tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816215309027871000.post9217771539157397291..comments2023-10-15T05:17:22.939-07:00Comments on The Raucous Royals: No Bailouts for Philip the FairBearded Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06182921236123895352noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816215309027871000.post-52042730817119244272009-01-10T18:27:00.000-08:002009-01-10T18:27:00.000-08:00Hi, just dropping by to let you know that I've giv...Hi, just dropping by to let you know that I've given you a "Great Buddy" award;-)<BR/><BR/>LucyLucy https://www.blogger.com/profile/13600064401395449845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816215309027871000.post-24226760957869716322009-01-09T01:28:00.000-08:002009-01-09T01:28:00.000-08:00You are welcome, Carlyn. There is still much more ...You are welcome, Carlyn. There is still much more to say about this complex character and the crucial part he played in French and European history.<BR/><BR/>As for Philippe's looks, we still have his "gisant" in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. The painting here, though not contemporary, was clearly inspired by it. He was indeed handsome.<BR/><BR/>And for a fictional account of the latter part of his reign and those of his three sons, I highly recommend "The Accursed Kings" by Maurice Druon. Great historical fiction. The Templars' curse is in there, of course (too good to pass up, I guess.)<BR/><BR/>Finally it should be noted that Philippe is the direct ancestor of the subsequent Plantagenet Kings of England, beginning with his grandson Edward III. So his bloodline was alive and well centuries after his death.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816215309027871000.post-20837596151185399052009-01-08T18:37:00.000-08:002009-01-08T18:37:00.000-08:00Catherine, thanks for contributing to Kelly’s post...Catherine, thanks for contributing to Kelly’s post. I had no idea that he was the one that secured Louis IX’s canonization. Aside from the curse part and the dubious practices of the Templars, I know absolutely nothing about Philippe le Bel...but maybe if Kelly pops her head in then she can talk a bit more what he accomplished too. Either way, thanks for offering some balance to the discussion.Bearded Ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06182921236123895352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-816215309027871000.post-40406400142052876532009-01-08T16:29:00.000-08:002009-01-08T16:29:00.000-08:00What a dressing down for Philippe le Bel! There wa...What a dressing down for Philippe le Bel! There was an article last week in one of the leading French magazines that described him as one of the most skilled (if ruthless) rulers France has ever known. <BR/><BR/>He certainly won handily his struggle against Pope Boniface VIII, and it is thanks to him that the following Holy Fathers were (1) French and (2) settled in Avignon, within convenient distance of the French King's army, who could thus apply some friendly persuasion on any recalcitrant Pope. Philip is also the one who secured from Pope Clement the canonization of his grandfather King Louis IX, thereafter Saint Louis.<BR/><BR/>As for the Templars, yes, they made the mistake of acquiring a rather large claim against the royal treasury, and they paid dearly for it. Yet the case against them was not entirely bogus. Their initiation rituals were indeed a bit iffy by the standards of the times, as attested by finds in the Vatican's archives. <BR/><BR/>The curse of Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay? Sure, it sounds good, but can it be taken any more seriously than King Tut's curse? I am not sure. Life was short, and cheap, then. And Philip's grandson, King Edward III of England, seemed to do very well for a supposedly cursed man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com