The period of the Avignon papacy is closely linked to Umbria with the election of Clement V in 1304. Relations with Umbria, however, had important implications under his successor, John XXII. Interested in maintaining papal power, however difficult, he forged strong ties with the cities that had been part of the Guelph League and were historically allies of the Church, Perugia above all. This relationship soon developed into a fruitful one of territorial control and maintenance of regional order during a period in which strong Ghibelline sentiment was rekindled, especially by the Bishop of Arezzo, Guido Tarlati. This led the pontiff to grant Perugia wide latitude in suppressing dissent, paving the way for the creation of a regional state. The aim of this work is to study Umbria's most politically active period under John XXII, between 1318 and 1323. Using a series of parchments preserved in the Diplomatic Collection of the State Archives of Perugia, it analyzes the policies implemented by the pontiff and his vicars, primarily the municipality of Perugia, to repress dissent,political, but also, in some cases, religious, in the region. This will be intertwined with political events, such as the revolt of Todi and Spoleto, linked to the descent of Louis the Bavarian, and the brief reign of Muzio di Ser Francesco over Assisi, which marked the period of greatest instability for papal and Guelph power in Umbria.