‘Our Dearest Lord and Father Received Him From the Baptismal Font’: The Life and Career of Philippe le Convers

Abstract

This article examines the life and career of Philippe le Convers, a converted Jew who was a powerful royal administrator and the godson of King Philip the Fair of France (r. 1285–1314). Unlike other high-profile French converts, Philippe does not appear to have contributed to conversionary efforts or to anti-Jewish legislation. The article draws on evidence from financial records and royal letters to evaluate Philippe's work as a tax collector, master of the Parlement of Paris and forest enquêteur. It also examines the administrative appointments he secured for his relatives and the large estate he amassed at Léry, which he eventually transferred to Queen Jeanne of Burgundy in exchange for payment that significantly exceeded the property's value. This discussion highlights the ways that the sons and successors of Philip the Fair used their continued patronage of Philippe to emphasise their ties to their late father.

Department(s)

History

Document Type

Article

DOI

10.1080/03044181.2024.2324075

Keywords

Conversion, France, Jews, Philip the Fair, Philippe le Convers, Royal administration

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Journal Title

Journal of Medieval History

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