Philip IV of France

Philip IV, known as Philip the Fair, was born in 1268 at the Palace of Fontainebleau to Philip III of France and Isabella of Aragon. He became heir apparent in 1276 after the death of his elder brother Louis. Philip married Joan I of Navarre in 1284, which brought him the titles of King of Navarre and Count of Champagne.

Philip ascended the French throne in 1285 and was crowned in Reims on 6 January 1286. His reign focused on centralizing power and reducing the influence of the nobility and clergy. He relied on skilled civil servants to govern and sought to expand his influence across Europe by placing relatives on foreign thrones.

Philip's reign included conflicts such as a dispute with England over territories in southwestern France and a war with the County of Flanders. The Flemish war culminated in Philip's victory, adding Flemish cities and wealth to the crown lands. Domestically, he expelled the Jews in 1306 and destroyed the Knights Templar in 1307, actions partly motivated by his debts to these groups.

Philip's attempts to tax the Catholic Church led to a violent conflict with Pope Boniface VIII, resulting in the attack on the pope's residence in 1303. This conflict contributed to the Avignon Papacy, where the papal seat was moved to Avignon from 1309 to 1376. Philip's reign also saw the scandalous Tour de Nesle affair involving his daughters-in-law.

Philip's marriage to Joan I of Navarre produced several children, including three sons who became successive kings of France: Louis X, Philip V, and Charles IV. His daughter Isabella became Queen of England. The rapid deaths of his sons without male heirs led to a succession crisis, eventually leading to the Hundred Years' War.

Philip IV's administration saw the consolidation of the King's Council, the Parlement, and the Court of Auditors, marking a shift towards a more centralized governance. His reign is associated with the transition from a feudal society to a more modern state structure.

Philip IV died at the age of 46 on 29 November 1314, after suffering a cerebral stroke during a hunt. He was buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis, and his son Louis X succeeded him as King of France.