JOHN XXII., James of Cahors in France, succeeded Clement V. in 1316, and, like him, took up his residence at Avignon. He was a man of considerable abilities, but he has been taxed with avarice and worldliness. The crown of Germany was then contested between Louis of Bavaria and Frederick of Austria, and John, assuming the right of deciding, excommunicated Louis. But this measure produced little effect in Germany ; the diet of Frankfurt declared that the imperial authority depended upon God alone, and that the pope had no temporal authority, direct or indirect, within the empire. In Italy however John met with greater success ; his ally, Robert, kiug of Naples, defeated the Ghibelines, and the pope excommunicated Matteo Visconti, the great leader of that party, and likewise Frederick, king of Sicily. Between Guelphs and Ohibelines, Italy was at that time in a dreadful state of confusion. The pope preached a crusade against Visconti, Cane dells Scala, and the Este, as heretics. Robert, with the assistance of the pope, aspired to the dominion of all Italy, and the pope sent a legate, who, at the head of an army, assisted Robert and the other Guelphs against the Ghibelines of Lombardy. But the Ghibelines had clever leaders ; Castruccio Castracani, Cane della Scala, and the Visconti kept the fate of the war in suspense, and Louis of Bavaria sent troops to their assistance. Louis came himself to Italy in 1327, and after being crowned at Milan with the iron crown, ha proceeded to Rome, where the Colonna and other Ghibelines roused the people in his favour, and drove away the papal legate. Louis was
crowned emperor in St. Peter's by the bishops of Venice and of Aleria, after which he held an assembly in the square before the church, in which he summoned James of Cabers (meaning the pope) to appear to answer the charges of heresy and high treason against him. After this mock citation, the emperor proceeded to depose the pope and to appoint in his stead Peter de Corvara, a monk of Abruzzo, who assumed the name of Nicholas V. Luis also proclaimed a law, which was sanctioned by the people of Roma, to the effect that the pope should reside at Rome, and if absent for more than three months, should bo considered as deposed. Louis now returned to the north of Italy, and thence to Germany. Castruccio and Cane della Scala died, and the Guelphs and the papal legate began to resume the preponderance. In 1334 John XXII. died at Avignon, leaving the affairs of Italy as embroiled as ever, and eighteen millions of golden florins in his coffers, besides jewels. It was under his pontificate that the clergy and people of the towns were deprived of the right of electing their bishops, which right he reserved to himself, on payment of certain fees by the person elected. He was also the inventor of the Annates, or First Fruits.