Philip IV succeeded to the throne of France on October 5, 1285, upon the death of his father Philip III the Bold.  Considered the most mysterious of the Capetian kings, his reign consisted of some dramatic events in French history. These include his conflict with the Papacy, punishments of the Knights Templar, scandal besetting his family's honor and the issuing of counterfeit money.
            While details about Philip's physical appearance are not widely known, it has been established that he had fair hair with a very handsome and expressive face. Philip also regaled in lavish clothing, preferring velvet-fur lined garments. There were rumors though that under this elegant royal attire, Philip, a pious man, wore a hair shirt!
            Philip IV married Joan of Navarre in 1284. In a time when reaching adulthood was uncertain, three of Philip's sons became kings of France.  His particularly long reign has been called the time of Philip the Fair and the Lawyers as he constantly surrounded himself with them and sought their advice.  The King was also a man of contrasts for even though he was an autocrat, in 1302 he showed a democratic side by founding the Estates-General.
            Expansion was another aspect that Philip favored during his reign. While most of his foreign policy was directed against England, the King acquired much local land through large payments, which in turn led to monetary difficulties. These financial problems culminated in Philip issuing counterfeit money—though not on a systematic basis.
            His attempts to ally himself with England disintegrated when, in 1293 Edward I of England refused to appear at the French court to pay homage to Philip for lands Edward held as Duke of Aquitaine.  Philip in turn stripped Edward of all his possessions in France.  This must have made for family hostilities because Philip's sister Marquerite was married to Edward I.  In 1308, Philip tried to make peace by marrying his daughter Isabella to the Prince of Wales. (She would become Queen of England as consort to Edward II upon the death of Edward I.)  Unfortunately, the peace was short lived when, in 1337 the English staked a claim to the French throne and started the Hundred Years War.
          



            Yet, the two events that stand out most in Philip's reign are his personal war with the Pope and his vendetta against the Knights Templar. Often short on money, Philip began to tax the clergy. Pope Boniface VIII was so angered by this move that he excommunicated the King. This caused the King to respond in kind and the battles continued for over seven years, ending with the death of Boniface VIII and his successor, Pope Benedict XI, lifting the excommunication.
            Philip IV (the Fair) died on November 29, 1314 from a hunting accident.

Philip IV (the Fair)

Philip IV (the Fair)

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