Honestly, if you look at the middle of the 11th century, France was kind of a mess. It wasn't the powerhouse we think of today. It was a patchwork of squabbling lords, and the king was basically just another guy with a fancy hat who happened to own a bit of land around Paris. Then came Philip I of France.
He reigned for 48 years. That is a massive amount of time for the Middle Ages.
Most history buffs gloss over him because he wasn't a "warrior king" in the style of his successors. He didn't lead a crusade. He didn't conquer England—in fact, his biggest rival, William the Conqueror, did exactly that while Philip was still finding his footing. But Philip was interesting. He was messy, stubborn, and deeply human. He’s the king who got excommunicated because he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—stop loving the wrong woman.
People call him "Philip the Amorous." It sounds romantic, but at the time, it was a scandal that nearly broke the monarchy.
The King with the "Foreign" Name
Philip was born around 1052. His mom, Anne of Kiev, was from what is now Ukraine. This is actually why he has a Greek name. Before him, French kings were all named things like Henry, Robert, or Clovis. Anne wanted something different. She brought "Philip" to the Western royal lexicon, and it stuck for centuries.
He was crowned at seven. Seven!
His father, Henry I, died shortly after, leaving the kid under the guardianship of Baldwin V of Flanders. By the time Philip was 14, he was technically ruling on his own. You’ve got to imagine a teenager trying to tell powerful, battle-hardened dukes what to do. It didn't always go well.
The William the Conqueror Problem
In 1066, when Philip was just 14, his vassal William of Normandy decided to invade England. This was a nightmare for the French crown. Suddenly, one of Philip's subjects was also a king in his own right.
Philip wasn't stupid. He realized that a Duke of Normandy who also held the English throne was way too powerful. For the rest of his life, Philip played a game of "divide and conquer." He’d support William’s rebellious sons or back anyone who could annoy the Normans. He wasn't trying to win a giant war; he was just trying to keep the big guys from getting too big.
He actually had some wins here. In 1077, he forced William to lift a siege at Dol. It was one of the few times someone actually made the "Conqueror" back down.
Why Philip I of France Got Kicked Out of the Church
This is where the story gets juicy. Philip was married to Bertha of Holland. They had children, including the future Louis VI. But by 1092, Philip was over it. He claimed she was "too fat" (medieval PR was brutal) and sent her away to a castle.
Then he met Bertrade de Montfort.
There was one tiny issue: she was already married to Fulk IV, Count of Anjou.
Philip didn't care. He basically abducted her—though many historians think she went willingly because being a Queen was a better gig than being a Countess to a guy nicknamed "the Rude." They got married in May 1092.
The Church lost its mind.
The Pope, Urban II, excommunicated Philip. This wasn't just a slap on the wrist. It meant Philip couldn't participate in the First Crusade. While all the other "cool" knights were heading to Jerusalem to win glory, Philip was stuck at home, officially a social pariah, because he wouldn't give up Bertrade.
He’d promise to leave her, the Pope would lift the ban, and then Philip would go right back to her. It was a cycle of "I'm sorry" and "Just kidding" that lasted for years.
A Legacy of Small Wins
If you look for a "Great Leap Forward" under Philip, you won't find it. What you’ll find is a guy who slowly, painstakingly added little bits of land to the royal domain. He grabbed the Vexin. He got Bourges.
He was a "slow and steady" kind of ruler.
By the time he died in 1108, the French monarchy was slightly stronger and slightly richer than when he started. He knew his limits. He even refused to be buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis with the other kings, claiming he had been too much of a sinner and didn't deserve to be there. He chose Fleury Abbey instead.
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What You Can Learn from Philip’s Reign
Philip I of France is a reminder that history isn't just made by "great" men; it’s made by people who are often just trying to survive their own bad decisions.
- Soft power matters: Philip couldn't out-fight the Duke of Normandy, so he out-maneuvered him politically.
- Reputation is a tool: His scandal with Bertrade cost him a place in the history books as a "holy" king, but it secured a domestic alliance that helped stabilize his borders.
- Persistence pays: 48 years on the throne is a victory in itself. He outlasted almost everyone who tried to take him down.
If you’re researching the Capetian dynasty, don't sleep on Philip. He’s the bridge between the weak kings of the early medieval period and the powerful "Augustus" figures that followed. He did the boring, messy work so his son could eventually become "the Fat" and "the Fighter."
To get a better handle on this era, you should look into the life of his son, Louis VI, or check out the primary accounts from Suger of Saint-Denis. They show how the mess Philip left behind actually became the foundation of modern France.
Stay curious about the "weak" kings. Often, they’re the ones who actually kept the lights on.