PHILIP II., or PHILIP ArcusTus (1165 1223). King of France from 1180 to 1223. He was the son of Louis VII. and Adele of Cham pagne, and was born on August 21, 1165. He was crowned on November 1, 1179, during the life of his father, succeeded him in 110S, and proved one of the greatest monarch, of the Cape tian dynasty. In 1181 he made war upon the Count of Flanders and in 1185 forced him to surrender the districts of Vermamlois and Amienois. In 1182 he drove the Jews out of his territories and confiscated all their wealth. In 1187 the English attempt to conquer Languedoc caused a war, in which Philip was aided by the sons of Henry II. (q.v.). After the accession (1189) of Richard to the English throne, Philip and he set out together on the Third Crusade (1190), but quarreled while wintering in Sicily, and their dissensions continuing. Philip, after a sojourn of three and a half months in Syria. set out on his return to France. after taking a solemn oath to respect the integrity of Richard's dominions. No sooner, however, had lie returned than he entered into an arrangement for the partition of Richard's territories in France with his unworthy brother, John. Some acquisitions were made, but Richard's return thwarted the calculations of the conspirators, and a war im mediately commenced between the two monarchs, in which Philip had at one and the same time to defend his territories against the English and the counts of Champagne, Boulogne, Brittany, and Hainault, who attacked them on all sides. Rich ard died in 1199; but on the appeal of the Barons of Poitou to Philip, as John's overlord, the war soon recommenced against John (q.v.).
The English provinces in France were attacked by the combined French and Bretons, and Nor mandy. Poitou, Maine, Anjou, and Touraine were annexed to France. In the years 1213 and 1214 Philip waged war against Flanders and thus caused a coalition to be formed by Otho IV. (q.v.) of Germany, John of England. and the Count of Flanders. Philip defeated the allies in 1214 at Bouvines (q.v.). During the rest of his reign Philip was occupied in consolidating his new possessions. and took no part in the war against the Albigenses. In general Philip was in alliance with the Church and the great cities. His first wife was Isabella of Hainault, the mother of Louis VIII.; he next married Inge borg of Denmark, but repudiated her in 1196 to marry Agnes of Meran. For this he was ex communicated and France was placed under an interdict. Philip yielded in 1200 and took back Ing.eborg. He improved and embellished Paris, built many churches and other en couraged commercial associations, and gave the first charter to the University of Paris. He forti fied many of the chief towns, including the capi tal. He died at :Mantes. July 14. 122:1. Philip was the first monarch under whom France at tained a commanding position in Europe. Con sult: Cartellieri, Philip II., August (Leipzig. 1399) ; Luehaire, Philippe Auguste (Paris.