Philip+IV+“the+Fair”

Among other things:

Phillip IV, king of France 1280-1314

on October 13th, 1307, had all of the Knights of the Templar rounded up. He claimed these knights to be heretics. In essence, the King had owed the Templars money, and either he could not pay it, or believed that the Templars were corrupt and did not want to pay them. The result was they were rounded up and accused of heresy. The fines placed on those convicted also filled the king's coffers.

The result of the kings actions was the start of using coercive behaviors. People started to apply torture techniques to enforce power. The inquisition seems to draw all the attention to the torture of heretics, but Phillip "The Fair" shows that even the state was using torture and other coercive techniques to further their ends.

Also, in another context, Phillip IV also had a showdown with Pope Boniface VIII over the papal bull Unam Sanctum. This clash was regarding the Church's authority over who is saved. More temporal versus spiritual authority issues.

also developed increasingly effective mechanisms for raising taxes and ensuring that royal rights were recognized throughout France