Philip II of France
Philip was born in Gonesse on the 21st of August 1165, the son of Louis VII and Adela of Champagne. He received the nickname Dieudonné because he arrived late in his father's life as a firstborn son. In 1173, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa proposed that Philip marry Beatrice, his daughter born in 1164. Pope Alexander III successfully opposed this union since Barbarossa recognized a rival pope named Callixtus III at that time.
Louis intended to make Philip co-ruler with him according to Capetian traditions. These plans stalled when Philip fell ill after a hunting trip. His father went on pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral to pray for recovery and learned that his son had indeed recovered. On the return journey to Paris, the king suffered a stroke.
In declining health, Louis VII crowned fourteen-year-old Philip at Reims on the 1st of November 1179. Archbishop William of the White Hands performed the anointing ceremony. Philip married Isabella of Hainault on the 28th of April 1180 at Bapaume. The marriage brought the County of Artois as dowry from Count Baldwin V of Hainaut and Countess Margaret I of Flanders. Bishops of Senlis and Laon attended the wedding.
From coronation onward, all real power transferred to Philip while his father's health declined further. Great nobles felt dissatisfied with Philip's advantageous marriage. His mother and four uncles exercised enormous influence over Louis and were extremely unhappy about his attainment of the throne. They resented that Philip had taken the royal seal from his father. Louis died on the 18th of September 1180.
The royal demesne had increased under Philip I and Louis VI but slightly diminished under Louis VII. The first major increase came in 1185 when Philip acquired the County of Amiens. He purchased Clermont-en-Beauvaisis in 1218 following the death of Robert I, Count of Alençon in 1219. Philip obtained the city and county of Alençon after Robert's death.
Philip's eldest son Louis inherited the County of Artois in 1190 when Queen Isabella died. This inheritance expanded the family holdings significantly. The acquisition of territories like Amiens and Clermont demonstrated Philip's strategy for expanding the royal domain through purchase and inheritance rather than solely conquest.
These territorial gains transformed France into the most prosperous country in Europe during his reign. Philip checked noble power while helping towns free themselves from seigneurial authority. He granted privileges and liberties to the emergent bourgeoisie throughout his kingdom. His administrative reforms brought financial stability to the nation he ruled.
Reversing his father's tolerance of Jews, Philip ordered French Jews stripped of valuables in 1180. He ransomed them and demanded conversion to Christianity under threat of further taxation. In April 1182, he expelled all Jews from the royal demesne to enrich the French crown. Confiscated goods flowed directly into royal coffers.
Philip expelled Jews from the royal demesne again in July 1182. He had Jewish houses in Paris demolished to make way for the Les Halles market. These measures proved profitable in the short term with ransoms alone bringing in 15,000 marks. Christians enriched themselves at the expense of Jewish communities throughout the kingdom.
Ninety-nine Jews burned alive in Brie-Comte-Robert during these violent measures. Philip allowed Jews to return in 1198 after the initial expulsion period ended. The economic motivations behind these actions demonstrated how religious prejudice served state interests during his reign.
In 1181, conflict arose between Philip and Count Philip I of Flanders over Vermandois territory. King Philip claimed this land as part of his wife's dowry. The Count of Flanders invaded France, ravaging districts between the Somme and Oise rivers before reaching Dammartin. Philip approached with 2,000 knights and chased him back toward Flanders.
Two armies confronted each other near Amiens by that stage. Philip countered the count's ambitions by breaking alliances with Duke Henry I of Brabant and Archbishop Philipp von Heinsberg of Cologne. An uncertain battle outcome forced the Count to conclude peace. The Treaty of Boves in July 1185 partitioned disputed territory with Amiénois, Artois, and numerous places passing to the king.
Meanwhile, Stephen I, Count of Sancerre, and his Brabançon mercenaries ravaged the Orléanais in 1184. Philip defeated them with aid from the Confrères de la Paix organization. These early conflicts established patterns of warfare that would continue for decades against powerful vassals like Henry II of England.
Philip traveled to the Holy Land to participate in the Third Crusade of 1189, 1192 alongside King Richard I of England. He left Vézelay with his army on the 4th of July 1190. French and English crusaders initially traveled together but split at Lyon after Richard chose sea travel from Marseille. Philip took the overland route through the Alps to Genoa instead.
