The Iron King | 1. The Vespers

This episode explores the turbulent period surrounding the Sicilian Vespers and its impact on the Capetian dynasty, particularly focusing on Philip the Bold and the young Philip the Fair.

1. The Sicilian Vespers was a violent uprising against French rule in Sicily, leading to a war that deeply affected the Capetian dynasty.
2. Philip the Bold's military and political decisions had far-reaching consequences for his health and his kingdom.
3. Philip the Fair, despite his youth, showed remarkable resilience and strategic acumen in a period of intense turmoil.
4. The episode explores the complex relationship between European monarchs and the Papacy, highlighting the political manipulation by Pope Martin IV.
5. The personal toll of kingship is evident, as both Philips face severe physical and emotional challenges.

1: Prelude to Rebellion

The early scenes set the stage for the Sicilian Vespers, introducing key historical figures and the oppressive rule of Charles of Anjou in Sicily. Danielle Cebalski: "Charles filled the island with corrupt French soldiers who lorded it over the locals."

2: The Outbreak of Vespers

This chapter details the explosive start of the Sicilian Vespers rebellion, sparked by deep-seated resentment against French officials. Danielle Cebalski: "The ground soon runs red with French blood."

3: The Capetian Response

Focuses on Philip the Bold's dilemma in responding to the rebellion and the strategic decisions that led to his ill-fated campaign. Danielle Cebalski: "Philip decides it's better to wait and see."

4: The French Crusade

Describes the hardships faced by French forces in Aragon, including disease and supply issues, which culminated in a disastrous retreat. Danielle Cebalski: "The grave pit at the edge of the camp is quickly filling with bodies."

5: The King's Demise

The final chapter narrates the tragic end of Philip the Bold and the rise of Philip the Fair, setting a somber tone for the future of France. Danielle Cebalski: "The king of France, Philip the Bold, is dead."

1. Study history to understand the complex causes and effects of political decisions.
2. Recognize the importance of strategic patience in leadership.
3. Be aware of the human cost of war and governance.
4. Cultivate resilience and adaptability in times of crisis.
5. Learn from the past to avoid repeating mistakes in governance and diplomacy.

A suspected royal poisoning. A bloody rebellion in Sicily. A dying king fleeing across the mountains. The stage is set for the reign of one of the coldest rulers from all of the Middle Ages: Philip the Fair.

People

Philip the Bold, Philip the Fair, Charles of Anjou, Pope Martin IV

Content Warnings:

None

Danielle Cebalski
The wind howls down the side of the mountain. The sky is threatening rain again.

A small group of soldiers grunt and pant as they struggle along a narrow, winding path. Their feet are rubbed raw in their wet leather boots and their calves burn with the strain. But there's no time to rest and nowhere to go but up.

They try to focus on the crunch and scrape of the loose, rocky ground, but it can't quite cover the sounds they're desperate not to hear.

Behind them, the metallic clash of arms and the screams of the dying echo off the cliffs. This small division escaped just in time. The men they left behind, friends and brothers in arms, were not so lucky.

One soldier's foot slips on the gravel and he stumbles, sending a cascade of rocks down the path. His breath catches in his throat and his hands instinctively tighten around the wooden handle of the litter he carries. Dropping this precious cargo is not an option. He adjusts his grip, trying not to jostle the patient in the makeshift stretcher, but the patient groans anyway. Twisting in discomfort, the soldier casts a quick, anxious look at the young man at the head of the party, but the teenager doesnt even pause.

These groans are nothing new. This man has been ill for days, is getting weaker by the hour. Their only hope is to push onward to safer ground and a comfortable place for him to rest out of danger, out of the mountains, and out of the crusade he began only half a year ago.

It's autumn, 1285, and the man barely clinging to life is Philip the bold, king of France. His son, also called Philip, grits his teeth and tries not to let the pain of the brutal journey or the worry for his father show. He's only 17, but there's a hardness to him, a distance in his manner that belies a much older man. He is already a knight, a husband, a royal prince, and the king of Navarre. He was blooded in battle only weeks ago, at his fathers side.

But for all his titles and accomplishments, the weight of his future lies heavy on his shoulders. Part of him, although hed never admit it, is already reaching for his fathers crown. Despite all their efforts, their speed, and their hope in carrying the king over the Pyrenees, he knows his father is at deaths door.

