Who Was Philip IV of France?
Philip IV of France (1268–1314), known as Philip the Fair (Philippe le Bel), was the king of France from 1285 to 1314. He is best known for his role in the destruction of the Knights Templar in 1307, and for his long political struggle with the papacy. His reign was one of the most consequential of the Middle Ages, and his destruction of the Templars was one of the defining events of the early fourteenth century.
This article is a brief biography of Philip IV. It is a companion to The Trial and Suppression of the Knights Templar and to The Trial of Jacques de Molay.
Early Life and Reign
Philip was born in 1268, the son of Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. He succeeded his father as king in 1285, at the age of 17. His reign was marked by a series of ambitious and expensive ventures, including wars with England and Aragon, and a long political struggle with the papacy.
Philip was one of the most powerful kings of his age. He was determined to assert royal authority over the Church within his kingdom, and he came into conflict with Pope Boniface VIII over the taxation of the French clergy. The conflict came to a head in 1303, when Philip’s minister, Guillaume de Nogaret, had Boniface arrested at Anagni in Italy. The Pope was released after a few days, but he died shortly afterwards.
The Financial Pressures
Philip was chronically short of money. He had inherited from his father a kingdom deep in debt, and he had financed his wars through a series of extraordinary measures, including the debasement of the currency, the taxation of the Church, and the expulsion of the Jews and the Italian Lombard bankers from France.
By the early years of the fourteenth century, Philip was deep in debt to the Knights Templar. The Order had lent him substantial sums, and the debt was a major political issue. The destruction of the Templars was, in part, a way for Philip to seize the Order’s French assets and to be free of his debt.
The story of the Templars’ financial activities. See Templar Banking and the Temple in London.
The Destruction of the Templars
Philip’s role in the destruction of the Templars is the most famous act of his reign. The story is told in detail in The Trial and Suppression of the Knights Templar and in The Trial of Jacques de Molay.
The destruction of the Templars was a long-planned operation. The key events were:
- 1303–1304: Former Templars approached Philip with accusations of heresy.
- 1307: Philip held secret meetings to plan the arrests. Sealed letters were sent out to royal officials throughout France, ordering them to be opened simultaneously.
- October 13, 1307: The coordinated arrests of the Templars across France. The Grand Master Jacques de Molay was seized at the Temple in Paris.
- 1307–1311: The long, complex, and uneven trial of the Order.
- March 22, 1312: The bull Vox in Excelso suppressed the Order.
- March 18, 1314: The Grand Master and the Preceptor of Normandy were burned at the stake.
Philip’s role in the destruction of the Order has been debated by historians. Some have seen him as a calculating politician who used the charges of heresy to destroy a powerful independent institution. Others have seen him as a sincere reformer who was genuinely concerned about the Order’s alleged heresies. The most likely explanation is a combination of both motives: a sincere concern about the Order, combined with a clear political and financial motive.
The Avignon Papacy
Philip’s role in the destruction of the Templars is closely connected to the long political struggle between the French monarchy and the papacy, which led to the Avignon Papacy (1309–1377). The election of Clement V, a French pope, in 1305, and his decision to settle in Avignon in 1309, marked a major shift in the history of the papacy.
The Avignon Papacy was, in effect, a French-dominated papacy that was closely tied to the French crown. The Avignon popes, including Clement V, were often politically dependent on the French king, and the destruction of the Templars was one of the most important acts of this period.
The story of the Avignon Papacy is told in The Trial and Suppression of the Knights Templar and in Who Was Pope Clement V?.
The Death of Philip
Philip died on November 29, 1314, at the age of 46, at Fontainebleau. The cause of his death is unclear, although it may have been related to a hunting accident or to a stroke. He was succeeded by his three sons, Louis X (r. 1314–1316), Philip V (r. 1316–1322), and Charles IV (r. 1322–1328), all of whom died without male heirs. The death of Charles IV in 1328 led to the end of the Capetian dynasty and the beginning of the Valois dynasty.
According to the famous legend of the last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay had, while being burned at the stake on March 18, 1314, summoned both Philip and Clement V to appear before the judgment of God within the year. Clement died within a month; Philip within seven months. The story. See The Trial of Jacques de Molay.
Philip in Templar Mythology
Philip has been a major figure in the modern Templar mythology. He is often portrayed as a calculating villain who destroyed the Order for financial and political gain. The image of Philip as the destroyer of the Templars has been the basis of many modern novels, films, and documentaries.
The mythology. See Templar Mythology, Symbolism and Hidden Knowledge.
Conclusion
Philip IV of France was one of the most powerful and consequential kings of the Middle Ages. His destruction of the Knights Templar in 1307 was one of the defining events of the early fourteenth century, and his long political struggle with the papacy led to the Avignon Papacy and, eventually, to the Western Schism of 1378. The story of his reign. See The Trial and Suppression of the Knights Templar.