This guy LOVED papal authority. And it’s not hard to see why. CLEARLY he thought that he was just doing his best to serve God!
Boniface VIII is well-known for one of the most epic showdowns involving a pope. The following is a very simplified version of events that had beginnings in 1296…
King Philip IV of France really needed some money. So he decided to tax the clergy without asking the pope first. Big mistake. The bishops were not happy. Pope Boniface issued his Clericis Laicos decree, threatening anyone who paid the tax with excommunication. Philip IV wasn’t having it, though. He even arrested a bishop for not listening to him.
Obviously, the pope stepped in and heroically saved the bishop from this unfair treatment. Just kidding, he graciously suspended the decree in France (out of generosity, of course, not because he was fighting with the Colonna family). Then later, Philip arrested this bishop who was buddies with the pope. Boniface VIII was super mad, so he issued a bull revoking Philip’s ability to tax the clergy. Then who wrote Philip this really mean letter called Ausculta Fili (Listen, Son). Sadly, the French nobles burned the letter.
So then Boniface issued Unam Sanctam.
Oops.
The king’s counselor met up with Boniface’s enemies in Italy and attacked, invading the papal palace. One guy even wanted to kill the pope (who could do that to such a holy man?!?). Boniface died shortly afterwards.
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