VIENNE, COUNCIL OF

15th ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic church (131112), convoked by Pope Clement V at the insistence of Philip IV of France, who demanded the posthumous trial of Pope Boniface VIII and the suppression of the Knights Templars, one of the great military religious orders founded during the Crusades. Vienne, near Lyon, was chosen because it was easily accessible and because it was in a practically independent state that was not acquired by France until 1349. Philip invited all Western bishops to attend; though he personally ordered 230 to be present, only about 120 came. No trial was held, but the Templars were suppressed by a papal order issued independently of the council. Besides voting money for a crusade and issuing reform decrees, the council heard complaints of opposing factions among the Franciscansthe Spirituals and the Conventualsconcerning the practice of poverty and sided with the more moderate Conventuals; Clement sanctioned their decision.