Armies reunited in Messina where they wintered together before continuing their journey. On the 30th of March 1191, the French set sail for the Holy Land. Philip arrived at Acre on the 20th of April when it was already under siege by lesser crusader contingents. He constructed siege equipment before Richard arrived on the 8th of June.
Acre surrendered on the 12th of July while Philip suffered severely from dysentery which reduced his zeal for the campaign. Ties with Richard strained further after the latter acted haughtily following the city's fall. The siege resulted in death of Philip, Count of Flanders who held Vermandois proper. His death threatened to derail the Treaty of Gisors that Philip had orchestrated to isolate the Blois-Champagne faction.
On the 27th of July 1214 opposing armies discovered proximity near Bouvines close to Lille in southern Flanders. They stood on banks of a tributary of the River Lys near its bridge. It being Sunday, Philip did not expect attack since fighting on Sabbath seemed unholy. His army numbered approximately 7,000 men against allied forces possessing around 9,000 troops.
Philip became unhorsed by Flemish pikemen during heat of battle. Without mail armor he would likely have been killed immediately. When Otto IV carried off field by wounded terrified horse and Count of Flanders severely wounded taken prisoner, Flemish and Imperial troops fled the field. French did not pursue as day ended nearly dark.
Philip returned to Paris triumphant marching captive prisoners behind him in long procession. Grateful subjects came out to greet victorious king throughout his journey home. In aftermath, Otto retreated to Harzburg castle soon overthrown as Holy Roman Emperor replaced by Frederick II. Count Ferdinand remained imprisoned following defeat while King John's attempt to rebuild Angevin Empire ended completely.
After early death of Isabella of Hainault in childbirth in 1190, Philip decided to marry again. He chose Ingeborg daughter of King Valdemar I of Denmark who received 10,000 marks silver dowry. Philip met her at Amiens on the 14th of August 1193 married same day. Archbishop Guillaume of Reims crowned both Philip and Ingeborg during Assumption feast ceremony.
During ceremony Philip appeared pale nervous unable wait for conclusion. Following event he sent Ingeborg to Saint-Maur-des-Fosses convent requesting annulment citing non-consummation grounds. Ingeborg insisted marriage consummated claiming rightful queen status. Franco-Danish churchman William of Äbelholt intervened drawing genealogy disproving consanguinity impediment claims.
Pope Innocent III declared Philip's marriage to Agnes of Merania null void since still married to Ingeborg. France placed under interdict from 1199 until the 7th of September 1200 due to papal pressure. Philip finally took Ingeborg back though not recognized as queen until 1213. Meanwhile Paris became first medieval city with paved thoroughfares central market Les Halles Notre-Dame construction Louvre fortress University charter granted 1200.
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Common questions
When was Philip II of France born and who were his parents?
Philip II of France was born in Gonesse on the 21st of August 1165, the son of Louis VII and Adela of Champagne.
What territories did Philip II of France acquire to expand the royal demesne?
Philip II of France acquired the County of Amiens in 1185 and purchased Clermont-en-Beauvaisis in 1218 following the death of Robert I, Count of Alençon in 1219. He also obtained the city and county of Alençon after Robert's death.
How many knights and sergeants could Philip II of France muster by the end of his reign?
Towards the end of his reign, Philip II of France could muster approximately 3,000 knights, 9,000 sergeants, and 6,000 urban militiamen. Thousands more foot sergeants joined these forces as needed.
Why did Philip II of France expel Jews from the royal demesne in 1182?
Philip II of France expelled all Jews from the royal demesne in April 1182 to enrich the French crown through ransoms and confiscation of goods. These measures proved profitable with ransoms alone bringing in 15,000 marks.
When did Philip II of France win the Battle of Bouvines and what was the outcome?
Opposing armies discovered proximity near Bouvines close to Lille on the 27th of July 1214 during a battle that resulted in the capture of Count Ferdinand and the flight of Imperial troops. Philip returned to Paris triumphant while Otto IV retreated to Harzburg castle soon overthrown as Holy Roman Emperor replaced by Frederick II.