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Biography
Biography
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Boniface (VIII, Pope)

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 Born   Born At
 Died11 October 1303  Buried At
 Born / 
 Died11 October 1303 / 
oniface was the Pope from 1294 until his death in October 1303. He came into conflict with the French king Philip IV over taxation of the Church in France. Both the Church and the French king wanted more money for their own needs and Boniface believed the spiritual power was more important than the secular and asserted the right not to be taxed. Philip demanded the conflict be brought before a General Council. The dispute escalated to the point where Boniface was held captive in Anagni for several days. A month later Boniface died.

Related Episodes

Edward I and Scotland (click here)

Edward I and Scotland (click here)

Foreign (2)
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Foreign Rulers

Fantasy image of Louis (IX, King of France, St. Louis)
Louis (IX, King of France, St. Louis)
Fantasy image of Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307)
Edward (I, King of England 1272-1307)

 

Family Tree Details

 Boniface (VIII, Pope) ( - d.1303)
 Boniface (VIII, Pope) ( - d.1303)

See Also

    People

    • Philippe (IV, The Fair, King of France 1285-1314)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Timeline

    1294
    Dec 13
    Pope Celestine abdicates

    By December of 1294 Celestine knew he had made a mistake in becoming Pope and being under the control of King Charles so he abdicated. But little did he know that his decision had been forced by deception. The person who has deceived Celestine was Cardinal Caetani who wanted to become Pope himself. While Celestine slept, the Cardinal used a small pipe that led to his chambers to speak to the troubled Pope in the voice of God warning him to step down from office.

    Dec 24
    Boniface becomes Pope

    The papal conclave to elect the new pope opened on the 23rd of December and within a day the new pope was elected. It was Benedetto Caetani, the same Cardinal that had conspired to remove his predecessor. Caetani chose the name Boniface and became Boniface VIII.

    1295
    Jan 23
    Boniface crowned in Rome

    Pope Boniface VIII was crowned in Rome at St. Peter's.

    Jun
    Celestine arrested

    Pope Boniface saw his predecessor Celestine as a threat and someone who could be elected as an antipope. An order was issues for Celestine's arrest but he had escaped to the woods. Alerted to the danger Celestine tried flee by ship but was forced back and arrested. He lived out the rest of his life in the remote castle of Fumone.

    1296
    ...
    Conflict between Pope and French King

    To help pay for a war with England, the French king Philippe IV, imposed a tax on the wealthy church clergy. In response Pope Boniface issued a bull banning any taxation of the clergy in France. In return the French king banned any money leaving France destined for Rome without his permission.

    1297
    Aug
    Louis IX is canonised

    Pope Boniface VIII made King Louis IX of France a saint of the Church twenty-seven years after his death whilst on crusade in the Holy Land.

    1300
    ...
    A Holy Year

    Pope Boniface nominated 1300 as a holy year and declared those that visited St. Peter's and confessed their sins would be forgiven. This caused a huge number of people to take a pilgrimage to Rome and equally huge amounts of money to be spent.

    Aug
    The Pope Intervenes

    Pope Boniface sent a letter to King Edward I demanding that he should withdraw from Scotland. Edward ignored the letter, but because the campaign was not a success, the English soon left for England anyway.

    1303
    Oct 11
    Death of Boniface VIII

    Boniface, the Pope, died a few weeks after being held captive by supporters of the French King over taxation disputes.

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    Selection of references used:

    • 1. Robert Fawtier (translation by Lionel Butler and R J Adam), The Capetian Kings of France, 1966
    • 2. Caroline Bingham, The Life and Times of Edward II

      See Also

        People

        • Philippe (IV, The Fair, King of France 1285-1314)
        • A .. Z List of Medieval People

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