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Crisis in the Late Medieval Church
The Dispute
King and Pope quarreled early, in 1296. Over money, of course, but in reality over who would have ultimate control over the clergy in France.
Boniface claimed that no cleric was to pay taxes to a king without papal consent. He made this claim in a famous bull, Clericis laicos. Philip counteracted this move by issuing a royal edict to the effect that no hard currency was to leave the kingdom without royal permission. Let the clergy pay their papal tithes: the money could not be delivered!
In the face of this, Boniface had to retract. Moreover, other kings objected strenuously to Boniface's claims, and if they all pulled Philip's trick, the papacy would be bankrupt.
But Boniface tried again. This time, feeling even stronger, Philip not only refused to cooperate, he went on the offensive. He took up the claim that the pope had been elected illegally and was no true pope at all (and therefore his demands could be ignored). Even more, Boniface was accused of all sorts of horrible crimes, including murder and heresy.
Boniface, exasperated, threatened Philip with excommunication, in 1303. Once again, Philip decided to protect himself by taking the offensive.