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How did Clement V respond to Philip IV of Franceās accusations against Boniface VIII?
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Philip IV
Philip IV, detail of the statue from his tomb, 14th century; in the abbey church at Saint-Denis, France.
Pope Clement V, who was elected in 1305 largely through the influence of Philip IV, spent much of his pontificate attempting to appease the French king to avoid further conflict. Philip IV had pursued a posthumous vendetta against his predecessor, Boniface VIII, and demanded a formal trial to address various accusations, including heresy.1234
In response to this pressure, Clement V took several actions to accommodate the king:
- Undoing the Legacy: Clement spent his early years as pope actively undoing the legacy of Boniface VIII to satisfy Philip.2
- Erasure of Records: He eventually consented to erase from the papal registers all apostolic letters that had been issued against Philip IV and his agents.2
- Council of Vienne: Clement convoked the Council of Vienne (1311ā1312) at the kingās insistence to address the accusations against Boniface and the suppression of the Knights Templar. Ultimately, no trial of Boniface VIII was held at the council.4
By adopting a conciliatory and often timid approach, Clement V sought to maintain the Avignon papacy while navigating the intense political pressure exerted by the French monarchy.12