The Ecclesiastical Career of Pierre de Tarentaise, Dominican Scholar and Pope (Innocent V, r. 1276)
[Thesis]
Koopman, Nicole
Smith, Damian J
Saint Louis University
2019
343 p.
Ph.D.
Saint Louis University
2019
This project examines the life of Pierre de Tarentaise, O.P. (c. 1225-1276) in order to analyze broader intellectual, religious, and socio-political developments during the Middle Ages. Pierre was a prominent theologian at the University of Paris, defended by Aquinas against charges of heresy, and eventually became the first Dominican pope, Innocent V. His numerous accomplishments include overhauling the program for Dominican formation in 1259 (a reform which remained in place for centuries), unifying the Catholic and Orthodox churches in 1274, forging peace among European leaders, and shaping crusading policy. I argue that as one of the central protagonists of the thirteenth century, Pierre's achievements serve as a prism through which to understand crucial changes within the fledgling Dominican order, the university, and the medieval Church.