Beginning with Clement V, elected 1305, all popes during the Avignon papacy were French. However, this makes French influence seem greater than it was. Southern France (Occitania) at that time had a culture quite independent from Northern France, where most of the advisers to the King of France were based. The Kingdom of Arles was not yet part of France at that time, formally a part of the Holy Roman Empire. The literature produced by the troubadours in the Languedoc is unique and strongly distinct from that of Royal circles in the north. Even in terms of religion, the South produced its own variety of Christianity, Catharism, which was ultimately declared heretical. The movement was fueled in no small part by the strong sense of independence in the South even though the region had been severely weakened during the Albigensian Crusade a hundred years before. By the time of the Avignon Papacy, the power of the French King in this region was uncontested, although still not legally binding.
beginning with clement v elected 1305 all popes during the avignon papacy were french however this makes french influence seem greater than it was southern france (occitania) at that time had a culture quite independent from northern france where most of the advisers to the king of france were based the kingdom of arles was not yet part of france at that time formally a part of the holy roman empire the literature produced by the troubadours in the languedoc is unique and strongly distinct from that of royal circles in the north even in terms of religion the south produced its own variety of christianity catharism which was ultimately declared heretical the movement was fueled in no small part by the strong sense of independence in the south even though the region had been severely weakened during the albigensian crusade a hundred years before by the time of the avignon papacy the power of the french king in this region was uncontested although still not legally binding