First Council of Lyon
The First Council of Lyons was convened by Pope Innocent IV on 24 June 1245 opened in Lyon on June 28, 1245. The number of participants was probably somewhat less than expected by Innocent (about 150 bishops ).
In the center of this Council was the deposition of Frederick II as emperor and king. It was the dramatic climax of the fight between Frederick and the Papacy. After the second excommunication by Gregory IX. 1239 and his death in 1241, the emperor had placed his hopes in the new pope. On the merits, the conviction of the new Pope Innocent IV, however, did not differ from that of the old. Probably Innocent had not later than the deposition of Frederick planned since his surprising escape from Rome on 29 June 1244 there was an agreement with him to the Emperor nothing more. Thaddeus of Sessa, a longtime confidant of the emperor and his representative on the council, already took the first opportunity to submit a final offer of peace Frederick. Innocent reacted with suspicion and rejection: Too much had already promised Friedrich and not kept, he is said to have proclaimed. It will not succeed in averting the judgment of the Council. Walter of Ocre was sent to Verona at Frederick and got by Innocent 20 days to return to imperial escort or at least with imperial instructions.
The Pope tried to explain that Frederick did not fight him, but the whole Church. As proof of Friedrichs Eidbrüche he had read documents which probably mainly Frederick position as a vassal of the Roman Church for the Kingdom of Sicily and its gift and warranty statements for the Patrimony of St Peter should recall. Thaddaeus countered the attacks with papal documents, the documented failure to observe religious promises. His reasoning was quite impressed with the English side that came closest to the imperial cause, while Spain was for the Pope.
On the second General Assembly further charges were presented: The persecution of the Sicilian Church, the heretical beliefs of Frederick, in particular its contacts with Saracen rulers and his alleged dealings with Saracen girl, so be immoral lifestyle. It was also the capture of prelates who one of Gregory IX. wanted to travel to Rome convened council complained. Thaddaeus tried to defend the emperor as well as possible, reaching that Innocent Friedrich admitted the opportunity to appear until July 17, even before the Council.
Meanwhile, the Pope secured the full consent of the cardinals to the deposition of Frederick and cared well for the formulation of the Deposition bull. He also had 91 documents, which had issued emperors and kings in favor of the Roman Church, only 35 privileges of Frederick II, put together ( Lyon Transsumpte ) and certified by 40 high-ranking council participants. This served both as evidence against Frederick, on the other hand, this should prove the meantime gained power position of the Roman Church and its lehnsrechtlich established suzerainty over a considerable number of European kings.
Without waiting for Friedrich or his envoys, the Council met on 17 July to its closing session. Innocent proclaimed the Constitutions adopted and had read the Lyon Transsumpte. Once again seized Thaddaeus the word and doubted many privileges, but saw that the deposition of the Emperor was inevitable and passed already ahead of the reasons for the invalidity of such a decision together. The lack of, proper loading of the Emperor, the substantive indeterminacy of action points, the partiality of the Pope as an enemy of Frederick, his dual role as both plaintiff and judge.
Innocent had Thaddaeus ' objections immediately with the remark that he had indeed a general council right to announced the deposition of the Emperor and joined after the reading of the deposition bull the council. The council, he admitted to no say in his actions or the formulation of the deduction certificate. Explicitly not an endorsement, but in the presence of the council, was his decision, and he emphasized later, the council is merely the ceremony was due to present, but he fully draw the condemnation of the emperor by virtue of his apostolic authority alone.
Innocent stayed at inception of the deposition strictly to the canon law. For language, only the relevant aspects within the legal framework came. Had Gregory VII once deposed the emperor formally so Innocent withdrew the first time a crowned his offices and dignities. However, Friedrich recognized in the result, this deduction is not on, he kept the imperial dignity continued until his death, which he was unable to dispute the Pope primarily due to lack of equality of arms.