If he dies, it will make young Philip an orphan. It will also make him the ruler of one of the most powerful kingdoms in medieval Europe. This is his story.

I'm Danielle Cebalski, and from Sony Music Entertainment, this is history presents the Iron King. Episode one the Vespers.

Im Danielle Sabalski. Im a historian and an author. And for the next six episodes of this is history. Ill be telling you the story of Philip the fair, a king who will rival even the most legendary plantagenets in his pursuit of land, majesty and power. Hes the latest in a long line of charismatic french kings, a dynasty known as the Capetians.

Youve already met many Capetians like Philip Augustus, the famous crusader and thorn in Richard the Lionhearts side from season two. Or his son, Louis the Lion, who almost became king of England, if not for the timely death of King John in season three. Or even Louis IX, whose pious acts eventually earned him a sainthood. And then theres Philip the fair. You might remember him from season four, where he totally outfoxes Edward Longshanks, but thats just the tip of the iceberg.

Philips Reign is a wild ride of war, intrigue, sex scandals, mass expulsions, and even a pope getting slapped in the face. And Philips family will factor in greatly when it comes to the next phase of the Plantagenet dynasty. But how does teenage Philip end up in the mountains, fleeing for his life? That story actually starts many years earlier, and not in France. We have to go to the coast of Italy, to an island called Sicily.

In 1282, Sicily was ruled by Philip the Bolds uncle, a man called Charles of Anjou. Hes the brother of the legendary king and Saint Louis IX. Unlike Louis, though, Charles isnt very saintly at all. He rules a huge amount of land and treats Sicily as his own personal piggy bank. He fills the island with corrupt french soldiers who lord it over the locals.

He also levies heavy taxes on the island, which he funnels towards his own campaigns against his enemies elsewhere. And his mistreatment of the islanders doesnt stop there. According to one chronicler, the French considered the Sicilians to be worse than servants, abusing their wives and daughters. Resentment at this tyranny had been brewing amongst the Sicilians for 20 years, and one day, things explode spectacularly in one of the biggest moments of bloodshed in all of medieval history. It happens like this.

It's the evening of March 30, 1282, a balmy Easter Monday. All week, the French have been pilfering the Sicilians food, livestock and horses in the name of Charles of Anjou's latest military ambitions. But tonight, the citizens of the capital city, Palermo, mill about the streets and taverns, trying to enjoy the freedom of an evening off. Native Sicilians sit cheek by jowl with their resented french garrison officers, while the wine flows freely at the church of the Holy Spirit just outside the city, the priests prepare for vespers, the evening service.

A young boy climbs the stairs, ready to ring the bells, to call the faithful to prayer. But outside the church, trouble is brewing. A Frenchman took a woman from Palermo to insult her. One chronicle says she began screaming. The Sicilians moved against the French and began to defend the woman.

Other sources say more than one woman was being harassed. Either way, the Sicilians have had enough. Furious, they close in around the French. Soldiers pushing and shoving soon turn to blows. Suddenly, there's a knife, then two.

The ground soon runs red with french blood. The angry crowd becomes a mob. 20 years worth of frustration is unleashed in a rising tide of rage. As the church bells toll for vespers, the mob spills into the city, howling for blood and screaming death to the French. The rioters swarm the streets, killing every french person they encounter men, women and children.

None were spared. According to one chronicle, not the old, not the young. All were put to the sword. Not even the women pregnant by the French survived. All were slaughtered and none remained.

Another account tells us that mobs would ask people to pronounce the sicilian word for chickpeas. Anyone who failed was deemed to be french and killed on the spot.

Its a bloodbath.

By morning, 2000 people have been massacred. Over the next six weeks, the rebellion spreads like wildfire across the island, leaving 16,000 people dead. It is one of the deadliest rebellions in the whole of the Middle Ages and touches off a conflict now known to history as the war of the sicilian vespers. Shockwaves ripple across Europe, especially in France, where Philip the bold now has a decision to make. Its his uncle thats the cause of this.

