Philip IV

Philip IV., "The Faie," King of Feance (1268-1314), succeeded his father, Philip III., in 1285. The chief incident in his reign was his quarrel with Pope Boniface VIII., who denied his right to levy taxes from the clergy. Boniface died in 1303, and in 1305 Philip secured the election of Bertrand de Got (Clement V.). The removal of the Papal throne to Avignon four years later brought the head of the Church still more thoroughly under French influence. The persecution of the Knights Templars (1310-14), on mysterious charges of heresy and immorality, led to the complete extermination of the order in France.