Of Papal Bulls and political intrigue : the attempted abolition of an Order

Abstract

The aftershocks instigated by Pope Innocent VIII’s Bull Cum Solerti in 1489 sounded the death knell of the Order of St Lazarus. What arguably began as political accommodation between the Order of St John and the Roman Curia was not so palatable to the Order of St Lazarus, which in its aftermath was fighting for its very own existence. The French monarchy and the Lazarite Order in France made various objections to oppose the implementation of the Papal Bull and the management of Boigny and its dependencies continued under Lazarite rule despite multiple hindrances from outside. Because of the perceived intransigence and reluctance of the Order of St Lazarus to kneel down, it will come as no surprise that there were various attempts by the Order of St John, mentored by the Roman Curia, to bring to fruition the intended outcome of Pope Innocent VIII’s Bull and embrace the Lazarite assets. After 1489, there were several other Papal Bulls, most importantly the Pian ones, which continued to promulgate the eradication of the Lazarite Order.