In the period from 1268 to 1271 the Church was without a Head for nearly three years, the cardinals were unable to agree on a successor for the deceased Pope Clemens IV. The study examines the causes and effects of the longest sede vacante in the history of the Church up to the present day. What split the College of Cardinals above all was the territorial political rivalries between the Italian cardinals. Nonetheless, the cardinals were able to agree on common action in the administration of the Papal States, on the appointment of bishops and the despatch of Papal Legates.