Philip II 'Augustus'

1. Philip II 'Augustus' 1180 –1223

2. Part 1 Philip II King of France

5. Character 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 most contemporary writers allude to the characteristics described by Baldwin above.

6. Early descriptions Whatdidchroniclerssay in the early part of Philip’sreign? Earlyenthusiasm for Philip II isexpressed by Rigord of Saint-Denis, self-appointedchronicler of the king’sdeeds, in whichhespeaks of the young man’s «intelligence and prudence». He alsodescribeshim as Augustus becausehewasaugust – heaugmented the crown’s possessions (Artois andVermandoisthroughhismarriage to Isabella of Hainault), and hewasborn in August – as God-given and the most Christian king.

7. France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries faculty.cua.edu/pennington/churchhistory220/lectureeight/france1300.htm

8. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Couronnement_de_Philippe_Auguste.jpgcommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Couronnement_de_Philippe_Auguste.jpg Couronnement de Philippe Auguste Grandes Chroniques de France, enluminées par Jean Fouquet, Tours, vers 1455-1460

9. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sacre_de_Philippe_Auguste.jpgcommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sacre_de_Philippe_Auguste.jpg Sacre de Philippe Auguste (1179) From the Grandes Chroniques de France, Paris, XIVe siècle

10. Historiography How is Philip II viewed by historians? A popularcharacterwith French historians but subject of scholarlystudyonly in last twodecades of 20th century. Norman Cantor (in his book ‘The Civilisation of the Middle Ages’) has describedhim as «the third of the greatrulers of the 12th century, alongsideHenry II (of England) and Frederick Barbarossa (of Germany) Philip waslacking in theirglamorous and attractive qualities. He was a miserable, craftyhunchbacktotallywithoutscruples. His high-soundingappelationwasprobablyintende to mean ‘the augmentor’ ratherthan to associatehimwith the Roman emperors. YetPhilip’sdeviousqualitieswere the onlyonesthatcould have led to a greatincrease in the French royal demesne.»

11. Cantor continues . . . «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.»

12. France and the royal demesne

13. Philip II’s first wife Whowashis first wife? Whatlegacydidsheleave? Isabella of Hainault Gave Philip a son and heir. Died in 1189. Isabella also gave lands as herdowry

14. Death of Isabella 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.

15. Marriage and heirs Agnesproduced a daughter and a son, Philip, beforeherdeath in 1201, but Philip aroused major disapprovalfrom the pope, Innocent III and despaired of obtaining a divorce taking Ingeborg back in 1213. This wasjustafter the birth of a son to hisheir, Prince Louis. Whydid Philip behave as hedidtowards Ingeborg? Possible major disorder due to symptomsthatemerged on his return from the ThirdCrusade. Theseincluded – hairloss, extremenervousness and violent antipathytowards Ingeborg.

16. Philip’shistoriographers 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.

18. Summarised by Hallam & Everard 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?

19. Lands and influence 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 . . .

20. Philip and the Angevin Empire Cantor suggeststhat Philip wasambitious and pursuedhis ‘crookedschemes’, one of whichwas to gain the northerncounty of Artois by marriage and thenturnupon the vast dominions of the Angevin ruler in northern France. Philip made an alliance with Henry II of Englandat Gisors whichallienated the counts of Flanders and Champagne, whoalliedagainst Philip with Stephen of Sancerre in 1182. This resulted in sporadicfighting.

21. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Philippe_II_Auguste.jpg The coronation of Philippe II Auguste in the presence of Henry II of England

22. Expansion of territory Death of Isabella 1182 Philip 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.

23. Terms of the settlementat Amiens in 1186 King retained Artois (hiswife’sdowry) – a permanent gain when Louis VIII wasborn in 1187 Countess of Beaumont kept Valois and Vermandois wasdivided. King Philip gained the important city of Amiens and 65 castles, the county of Montdidier, and the reversion of Philip of Alsace’sshare of Vermandois. This was a triumph for Philip.

24. 1186 - Burgundy In 1186 king Philip also made another successful expedition into Burgundy and brought the duke to heel

25. Relations with Henry II in 1186-7 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.

26. End of Part 1