King Philip II of France Trivia Quiz

Answer: Augustus

Philip IV (1285-1314) was called the Fair, Philip V (1316-1322) was the Tall and Philip VI (1328-1350) was the Fortunate. The title 'Augustus' comes from the Latin augere, which means to increase, given because Philip greatly increased the lands of the French King. Philip was also known as Dieu-donne, or God-given, as he was born when Louis VII was 45 years old and still did not have a male heir, despite having had two wives.

Answer: 1180-1223

Philip was born in 1165 and came to the throne in 1180. His father, Louis VII had Philip crowned in 1179, as his own health was poor and he wished to secure the succession. Philip was only 15 at the time and so there was a regent until he came of age.

Answer: Blanche of Castile

Philip married his first wife, Isabelle of Hainault, in 1180 and they had one son, the future Louis VIII. She died in 1190. In 1193 he married Ingeborg of Denmark, but this marriage ended in divorce. His third wife was Agnes of Meran, with whom he had two children - Philippe Hurepel and Marie.

The papacy legitimized the children in 1201, as they did not recognise Philip's third marriage at that time. Blanche of Castile married Philip's son Louis.

Answer: King Richard II of England

Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) is regarded as one of the greatest medieval popes. King John (1199-1216) lost much of his land in France to Philip. Frederick I Barbarossa (1152/1155-1190) had taken the cross in 1181, and set off on the Third Crusade, but died on the way to the Holy Land. King Richard II (1377-1399) was not a contemporary of Philip - that was Richard I (1189-1199).

Answer: Philip refused to take back Ingeborg, his second wife

In 1193, Philip had married Ingeborg of Denmark, but decided almost immediately to repudiate her. He found some clergy in France who were prepared to grant the divorce he wanted, but Ingeborg appealed to Pope Innocent III and he sent Peter of Capua to France to discuss the situation with Philip.

When the king still refused to take back Ingeborg, he placed the country under an interdict. (In the middle ages an interdict meant that the people of the country were without the liturgical and sacramental provisions of the church.) The king finally discarded Agnes (his third wife, though the marriage was not recognized by the Pope)) nine months into the interdict, but did not become reconciled with Ingeborg until 1213.

Answer: Third

Philip imposed a 'Saladin Tithe' upon his people to pay for his crusade and subsequently set out for the Holy Land. He traveled by sea in 1191, arriving in Tyre and going on to besiege Acre in April. He left the Crusade in August; he had not been an enthusiastic crusader and had been in bad health since his arrival in the Holy Land.

As Acre was held by Christians again, he considered that his duty was done and he could leave for France.

Answer: Bouvines

At the battle of Bouvines Philip routed the armies of King John of England, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV and the Count of Flanders. He was thus able to take control of their territories of Anjou, Brittany, Maine, Normandy and Touraine. Bouvines is located between Lille and Touraine and was in the County of Flanders, although it is now part of Belgium. Damme was a battle where the forces of the English sank most of Philip's fleet.

Answer: starting the construction of Notre Dame

Philip continued the construction of Notre Dame; the cornerstone was laid in 1163, by Pope Alexander III, during the reign of Louis VII. In addition to this Philip set up a system of bailiffs who were paid to oversee local administration in the domain. In Paris, Philip built a central market and granted a charter to the University of Paris.

Answer: Berri

Between 1181 and 1186 Philip fought the lords of Flanders, Burgundy and Champagne, eventually defeating them, then he attacked the English territories in France, taking lands from Henry II and King John. He thus more than doubled the lands of the French King, which had consisted of only the Ile de France and Berri until his time.

He paved the way for the French crown to annexe the south of France during the reign of Louis IX, by allowing his vassals to participate in the Albigensian Crusade.

Answer: Saint Denis Basilica

Mantes was half way between the centre of power of the Duke of Normandy in Rouen and the King of France, in Paris. Saint Denis is a patron saint of France, and the Basilica dedicated to him is a well known burial site for the kings of France. Other French kings buried there include Francis I and Louis XVI.