Philip II Augustus from point of view period sources

The reign of Philip II. Augustus represents a turning point in the development of French monarchy and foundation of the powerful kingdom and the strong royal reign. After his succession in 1179 he was forced to fight for independent reign and royal power with his relatives, above all with the Count of Flanders Philip of Alsace. Royal victory at the battle of Boves meant the beginning of Philip's independent reign. In the following years he encouraged disputes between the members of Plantagenet dynasty. After the death of Henry II. Philip set out the Third Crusade with Henry's successor Richard I. the Lionheart. But Philip turned back earlier and started off the long fight for Plantagenet's French lands. The battle of Bouvines in the reign of Richard's brother John I. brought out the culmination of the war and Philip's victory. This bachelor's thesis is based upon the view of period sources and brings the description of king's life and rule with the special attention to key moments of Philip's reign