1305 - The King of France persuaded the Pope to move the Papal Court to Avignon in Southern France. The Pope agreed citing a lack of law and order in Rome as the principal cause for the move. The transfer of Papal power produced far-reaching results. 

Located within the domain of the French king, the Papal court was greatly influenced by the French. In time the Pope found himself stripped of his traditional sources of income, namely the taxes he levied from the Papal States in Italy. His move to France had led the Papal States to declare their independence which stripped the Papal Court of its power. 

Needing to fund the Papal Court and the church's expenditure, the Pope turned to what we now think of as Papal fiscalism. The church began charging dues and fees for services rendered, ranging from fees for church appointments to payments for indulgences, dispensation, and new taxes. 

The new policy highlighted the existing greed and avarice of the church prompting a wave of protests from the common people. The conflict was dubbed the Babylonian Captivity of the church and became a theme that reformers like Martin Luther later expanded upon.