Other names: Benedetto Caetani
The pope famous for trying to carry out a theocratic project with the aim of subduing the monarchs of Europe, especially the king of France. His ambition led him to clash both with other figures of the Holy See and with figures belonging to the aristocracy who rejected the idea of a hierocracy. He consented to the destruction of Luceria saracenorum (Lucera), where a Muslim community resided for seventy years. The city was destroyed and rebuilt with the name Civitas Sanctae Mariae in a very short time the city was repopulated by Christians from all over the kingdom.
His rivalry with the Colonna, a noble Italian family, led him to order the destruction of an entire city called Praeneste (Palestrina) the story of that terrible massacre caused rumors about the demonic nature of the pope, many compared him to the Antichrist and others to the tyrant Lucius Cornelius Sulla (who had committed a similar massacre in that same city during the Roman republic).
After a long rivalry with the king of France, Boniface VIII was captured by the forces of Sciarra Colonna and held prisoner for three long days; in the end the people, still loyal to the pope, decided to rebel against those conspirators and brought the pope to safety.
Despite this, he died without ever being able to complete his project. After his death the Holy See moved to Avignon.
Despite this, he died without ever being able to complete his project. After his death the Holy See moved to Avignon.
Artwork by BikoWolf
