Crisis in the Late Medieval Church

Philip IV of France - Background

Philip IV is one of the most important of the medieval French kings. He was proud, arrogant, and determined that the king should have his way. He was no respecter of tradition or rights and was greedy and unscrupulous. He appointed men to his court who were well trained in Roman law and who believed in royal supremacy. They found the legal and historical precedents to justify his actions.

One of the great dangers to Philip's position was the authority and privileges of the Church in Rome. French bishops were powerful men who had command of large tracts of land and vast quantities of money, all of which were technically outside royal authority. In practice, one bishop might be more or less under royal control while another might be more loyal to Rome, with many sitting the fence and ready to go with whomever seemed likely to grant them the better position and favors. Who controlled the Church in France was therefore a very pressing matter indeed.

History of Western Civilization

E.L. Skip Knox
Boise State University

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