at least a few of the cardinals present were considered a pobbulate or potential candidates for pope. Although it was not necessary to be a cardinal to be elected pope technically it still isn't, and other important
figures in the church hierarchy were considered. Given the fact that the cardinals were free to move about as they pleased, it's also likely that they were subject to outside pressure and influence, perhaps most notably from Charles, who would remain in Viturbo throughout the election proceedings. Later sources would have it that two months in the cardinals nearly agreed on
electing Philippo Benitzi, the general of the Servite Order. It's likely that this story isn't true and was rather a fabrication meant to support Benitzi's later canonization, but he supposedly came to Viturbo in early twelve sixty nine to scold the cardinals for dragging their feet in the electoral process. They were apparently so impressed with Benizzi that they chose him to fill the empty papal throne, but he fled the city to prevent his election, forcing the cardinals back
to square one. A similar, also likely untrue story of near election would also crop up long after the fact, concerning Saint Bonaventure, then known as Giovanni di Fidanza. In any case, no pope was indeed elected in those first few months, and the voting continued apace. Just under a year after the election had begun. A new wrench was thrown into the proceedings when one of the electors died. Cardinal Giordano Pironti died of unknown causes on October one,
twelve sixty nine, at about fifty nine years old. He had updated his will a few weeks prior, so he may have been ill, and with his death only eighteen electors remained, an even number that did not bode well for breaking any future ties. It seems Cardinal Perunti's death was something of a turning point for the secular authorities in Viturbo, though it would take them several more months
to take action. Around June twelve seventy, after the anniversary of the last pope's death came and went, and the erstwhile cardinals entered their twentieth month of unsuccessful voting. Raniero Gatti, the prefect of Atterbo, and Albertus de Montebono, the Podesta ordered that the remaining electors be sequestered in the Polazza de Pappi until they could choose the Pope's successor once
and for all. These were drastic times, and the time at a long passed for drastic measures, and before long it would seem that even more drastic measures would be needed to get these cardinals to finally make their choice. In the late summer of twelve seventy one, a teenage Marco Polo was just beginning the journey that would cement
him as one of history's most famous travelers. He had set off from Venice with his father Nicolo and his uncle Mafeo, and after a short eastward journey across the Mediterranean, they had arrived in the fortified city of Accer, a Crusader stronghold on the Levantine coastline. It was there that they met Archdeacon Toobaldo Visconti of Piacenza, who had followed Edward, the First of England to Occer in the Ninth Crusade
earlier that year. During their visit, the Polos lamented to the archdeacon that the papal throne was still vacant after over two years of fruitless voting. Marco's father and uncle had previously traveled to China, where the Emperor Kubla Khan had given them a letter for the pope. They had been disappointed to return in twelve sixty nine to find that they still had no one to give it to.
That was almost two years ago. Now Here, The brothers were making their way eastward again, now with Marco and still no news from Viterbo. They had been shocked when an elector died in twelve sixty nine, and even more so some six months later, when the viturban authorities ordered that the remaining cardinals be locked away in the Palazza
de Poppy to complete their election. Around the same time, it was suggested, supposedly by the English cardinal John of Toledo, that the roof of the voting chamber in the palazzo should be removed, saying, let us uncover the room, else the holy ghost will never get at us. For you papal election fans following along at home. This was the first recorded reference to the now essential idea that the
Holy Spirit guides the election of popes. It was also suggested that the elector's rations be reduced to just bread and water for the remainder of the election. The magistrates of the Turbo agreed, likely hoping that some scorching sun, torrential rain, and stupefying hunger would guide the electors in
addition to the Holy Spirit. Of course, the cardinals petitioned the magistrates that Cardinal Henry of Segusio be excused from the remainder of the election due to health concerns, which would have been exacerbated by having to spend every day hungry and exposed to the elements. He had renounced his right to vote, and his request was granted. The remaining seventeen cardinals were locked into the palace, the doors and windows barred, and the roof of the voting chamber was removed.
Some sources say that a makeshift roof was later added back onto the election chamber after the cardinal threatened to excommunicate the entire city, but it seems that they actually at least took their new diet in stride. By the time Marco Polo, his father, and his uncle met with the Archdeacon in Ocher in twelve seventy one, it had been almost a year since the cardinal electors had been locked up. In that time, yet another cardinal elector had
died East van BankSA. The first cardinal to hail from Hungary, Cardinal Henry of Segusio, had enough time to fully recuperate and return to Viturbo to resume voting. King Louis the ninth of France died and was succeeded by his son Philip, who became Philip the Third. In his as yet unanswered letter to the as yet unanswered Pope, Kublai Khan had requested the dispatch of a hundred missionaries and some oil from the lamp of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem to
his court in where is now known as Beijing. The polos told Archdeacon Visconti of those requests and of their predicament in having to wait so long to make good on them, because there wasn't a pope to ask. The Archdeacon told the Polo family to bide their time by traveling to Jerusalem to fetch the oil first, and hopefully by the time they finished and returned there would be a new pope. They did that and returned to Aker to find that a pope still had not been chosen.
