711 years ago today, on November 29, 1314 (October 22, 1314), King Philip IV of France died. Philippe Bel (1268 - November 29, 1314) King of the Capetian Dynasty of France (reigned 1285-1314), King of Navarra (from 1284, known as Philip I). He was one of a series of powerful monarchs in the later Capetian period. Philip IV's power even forced the Holy See to submit, and within a century of him, the papacy was moved to Avignon, France. Philip IV's basic policy was to continue the practice of the Capetian ancestors, to suppress feudal princes and strengthen the power of the king. In 1284 he married Queen Juana I of Navarre before succeeding to the throne, giving the Capetian dynasty the crown of Navarre. Since the royal family of Navarre was the hereditary lord of Champagne, this move also led to the fall of Champagne, an important feudal territory, into the hands of the royal family. So Philip IV's possessions after his accession were enough to support his actions to establish the absolute power of the king. In the struggle against various enemies, Philip IV showed tenacity and ruthlessness. In 1294 Philip IV invaded Keene (Aquitaine), a key territory of the Plantagenet Dynasty in France, hoping to annex it. King Edward I of England then crossed the sea to attack France in 1297, and by 1300, the French army had actually been driven out of its captured territory. Philip IV made peace with Edward I, who still owned Gascogne and married Philip's sister, Margaret of France. After this setback, Philip IV annexed Angoua and Lyon in 1308 and 1312. In order to expand his territory and increase his sources of income, Philip IV continued to attack Flanders from 1300. The French were defeated in the war of 1302, but defeated the Flemish in 1304. Philip IV's ambitions in Flanders had only limited results. Because of these wars, he resorted to various means of expropriation, including the expulsion of the Jews and the confiscation of their property in 1306. From 1296 to 1303, Philip IV had a serious conflict with Pope Boniface VIII, who advocated the priesthood over the kingship. In order to gain the support of nobles and city dwellers in his struggle against the pope, Philip IV convened the first third-level council in French history. As a result of the conflict, the Holy See was effectively controlled by the French king for many years. Probably at the request of Philip IV, the Pope declared the Knights Templar, one of the most important orders of monks, to be heretical in 1312. The abolition of the Knights Templar could have been of great benefit to Philip IV, because of the order's amazing wealth. Philip IV banned the Knights Templar and brutally hunted down members (mostly executed for heresy). Comments: Powerful monarchs who have done something in French history