Vienne, Council of

Vienne, Council of, 1311–12, 15th ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held at Vienne, France. It was convened by Pope Clement V at the behest of Philip IV of France as a further move in the plan of the French king to destroy the Knights Templars. The council voted to hear the knights in their own defense but, under pressure from Philip, reversed itself and recommended that the order be suppressed. The pope dissolved the order by papal bull a few days later. The council also passed minor doctrinal decrees and condemned the errors of the Beghards.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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