Right of Spoil of the Popes of Avignon, 1316-1415

Right of Spoil of the Popes of Avignon, 1316-1415 is a scholarly examination of the legal practice known as jus spolii. This law volume analyzes how the popes of Avignon claimed the movable property of approximately 1,200 ecclesiastical figures between the election of John XXII and the deposition of Benedict XIII. The text explores the evolution of the right of spoil, a term that emerged in the late 15th century to describe the papal authority to collect goods from deceased clerics.

The work details the law of succession regarding clerical property and the role of the pope as a protector through testamentary licenses. By examining the administration and documentation of spoils, the author connects jus spolii to the concept of plenitudo potestatis. This historical study provides a comprehensive repertory of cases and a rigorous analysis of papal legal power.