Pope Boniface VIII

Pope Boniface VIII (c. 1230–1303), born Benedetto Caetani, was pope from 1294 and put forward some of the strongest claims to temporal as well as spiritual power. A younger son of the baronial Caetani family, he entered the Curia in 1264, became a cardinal in 1281, and was elected after Celestine V abdicated. In 1297 he stripped the Colonna cardinals of their rank and excommunicated them, and by 1298 his troops had razed Palestrina.

In 1300 he proclaimed the first jubilee year in Rome. His quarrel with Philip IV of France over taxing the clergy began with Clericis laicos in 1296, and in 1302 he answered with Unam sanctam, declaring kings subject to the Roman pontiff.

On 7 September 1303 Nogaret and Sciarra Colonna attacked him at Anagni; Colonna allegedly slapped him, the schiaffo di Anagni. Freed after three days, he died in Rome on 11 October.