PHILIP II AUGUSTUS or THE CONQUEROR
(Paris, 1165 - Mantes, 1223.) King of France. The long-awaited and only son of Louis VII and Adèle de Champagne, he first received the nickname Dieudonné. Until the end of the Middle Ages, he was most often nicknamed "the Conqueror". The appellation that has since imposed itself, Auguste, is due to the main biographer of the king, Rigord; it could come from the fact that Philip was born in August, or more likely be intended to recall his claims as heir to the Carolingian emperors.
Associated with the crown in May 1179, Philip in becomes sole holder by the death of his father in the middle of the year 1180. During the year of sharing of the royalty, it happened many important events. The powerful character of this well-built boy (which does not prevent him from being “badly combed” and unconcerned about study) asserted itself with rare precocity. In his regard, the Count of Champagne, brother of Queen Adèle, first wanted to give himself the air of a protector. But neither he, obviously too interested in developing his own domain, nor his brother the Count of Blois, nor his other brothers the Count of Sancerre and the Archbishop of Reims were able to establish their guardianship over the young king. To emancipate himself, he took advice from Robert Clément, Marshal of the Palace, and Radulf, Count of Clermont. And since the power of the malcontents had to be counterbalanced, he concluded a pact with Philippe* d'Alsace, Count of Flanders. From this pact came a marriage whose decision was long kept secret. Philippe de France has married a niece of his new ally, Isabelle de Hainaut, who must bring him rights to the future inheritance of his aunt Isabelle de Vermandois, countess of Flanders. The dowry was made up of the country that was beginning to be called Artois*.
When he came to power, the "young king", who had become "the king", played the Flemish card. But it is to fall under a much worse domination than would have been that of his uncles. The terrible Philippe d'Alsace refuses to transmit the rights of his deceased wife to his niece. The estrangement is between him and his suzerain. He now has many enemies. But, relying on the friendship of the Plantagenêts Henri II and especially Henri au Court Mantel, whom he had won over to his cause, he felt sure of his strength. First of all, he manages to repel a formidable offensive which has led the Count of Flanders nine leagues from Paris; then, by a timely ride, marked by taking places, he brings back to obedience the inconstant Eudes III of Burgundy who had failed in the loyalist traditions of his house; soon the counts of Blois and Sancerre, the archbishop of Reims must yield in their turn. At the end of these great successes, an accommodation was concluded with the Count of Champagne. Isolated, Philippe d'Alsace understands that the game is lost for him. After the signing of the Amiens agreement in July 1185, the seigniories of Amiens, Montdidier and Roye were annexed to the domain. Barely 20 years old, Philip II enjoys a flattering reputation as a warlord.
For general history, this is just an apprenticeship. The great affair of the reign, the merciless struggle against the Plantagenet Empire, has not yet begun.
The King of France knows very well that war will break out sooner or later. He skilfully prepared for it by supporting, as suzerain, the revolts of the sons of Henri II against their father, first that of Henri at Court Mantel, then that of Geoffroy. This policy is not new:it dates from the first King of Franc:who opposed a Duke of Normandi:who became King of England, Philip I. His great-grandson, the danger is greater still, Henri II being Count of Anjou by inheritance and Duke of Aquitaine by marriage Fortunately, the old Plantagenêt did not. no less than four sons unable to get along lastingly with their father or with each other. Perfectly aware of this situation, Philippe left behind-the-scenes maneuvers in 1187 for interventions in broad daylight:an expedition to the Berry Champagne region enabled him to annex a few seigniories, admittedly of mediocre importance, but precious for a war:usury (treaty of Châteauroux, 1187).
Then it's the turn of Richard, the future Coeur de Lion, to let himself be poached. A few days before dying, in 1189, Henri II had to sign the capitulation of Ballan or Azay by which he renounced the suzerainty of the county of Auvergne, hitherto moving from:Aquitaine, as well as the possession of• châtellenies de Graçay, Issoudun, Château roux. The game data changes when Richard rises to power. We can expect a resumption of hostilities when the Third Crusade intervenes very opportunely to reunite the two kings.