# King Philip of France — King John character guide

> King Philip of France in King John by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Philip, King Philip England, King Philip Brother of England, King Philip Peace, King Philip O, King Philip Patience, King Philip of France, King Philip Lewis, Austria King Philip

**First appearance:** 0003-act-ii

## Snapshot

France's king, who takes up young Arthur's claim with righteous language and then abandons it the moment Rome threatens his soul.

## Who they are

Philip opens the play as the champion of legitimacy, sending Chatillon to demand that John hand the crown to his nephew Arthur, and backing the demand with the proud control of fierce and bloody war. But his conscience is a weathervane: when Pandulph threatens excommunication, Philip protests that he may disjoin his hand but not his faith — and lets the legate's curse do what no English army could. His quick peace with John and equally quick reversal expose how little the war was ever about Arthur.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Leads the French army supporting Arthur's claim; engages in parley and battle with King John.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Initially celebrates the peace, but later sides with the Church and breaks his alliance with England.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv)

King Philip is dejected after the defeat at Angiers and tries to calm Constance, but he is unable to offer effective comfort.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/characters/king_philip
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/king_john_se/characters