1180 –1223

Part 1

Philip II King of France

How was Philip viewed by his contemporaries?

Not popular. J. W. Baldwin (see bibliography page 422 of ‘Capetian France 987-1328) describes Philip II as an «astute, manipulative, calculating, penurious and ungallant ruler».

Early enthusiasm was modifed and mostcontemporary writers allude to the characteristics described by Baldwin above.

What did chroniclers say in the early part of Philip’s reign?

Early enthusiasm for Philip II is expressed by Rigord of Saint-Denis, self-appointed chronicler of the king’s deeds, in which he speaks of the young man’s «intelligence and prudence». He also describes him as Augustus because he was august – he augmented the crown’s possessions (Artois andVermandois through his marriage to Isabella of Hainault), and he was born in August – as God-given and the most Christian king.

faculty.cua.edu/pennington/churchhistory220/lectureeight/france1300.htm

France in the twelfth and

thirteenth

centuries

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Couronnement_de_Philippe_Auguste.jpgCouronnement de Philippe Auguste

Grandes Chroniques de France, enluminées par Jean Fouquet, Tours,

vers 1455-1460

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sacre_de_Philippe_Auguste.jpg

Sacre de Philippe Auguste (1179)From the Grandes Chroniques de

France, Paris, XIVe siècle

How is Philip II viewed by historians?

A popular character with French historians but subject of scholarly study only in last two decades of 20th century.Norman Cantor (in his book ‘The Civilisation of the Middle Ages’) has described him as «the third of the great rulers of the 12th century, alongside Henry II (of England) and Frederick Barbarossa (of Germany) Philip was lacking in their glamorous and attractive qualities. He was a miserable, crafty hunchback totally without scruples. His high-sounding appelation was probably intende to mean ‘the augmentor’ rather than to associate him with the Roman emperors. Yet Philip’s devious qualities were the only ones that could have led to a great increase in the French royal demesne.»

«the rearrangement of the political map of France could not be accomplished without craft and guile, qualities in which Philip excelled. But Philip was also an extremely industrious and ingenious administrator who prepared for the expansion of the royal demesne by creating the bailli, the local financial, legal, administrative, and military representative of the French monarchy.»

Who was his first wife? What legacy did she leave?

Isabella of Hainault

Gave Philip a son and heir.

Died in 1189.

Isabella also gave lands as her dowry

What effect did her death have on Philip?

He remarried – Ingeborg of Denmark, whom he cast aside in a violent manner, finding bishops to marry him to Agnes of Méran instead.

What effect did casting aside Ingeborg have?

Fuelled hostility from the Church and damaged Philip’s reputation.Heavy taxation of the church also fuelled the hostility.

Agnes produced a daughter and a son, Philip, before her death in 1201, but Philip aroused major disapproval from the pope, Innocent III and despaired of obtaining a divorce taking Ingeborg back in 1213. This was just after the birth of a son to his heir, Prince Louis.

Why did Philip behave as he did towards Ingeborg?Possible major disorder due to symptoms that emerged on his return from the Third Crusade. These included – hair loss, extreme nervousness and violent antipathy towards Ingeborg.

Philip’s behaviour after his return from the crusade even alienated Rigord, who merely referred to him as ‘rex Francorum’, king of the Franks, from 1191.

Philip’s official historiographer after Rigord was William the Breton. How did he depict the king?

William reworked and added to Rigord’s chronicle as the Philippidos which appeared just after Philip’s death in 1226. In it he depicts the king in a heroic light, glossing over his faults.

In their book ‘Capetian France 987-1328’ as an unappealing figure with consistently strong political acumen (ability). A king who nurtered powerful ambitions from early in his reign and who achieved them.

What conclusions can be drawn about the character of Philip II ‘Augustus’ from the chroniclers and from history?

Gained Artois through marriage to Isabella of Hainault (her dowry).This gave him vital claim to the family’s other lands.Isabella was the daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Hainault, and niece of Philip of Alsace, Count of Flanders)Historial debate about Philip’s intentions . . .Norman Cantor . . .

Cantor suggests that Philip was ambitious and pursued his ‘crooked schemes’, one of which was to gain the northern county of Artois by marriage and then turn upon the vast dominions of the Angevin ruler in northern France.

Philip made an alliance with Henry II of England at Gisors which allienated the counts of Flanders and Champagne, who allied against Philip with Stephen of Sancerre in 1182. This resulted in sporadic fighting.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philippe_II_Auguste.jpg

The coronation of Philippe II Auguste in

the presence of Henry II of England

Death of Isabella 1182Philip claimed the lands to which she was heir – Vermandois, Amiénois and Valois.Initially, however, these lands were passed to her sister, countess of Beaumont.

1185 – Philip defeated Philip of Hainault (who had claimed the lands that passed to Isabella’s sister) in battle. A settlement was reached at Amiens in 1186.

King retained Artois (his wife’s dowry) – a permanent gain when Louis VIII was born in 1187

Countess of Beaumont kept Valois and Vermandois was divided.King Philip gained the important city of Amiens and 65 castles, the county of Montdidier, and the reversion of Philip of Alsace’s share of Vermandois. This was a triumph for Philip.

In 1186 king Philip also made another successful expedition into Burgundy and brought the duke to heel

How and why did relations with Henry II change in 1186-7?

At this time both the Young King Henry and Geoffrey of Brittany (two of Henry II’s sons) died.Why did this matter to Philip?The young king would have been a congenial successor to Henry II.Geoffrey was a valued fellow-conspirator and friend.

End of Part 1