Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did Petrarch’s family move to Avignon?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Engraving of Petrarch wearing a laurel wreath and a robe, holding a closed book in his left hand. — Petrarch Petrarch, engraving.

Petrarch’s family moved to Avignon in 1312 because it was the home of the exiled papal court, where his father, a lawyer, hoped to find professional employment.1

The papacy had relocated to Avignon from Rome in 1309 under Pope Clement V, a move that left Rome suffering from economic decline and internal factional strife. By settling in Avignon, Petrarch’s father sought the opportunities available within the administrative and legal environment of the relocated Curia.231