ABSTRACT
Philip Augustus concentrated on introducing his own system of government into the lands which had once been under King John’s rule. The wisdom of Philip as a ruler is nowhere better demonstrated. In 1215 the Church again made threats against Philip, since John, having taken the cross, was even more firmly under ecclesiastical protection. The threat from Philip’s enemies in northern Europe faded away with their defeat at Bouvines. He had allowed knights to participate in the southern crusade called by the pope, but never himself contemplated going. In 1213 Prince Louis took the crusading vow, but Philip actually forbade his son to undertake a southern expedition. From September 1222 Philip had been ill, ‘suffering the common fate of humanity’. In 1219 Louis made his second expedition to the area, seeing possibly a consolation in efforts there for his failure in England.
