Inside the Avignon Papal Palace

The conflict started in the late 13th c between Boniface VIII and Philip IV - "the Fair", whose wars abroad and spendthrift ways caused him to expel Jews and seize their wealth. Also, he increased taxes on the French Clergy, leading to war with the Popes. Avignon was not French, but under overlordship of the Count of Provence, who allowed the popes to settle there. Clement V, John XXII, Clement VI, Innocent VI, Urban V, Gregory XI, Urban VI weere the seven popes residing there during the 14th century. The palace fortifications are linking towers were built during the 1300s. During this period Avignon became a major trading center.