The Third Time Was the Charm? Philip of France and the Third Crusade

This article examines the role of Philip II “Augustus” (r. 1180–1223) in the Third Crusade. It argues that Philip’s role has been largely overlooked in the historiography, due in part to the replication of biases inherent to the source materials and has thus been traditionally studied as a separate and oblique part of the French king’s reign. The article argues instead that Philip’s understanding of his role as a crusader-king was a critical part of his reign and that Philip’s crusading involvement sustained an ideology and execution of sacral Capetian kingship, bridging a critical period in French monarchical history. It emphasizes the sacerdotal representation of medieval monarchical power in contemporary discourses of kingship and argues for the existence of a theoretical framework of uniquely Capetian sacral kingship that consciously informed Philip’s most significant political and administrative reforms. By focusing on Philip’s role during the Third Crusade, and highlighting his early support and engagement with Outremer for the purposes of the crusade, this paper challenges traditional historiographical interpretations of Philip’s crusading and posits an alternative framework to highlight the centrality of crusading in Philip’s conception and execution of Capetian kingship. The article examines his leadership and participation in the expedition and how it provided opportunities for the public ceremonial reification of Capetian sovereignty. It closely studies the ceremonial and ideological foundations of crusading and its intersection with material transformations to medieval governance. Finally, it stresses the direct impact the crusading movement had on the shape and strength of royal government. It argues that Philip’s involvement in the Third Crusade fundamentally influenced the presentation and exercise of royal power, substantially strengthened a nascent ideology of sacral Capetian kingship, and positioned the Capetians to effectively integrate themselves as the leaders of a medieval Mediterranean commercial and social network.