And who now needs rescuing? But is it worth it? Wars are costly, and France is not exactly well known for its navy. To make matters worse, into the power vacuum of Sicily steps another relative, the dashing and deadly king Pedro of Aragon. Hes Philips first wifes brother, and wresting the island back from him would certainly create bad blood between the two families, not to mention their kingdoms, which sit side by side, divided only by the Pyrenees.

Philip, being not so bold a man as his epithet might suggest, decides its better to wait and see. That doesnt sit well with another of Europes most powerful leaders, the Pope Martin IV. Hes incensed that Philip isnt leaping straight in to save Sicily. So he wades into the conflict and starts throwing his own weight around. He excommunicates Pedro for his insolence and even declares Pedros kingdom, Aragon up for grabs.

Now this is interesting. Philip really couldn't care less about Sicily, but Sunny Aragon would make the perfect territory for his second son, Charles of Valois, to rule. To sweeten the deal, the pope declares this a holy crusade with all the spiritual blessings that go with it. Never mind that the pope has no authority to confiscate a kingdom just because he feels like it's the opportunity is too good to resist. France prepares for war.

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Danielle Cebalski
Its September 1285. The sun beats down on the city, flashing off the armor of the thousands of french troops outside its gates.

Theres a deafening crash as a huge projectile is thrown from a french chain trebuchet exploding into a shower of stone against the walls of the city. The french soldiers on the front line give a cheer and rattle their weapons, shouting insults and taunts at the Aragonese.

The defenders rain down a hailstorm of arrows, hoping to put a damper on the enemys spirits. As each archer reaches down to pick up his next arrow, he knows he must make everyone count. They are running out of ammunition and food.

A city in the middle of the kingdom of Aragon. Girona is not as large or influential as Barcelona, but its a good strategic choice for Philip the bold. Its far enough into aragonese territory to show hes serious and a necessary staging post to move the crusade further into Aragon as soon as he wins the city. But King Pedro hasnt made things easy for the French. Not only has he made the paths through the Pyrenees thick with soldiers, but hes also deployed his impressive navy to patrol the coast.

For the French, this is dangerous. To avoid bringing their supplies through the mountains, theyve been relying on shipments by sea to keep them fed and armed as they lay siege. After months of encampment outside the city, the french crusaders know that Girona cant hold out much longer. Theres a renewed buzz of energy in the camp. Soon the soldiers will take the city and enjoy a night or two of having a roof over their heads, as much plunder as they can carry, and clean water for a change.

For while the men on the front line are full of fire and bloodlust, in the farther reaches of the camp, the situation is grim.

Every medieval soldier knows that during a siege, the most dangerous enemy isn't the arches atop the walls. It's disease, the kind of disease that comes with thousands of men making camp in a field for weeks at a time. Crowds of people and animals emptying their bowels each day, and not enough clean water to wash with or drink. Already, hundreds of french soldiers are ill with the bloody flux dysentery.

The grave pit at the edge of the camp is quickly filling with bodies as more and more soldiers succumb to the disease. The siege has been challenging enough as food and supplies dwindle, but the sickness is making conditions exponentially worse. Everyone is praying that victory will come before the autumn rains do. It cant happen soon enough.

As if in answer to their prayers, the soldiers in the stick beds hear a cheer rising up from the men at the front, echoing off the stone walls of the city. Gerona has fallen. A messenger runs to the royal tent, his mind full of triumph and the reward he will surely get for bringing the happy news to the king.

But when he arrives, the mood is somber.

Philip the bold stands still as a statue, a letter dangling from his hand. Three days ago, on September 4, the french supply ships were destroyed by the aragonese navy. For weeks, the food in the french camp had already been stretched to the limit. And now no more is coming.

The young prince Charles of Valois is delighted with the news of Geronas fall. His eyes alight with visions of his future kingdom spread before his feet. His elder brother, Philip turns away, biting his tongue and controlling his urge to scream in frustration. Unlike his brother, Prince Philip had been strenuously against the idea of taking up arms against his admired uncle Pedro in the first place. And now his fathers kingdom, his future kingdom faces the humiliation of defeat at the moment of their sole victory.

He sees what his brother doesnt, that without food, the French have no choice but to retreat back over the mountains. The fall of Girona is not enough to keep the army going, and their crusade is over before it ever truly began.

