Interdict
and Excommunicate. The Pope or some ecclesiastic interdicts a kingdom, province, county, or town, but excommunicates an individual. This sentence excludes the place or individual from partaking in certain sacraments, public worship, and the burial service. The most remarkable instances are:—
586. The Bishop of Bayeux laid an interdict on all the churches of Rouen, in consequence of the murder of the Bishop Prétextat.
1081. Poland was laid under an interdict by Pope Gregory VII., because Boleslas II. had murdered Stanislaus at the altar.
1200. France was interdicted by Innocent III., because Philippe Auguste refused to marry Ingelburge, who had been betrothed to him.
1209. England was laid under similar sentence by Innocent III., in the reign of King John, and the interdict lasted for six years.
In France, Robert the Pious, Philippe I., Louis VII., Philippe Auguste, Philippe IV., and Napoleon I., have all been subjected to the Papal thunder. In England, Henry II. and John. Victor Emmanuel of Italy was excommunicated by Pius IX. for despoiling the Papacy of a large portion of its temporal dominions.
