Potere spirituale e temporale nel governo del Patrimonium Sancti Petri tra XII e XIII secolo. Una proposta di rilettura a partire dal caso di Assisi

Historiography on the papal government of the Patrimonium of St. Peter in the thirteenth century has traditionally considered papal interventions, aimed at consolidating control of the Apostolic See, as essentially unsuccessful. Yet recent research has revised this position, now considered anachronistic. On the basis of these new acquisitions, this contribution intends to highlight how the popes were able to intervene not only on a political level, but also through initiatives of a spiritual nature, which were the prerogatives of their role as head of the universal Church. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the pontiffs’ modes of action through these two spheres, the case of Assisi was chosen as an observatory. Despite the efforts of Innocent III (1198-1216) and Honorius III (1216-1227), the Umbrian city, traditionally an ally of the empire with strong autonomist tendencies, remained tied to the Hohenstaufen until the dawn of the thirteenth century. Subsequently, however, also thanks to the involvement of the Friars Minor in the papal strategy, which culminated with the canonization of Francis and the construction of the basilica dedicated to him during the pontificate of Gregory IX (1227-1241), the city of Assisi distinguished itself during the clash with Frederick II for its adhesion to the pars Ecclesiae.