The french army packs up and begins their retreat. But the way home is slow going. Days stretch into weeks as the king himself is stricken with dysentery. Philip the bold, the chroniclers tell us, was so hot with fever that he could not ride and agreed that he should be carried in a litter. Time is running out.

The french head for the Col de Panissart, a lesser used track over the mountains. But they know from their trek into Aragon at the beginning of the summer that King Pedro has staked out this whole area with scouts to track their movements. Back then, they'd been fresh and battle ready. Now they're sick and starved, the walking dead. If Pedro comes at them with his full army, theyll be wiped out.

Miraculously, he doesnt. But maybe this time its not God answering the prayers of the army. Maybe its an uncle answering the prayers of his nephew. Rumor has it that Prince Philip has been texting Pedro on the sly, negotiating safe passage for the royal family across the Pyrenees. And maybe he has, because sure enough, when they reach the mountain pass, the royal party starts the journey up ahead of the rest of the army.

Its only when theyre safely out of the way that aragonese skirmishers ambush the soldiers who straggle behind. Coincidence? Perhaps. Or maybe its the machinations of a man who will put the royal house of France above all other considerations. Whether it's through the willpower of his son or divine intervention, Philip the bold survives the journey and makes it over the Pyrenees to Perpignan and a warm, soft bed.

But when Prince Philip goes to visit one rainy night in October 1285, he sees that it wasn't enough.

The french king lies in a bed in a hotel stuffy room. A group of men are gathered around him, their faces lit by the roaring fire. Prince Philip can tell from their expressions that his father is not long for this world. In life, he'd been called the bold, a bit of an aspirational epithet for such an easily swayed person. Ironic, too, considering what his rare show of boldness has cost him.

But bold or not, here at the end, he is gaunt and wasted, incapable of lifting his head, much less a sword. His eyelids twitch in the firelight, and his breath rasps in his chest. In these last moments, perhaps he's searching for the specter of his father, the saintly Louis waiting to guide him to heaven. At his bedside, Prince Philip tries to quell his nerves, his mind a whirlwind his face unreadable. All his life he has learned from the books he's read, from the unhappy example set by his father, from the stories of his illustrious grandfather, that a king must be more than a man, aloof, untouchable, divine.

If his moment of kingship is to be now, he must begin it on the right foot. A king, he thinks, cannot be a slave to his emotions.

He watches as a priest administers the last rites and prays quietly in latin that his father's soul finds heaven. The king made his last confession a few hours ago, so his soul should be clean, a far cry from the foulness that has encompassed his mortal body these last few days. But Philip wonders, can his father truly be forgiven for leaving his dying men behind to save his own skin? Can he?

He contemplates this, trying not to breathe through his nose. These last few months have taught him many hard lessons that will stay with him for the rest of his life. The first, that warm, is expensive in coin and in human life.

Even as his father lies dying, philips mind is full of the massive amount of debt the kingdom took on to fund this fool's errand. It will be his job to make the kingdom prosperous again somehow.

The second lesson, made abundantly, bitterly clear to him now, is that fighting wars outside of France is not worth the effort. France is destined to become great, the greatest kingdom of all time. But it cannot become so if its rulers look outside its borders for greatness. His father gambled for a second kingdom and lost his life in the process. Philip will not make the same mistake.

Finally, he thinks, his anger rising. When popes meddle in the affairs of rulers, deposing or reappointing kings on a whim, the consequences can be disastrous. If it wasnt for Pope Martins interference, Philips 40 year old father would not lie dying. His uncle Pedro would not have had to defend his own lands with deadly force. The prince himself would not soon be orphaned.

Clearly Popes cannot be trusted.

As the dying king breathes his last, the death rattle loud in the quiet room, his son crosses himself and raises his head. The king of France, Philip the bold, is dead. The reign of one of the most notorious kings of the Middle Ages, Philip the fair has begun.

Thanks so much for listening. Just a quick reminder that you can hear a bonus episode where I chat to Dan Jones about the episode you just heard and a whole lot more over on this is history. Plus, alongside all episodes of this is history ad free. This time we get stuck into the Vespers and Dan gets in touch with his musical side. If you want to listen in, you can start a free trial by going to thisishistorypod.com.

Or if you're on Apple Podcasts, click try free at the top of the page. See you next time.