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Why did the Council of Lyon depose Frederick II in 1245?
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Frederick II
Frederick II, bust, c. 13th century; in the collection of the Museo Provinciale Campano, Capua, Italy.
At the Council of Lyon in 1245, Pope Innocent IV formally deposed Frederick II based on four specific charges:
- Perjury
- Disturbing the peace
- Sacrilege
- Suspicion of heresy
This deposition was the culmination of a long-standing conflict between the papacy and the empire regarding the extent of their respective authorities. While Frederick II sought to exercise autocratic imperial powerāthe imperialis potestasāthe church asserted a claim to universal power, or universalis potestas. Following the Pope's flight to Lyon, he convened the council to address the "question of the Emperor," ultimately condemning Frederick II and releasing his subjects from their bonds of loyalty to him.12