Philip IV of France

Phillipe IV, the Fair (French Philippe le Bel) (1268 - November 29, 1314) was King of France from 1285 to 1314. A member of the Capetian Dynasty, he was born at the Royal Palace of Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne the son of King Philippe III and Isabelle d'Aragon. He was called Philippe the Fair because of his handsome appearance. As king, he was determined to strengthen the monarchy at any cost.

- Philippe IV -

Phillipe married Jeanne of Navarre (1271-1305) on August 16, 1284.

King Philippe IV arrested Jews so he could seize their goods to accommodate his spendthrift lifestyle. When he also levied taxes on the French clergy of one half their annual income, he caused an uproar within the Roman Catholic Church and the papacy. Still, Philippe emerged victorious with a French archbishop made Pope Clement V and the official papal palace was built in Avignon in the south of France.

On October 13, 1307, what may have been all the Knights Templar in France were simultaneously arrested by agents of Phillip the Fair, to be later tortured into admitting heresy in the Order. A modern historical view is that Phillip, who seized the treasury and broke up the monastic banking system, simply sought to control it for himself.

Philippe IV’s rule signaled the decline of the papacy’s power from its near complete authority. He died in a hunting accident and is buried in Saint Denis Basilica.

The children of Philippe IV and Jeanne of Navarre were:

1. Louis X - (October 4, 1289 - June 5, 1316)
2. Isabelle - (1292 - August 23, 1358)
3. Philippe V - (1293 - January 3, 1322)
4. Charles IV - (1294 - February 1, 1328)

All three of their sons would become king of France and their daughter, Queen of England.

He was succeeded by his son, Louis X.

Preceded by: Philip III

List of French monarchs

Succeeded by: Louis X