>[Innocent] wrote this at the very time when craft-guilds were multiplying all over Europe, and on the eve of their rise to political power within certain cities.
Might Innocent IV himself have any political motives in supporting the guilds?
You are quite right. Innocent IV reigned during the final stages of the Quarrel between the Sacerdoce and the Empire. His adversary, emperor Frederick II, was both Holy Roman Emperor and King of Naples and Sicily. Until him the king of Naples and Sicily had been a steadfast and crucial ally of the papacy. Innocent IV was in dire straits, had to leave Rome, and found residence in France. In this context, his granting or confirming a large degree of autonomy to the guilds is a move to undermine the power of the emperor and of the large feudal lords that supported him.
The quarrel ended badly both for the emperor and the pope. The death of Frederick II brought the Great Interregnum, which effectively destroyed imperial authority for a century. The papacy was so weakened that it was brought under the tutelage of the king of France and moved to Avignon.
Given my inclination to biological realism, provided "political" is sufficiently broadly defined, I'd always answer such a question in the affirmative. Which should not be misconstrued as my necessarily being able to conclusively identify said motive. :-)
>[Innocent] wrote this at the very time when craft-guilds were multiplying all over Europe, and on the eve of their rise to political power within certain cities.
Might Innocent IV himself have any political motives in supporting the guilds?
You are quite right. Innocent IV reigned during the final stages of the Quarrel between the Sacerdoce and the Empire. His adversary, emperor Frederick II, was both Holy Roman Emperor and King of Naples and Sicily. Until him the king of Naples and Sicily had been a steadfast and crucial ally of the papacy. Innocent IV was in dire straits, had to leave Rome, and found residence in France. In this context, his granting or confirming a large degree of autonomy to the guilds is a move to undermine the power of the emperor and of the large feudal lords that supported him.
The quarrel ended badly both for the emperor and the pope. The death of Frederick II brought the Great Interregnum, which effectively destroyed imperial authority for a century. The papacy was so weakened that it was brought under the tutelage of the king of France and moved to Avignon.
Given my inclination to biological realism, provided "political" is sufficiently broadly defined, I'd always answer such a question in the affirmative. Which should not be misconstrued as my necessarily being able to conclusively identify said motive. :-)