Abstract/Summary

King Philip I of France (r. 1060-1108) has traditionally been seen as a man of poor reputation in matters of religion, portrayed as a cynical exploiter of the Church in his lands and a king whose personal vices, exemplified especially by his highly controversial second marriage to Bertrada of Montfort, compromised his effectiveness as a ruler. Whilst the second half of the eleventh century saw a drive for ecclesiastical reform which coincided with an invigorated papacy challenging the existing relationship between secular and spiritual power, Philip has generally been seen as the antithesis of such change, a stubborn relic of the past who remained fiercely opposed to any attempts to undermine his control over the Church. His religious initiatives, when acknowledged, have tended to be underappreciated or overshadowed by his faults. This thesis argues instead that, when viewed across his whole reign, Philip’s relationship with the Church and with ecclesiastical reform should be seen in a less negative light. It is suggested that, while Philip certainly did pursue his own ends with an eye to political imperatives, he also showed himself, right to the end of his long reign, to be an astute and highly adaptable monarch who skilfully navigated the changing times and personalities with whom he collided. Furthermore, he showed himself keen to support the Church in his realm when he felt able and capable of working with reform-minded figures such as Ivo of Chartres, without allowing himself to be dominated by them. Through examining Philip’s relationship with the French prelates, the popes and their legates, through interrogating his approach to such matters as elections, patronage, and the crusade, and through a fresh look at his marriage controversy, this thesis asserts that it is time for a different approach to Philip’s religious attitudes.