Unable to justify keeping the Polos from their journey indefinitely, the scanti sent them on their way. The Polos did not make it far, however, before receiving an urgent message to return to Occer. In August twelve seventy one, under pressure from the new King, Philip the Third and Charles of Anjou, the authorities in Viturbo, and just about everyone else, the Cardinal electors had decided to choose the pope by committee, selecting six among their numbers and agreeing to abide by
whatever decision they came to through this method. On September one, twelve seventy one, after one thousand and six days of voting, they finally came to a decision from the roofless Palace in Viterbo. The message of the cardinal's choice, traveled across the Mediterranean to Accer with the archdeacon, who was not a cardinal or even a priest, was notified that he had been chosen to fill the papal throne that had
been empty for nearly three years. As someone with some ties to France, but not so many that he would be a puppet of the French crown or of Charles of Anjou, he was an unexpected candidate that apparently was satisfying enough for all parties. It is unknown how long his name had been in contention, but the struggle of the sixth Cardinal Committee to select a pope from among the cardinal electors at first suggests he may have been
a last minute consideration. The Polos made it back to Ocher not long after, and were received warmly by their friend, who had suddenly become the head of the church and the prince of the papal states. He formally designated them envoys of the Church to Kubla Khan and sent them on their journey with two friars and a collection of gifts meant to demonstrate his hopes for friendly relations with the emperor. He offered a special blessing to Marco, by
which the young traveler was reportedly greatly pleased. Tebaldo Visconti left to Ocer on November ninth, twelve seventy one, and reached Viturbo some months later on February twelfth, twelve seventy two, where he took the regnal name Gregory the Tenth, breaking the years long absence of the popes from Rome. He entered the city a month later in March, and was
ordained a priest six days later. Finally, on March twenty seventh, twelve seventy two, over three years after the death of the previous pope, he was consecrated a bishop and crowned in Saint Peter's Basilica. Gregory's papacy lasted for only a
little over four years. His reign was consequential. On July seventh, twelve seventy four, his papal bull Ubi Periculum, named for its opening line Ubi perikulum maius in ten detour, meaning where great danger lies, codified many of the practices desperately undertaken to speed along his election as standard practice for the election of future popes. In addition to already established practices like the rule requiring a two thirds majority for
a ballot to pass. Gregory ordained that the cardinal electors should be sequestered for the duration of the election, specified the provision of increasingly spare rations the longer the proceedings endured, and placed various restrictions meant to both speed proceedings and prevent political intrigue, bribery, and deal making, among other new rules.
Although some later popes would lift these restrictions, Gregory's bull would go on to be codified into canon law in twelve ninety eight, and though conclave practices have seen many changes and updates since, it remains a foundational part of
the way modern papal elections are conducted. Gregory the Tenth died in the Tuscan city of Atritzo on January tenth, twelve seventy six, in accordance with his bull, which specified that the election should begin ten days later if all electors had arrived at his place of death by then. The conclave convened right on schedule on January twentieth. It concluded with the election of Pope Innocent the Fifth just one day later. That's the story of the longest ever
papal election. But keep listening after a brief sponsor break to hear about another fascinating aspect of the legacy of Gregory the tenth. Among the many questions that arose in the weeks leading up to leo The fourteenth election, what the new Pope's stance would be on social and doctrinal issues, where he would hail from, et cetera, was the question
what would he wear. A pope's first public appearance has always been his first statement to the world, a declaration of what kind of pope he would be, even before
he opened his mouth. When Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, was elected in twenty thirteen, he famously bucked tradition by foregoing the red muzeta and ornate stole typically worn by newly elected popes and appearing in a simple white cossack, a move that endeared him to many who believed the papacy too removed from the lives and experiences of the common people.
While Leo's Ubi et orbi address, which means to the city and the world, the first address made by newly elected popes, reflected a clear desire to continue France's legacy, he chose to wear the mozetta and the stole, perhaps symbolizing that he also intended to put his own stamp on the papacy. But since then he's mostly been seen wearing just the white cossack, as is standard for most everyday papal duties like meeting with foreign dignitaries, greeting worshippers,
or riding in the popemobile. And in fact we have our old friend Gregory the Tenth to thank for that important part of papal sartorial history. While garments like the mozetta or the mitra the big hat that the pope and bishops wear during certain liturgical celebrations have been worn by popes since at least the eleventh century, if not before, it was Gregory who is first documented wearing the white cassock during his reign. Over seven hundred years later, it
remained an iconic symbol of the papacy. Talk about a trendsetter. Noble Blood is a production of Eyehe Heart, Radio and Grim and Mild from Aaron Mankey. Noble Blood is hosted by me Dana Schwartz, with additional writing and research by Hannah Johnston, Hannahswick, Courtney Sender, Amy hit and Julia Melaney. The show is edited and produced by Jesse Funk, with supervising producer rima Il Kaali and executive producers Aaron Manke,
Trevor Young, and Matt Frederick. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.