BONIFACE, the name of nine popes, most of whom are of no historic note.—B. I. (418 422) was appointed, contrary to canonical rule, by the emperor Theodosius II., upon account of prevailing party divisions. lie was the first who assumed as bishop of Route the title of first bishop of Christendom.—Boniface III., who w as rope only for ten months in the year 607, was the first to whom the title of universal bishop of C hrist endom was conceded by the Greek emperor (Phocas).—B. previously Benedict Cajetan, a native of Anagni, was elected pope on Dec. 24, 1294. His inaugura tion was distinguished by great pomp: the kings of Hungary and Sicily held the reins of his horse as he proceeded to the Lateran, and with their crowns upon their served him at table. lie failed, however, in his attempts to assert a feudal superiority over Sicily, and to exercise his papal authority in the disputes between France and England. Philip the fair, of France, supported by his states and clergy, maintained the independence of the kingdom, disregarding many hulls and briefs, and even the sen tence of excommunication to which the pope proceeded. Philip at last, with the aid of Italian enemies of B., made him prisoner at Anagui, to which be had tied; and although he was liberated by the people of Anagni after two days' imprisonnu pt. he died within
about a month (1303 A.D.), in consequence of having refused food during these two days, through fear of poison. He instituted the Roman jubilee in the year 1300. If the charges, however, which Philip the fair brought against B. in self-defense—viz., heresy, simony, licentiousness, etc.—were well fciunded, and regarding the second there can be no doubt, Dante was quite justified in giving him a place in hell. Apart from the question of his personal character, B. was undoubtedly one of those dangerous ecclesiastics in whose downfall civilization exults.—B. IX. (Peter Tonne-al), a native of Naples, succeeded Urban VI. as pope at Rome in 1889, whilst Clement VII. was pope at Avignon. He exceeded all his predecessors in the shameless sale of ecclesiastical offices and benefices, and of dispensations and indulgences. He acquited, after a struggle, a most despotic power in Rome, which he kept in awe by fortresses; but to secure himself against external enemies, particularly Louis of Anjou, whose claim to the crown of Naples he had opposed, he was obliged to give away part of his territory in fiefs, as Ferrara to the house of Fete. Ile died in 1404.