King Philip IV vs. Pope Boniface VIII

Conflict over power and taxes

Jan 1, 1296

Philip IV decided to limit the scope of the Clergy's influence in social matters by using lawyers to centralize royal power and remove clergy from legal matters. Both France and England began to tax the clergy, and Boiface took a stand against this taxation.

Boniface writes Clericas laicos

Feb 1, 1296

Boniface declares that clergy cannot be taxed without prior approval of the Pope.

Boniface gives in to some of Philip's demands

Sep 1, 1296

After arguing back and forth about taxation and funding of seular needs, Boniface allowed voluntary contributions from glergy for the defense of the state and gave Philip the right to determine when such contributions were necessary.

Feud reaches peak

Jan 1, 1300

This war over power and money was a war of words and papers back and forth between Philip and Boniface. in the early 1300's, Philip started a strong campaign against Boniface and arrested one of Boniface's aides. Boniface said that churchmen should not be tried in state-run courts.

Philip gets allies

Apr 1, 1302

Philip summoned Nobles, Clergy and Commons to the first French States-General in Paris. Each class wrote separately to Boniface in Rome defending Philip as King and his power.

Bonifaces answers Philip

Nov 18, 1302

Boniface's Unam Sanctam declared that the Pope had jurisdiction over the spiritual and temporal power of all Kings. In response, Philip's chief minister, Guillaume de Nogaret denounced Boniface as a heretic and a criminal in the minds of the French clergy.

Philip is excommunicatied

Jan 1, 1303

Boniface excommunicates Philip and Nogaret.

Boniface is attacked

Sep 7, 1303

An army led by Nogaret surprised Boniface in Anagni and demanded his resignation. Boniface answered that he would die ibefore he would resign. One of the French leaders, Sciarra Colonnna slapped Boniface, the first physical violence in this war of words. Boniface is then severly beaten and nearly killed before being released from captivity 3 days later.

Boniface dies

Oct 11, 1303

Boniface officially died of kidney stones, but many believe he died of humiliation over the ongoing feud with Philip.

Boniface faces trial after his death

Jan 1, 1311

Pope Clement of Avignon consented to a church-run trial of the deceased Boniface. Preliminary questions started in August and September of 1310. Around this same time, a state-run trial against the deceased Boniface was held accusing the dead Pope of many offenses, most lacking evidence. Before a real trial began Pope Clement persuaded Philip to allow the Council of Vienne to decide Boniface's guilt or innocence. The Council met in 1311, heard testimony and declared the matter closed.