[MR] Wikipedia: Philip the Fair, and His Beef with the Church

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

The French King Philip IV (aka "Philip the Fair", ruled 1285-1314) was a
master at consolidating power. He not only gained power over the French
nobles, but through conquest, marriage alliances, and intimidation, he
gained power over much of western Europe. His plan to control the French
clergy, and levy taxes on them, brought him into conflict with Pope
Boniface VIII, who excommunicated the King. With his supporter Guillaume of
Nogaret, Philip hatched a plan to kidnap the Pope, bring him to France, and
thus gain leverage over the entire Catholic Church.

On this date in 1303, Nogaret and 1,600 followers attacked the Italian town
of Anagni where the Pope resided, and there captured the Pontiff. The plot
failed when the townspeople rose on 9 September and freed the Pope.

Pope Boniface died on 11 October of that year. This gave Philip the opening
he needed. Through the powerful French clergy, Philip forced the election
of the pliable Benedict XI, who lived just eight months. There is some
suspicion that he was poisoned by Nogaret, though this has never been
proven. Benedict's death opened the way for the French Archbishop of
Bordeaux Raymond Bertrand de Got to be elected Pope on 5 June 1305 as
Clement V. Clement and Philip had been friends since their youth, and the
new Pope was totally under Philip's control.

Clement chose to reside in Avignon rather than Rome, and in 1309 moved the
entire curia to Avignon, giving Philip effective control of the Catholic
Church. French control was to last through seven Avignon popes over the
next 67 years. Eventually this would lead to the Western Schism when there
were competing Popes in Rome and Anti-popes in Avignon until 1398.

More about Philip is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_IV_of_France .

The Avignon Papacy is discussed at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avignon_Papacy .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆
Continuing a crusade to keep Merry Rose Relevant and in business.