Schism: The Avignon Papacy

Generally the Germanic, Slavic and Uralic countries supported Rome, the Romance countries supported Avignon. Celtic Scotland supported Avignon, while Celtic Ireland Rome. Northern Italy, which had fallen out of control of the Holy Roman Empire between 1000 and 1100 but was still the home of Rome itself, is the biggest exception in a major language family. Corsica, too, although speaking an Italic language, stayed loyal to Rome. Portugal (Romance) started out Avignonese, but a civil war broke out over the succession, and a two year civil war and interregnum resulted in one side seeking aide from France, and the other side seeking aide from France's enemy in the 100 Years War then raging. The pro-English faction won, and Portugal became Romanist. Bohemia, the Czech (Slavic) portion of the Holy Roman Empire, was Avignonese.

In 1309, the Papacy, near the height of its admininstrative power in the Middle Ages, moved from Rome to Avignon in Southeastern France. Latin was still the language of the courts, and France was then the strongest Latin power. As administrative center, it was more centrally located to most of Latin Christendom, saving five weeks journey, on average, for a Christian 1 This lasted for about 70 years.

Biggest area in Spain and France that didn't join the Avignon Papacy, and remained Romanist, was the Basque country.