Gregory IX claimed patronage to the Basilica, but it was a friend of St. Francis' that wanted to found the Basilica as a memorial originally. Brother Elias was the minister-general of the Franciscan Order until a dispute between Elias and Gregory IX caused for a new minister-general to be appointed and that was St. Bonaventura of Narbonne. During the period of 1279-1304, the Spirituals of whom St. Bonaventura represented, presided and it is during this period that the Upper Church was decorated. This time frame is questionable due to the very important fact that there are no records surviving that tell exactly which artists worked on the Basilica and when. It is known that Cimabue completed the early work and thought that he later brought his pupil, Giotto, in afterwards, but this is a very much argued point. It is generally considered that a team of artists worked on the decoration of the interior for a period of two years and then on and off afterwards for an indistinguishable amount of time. The consistent two year period is when the Legend is thought to have been executed. Exactly chronologically which two years is again hotly disputed because it would then point a finger at a specific artist or group of artists. The meetings of the Chapters at Assisi and the political stirrings within the Church are responsible for intermissions in the decorative work of the Upper Church. For