The concordant Flashcards
when was the concordant
15 july 1801
why was there a concordant
otiations began as early as 1800
Not made public to the french until april 1802 to coincide with Easter
Major achievement and ass masterstroke in reconciling many french catholics with the Neopleonic regime
Napoleon was aware of the divisive nature of anticlerical reforms which had lead to the collapse of the revolution
Election of pope pius VII gave napoleon an opportunity to heal wounds and prevent the growth of further opposition
Previous pope had experienced the revolution,the taking of his land and was forced to pay emendities to napoleon
What was the concordat
The motivations were not born from religious conviction but form form political calculations
If napoleon could win papel support the link between catholicism and royalist unrest would be broken
An agreement with Rome would also help France absorb its newly strong catholic territories in Belgium and Italy
How enlightened was the concordat
The agreement
Catholic church would recognise the new consular republic
French state promised to recognise catholicism ‘as the religion of the majority of french men’
Catholic church would not try to regain its land in france
Protested bien nationaux interest
Clergy would be appointed and paid by the state to which they had to swear an oath to
Ist consul nominated archbishops who were insuled by the pope
Parish popes were appointed by their ecclesiastical superior rather than elected by the laity
Change form active citizens voting for them the the CCC
State kept hold of registering births deaths and marriages (since 1990)
Put the church under state control
Separation of church and the state
Amendments to the concordat
Done without consultation to the pope
April 1802 added the ‘organic articles’
Emphasis the states control over the activity of the clergy
Guaranteed the revolutionary principle of religious tolerance
Enlightened as it gave tolerance to 70,000 protestants and 40,000 jews
This made protestant and jewish synagogues subject to state control
Concordats applied to all sister republic and the future French empire
But motivations were not enlightened
long term significance of concordant
Supported Napoleon’s claims of being an enlightened leader
Ruffled ideas of voltaire and diderot
Religious toleration, separation of church and state
However stare control was top heavy so not very enlightened
short term significance of the concordant
Nationaled the church and made it subordinate to the stare
Reconciled the catholic church to the regime
Helped pacify the unrest in the vendee
Stresses the importance of religion in the area as the CCC had unleashed unrest and only a restoration to the catholic church calmed this
Reshaped the bein nationaux
Helped secure the napoleonic regime
Acceptance of the constitution of year X and made consul for life
However by 1808…
little remained of the reconciliation with the pope
1808 french troops occupied Rome (papal state)
1809 Napoleon imprisoned the pope and annexed the Papal states to his new kingdom in italy
Imposed the concordat on his empire cause nationalist uprisings (catholic area)
why was Effective control of the church was a clear advantage to napoleon
Bishops became public servants ‘prefects in purple’
The village priest became a ventricle to napoleonic propaganda (akin to the use of divine right)
1806 napoleon amended the church catechism to teach people to revere and obey napoleon himself
Created a st Napoelans day on 16th August
weaknesses of concordant
May clergy remained royalsit
Church continued as an independent force (schools as they thought children to obey)
All this encouraged opposition during the final years of napoleon’s rule
Form the empire, catholics and jews
