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How did Philip IV of France pressure Pope Boniface VIII after Clericis laicos was issued?

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King Philip IV — Philip IV Philip IV, detail of the statue from his tomb, 14th century; in the abbey church at Saint-Denis, France.

After Pope Boniface VIII issued the bull Clericis laicos in 1296, which prohibited the taxation of the clergy by lay rulers without papal consent, Philip IV of France responded with swift retaliatory measures to pressure the papacy.

Philip’s primary tactic was to forbid the export of all money, bullion, and valuables from France, effectively cutting off a vital source of revenue for the papacy. Additionally, he expelled foreign merchants from his realm, further threatening papal finances.123

These economic pressures proved highly effective. Within a year, the pope was forced to retreat from his position, and by July 1297, he conceded to kings the right to tax the clergy without papal approval in instances where the ruler attested to the necessity of the funds. This concession effectively nullified the impact of Clericis laicos and represented a significant victory for Philip IV in his efforts to assert royal authority over the church within his kingdom.123