L’attentat d’Anagni (1303)

This illustration depicts the Outrage of Anagni in 1303, during which Pope Boniface VIII was attacked and captured by men sent by King Philip IV of France, notably Guillaume de Nogaret and Sciarra Colonna. This event marked a major turning point in medieval history: for the first time, papal authority was directly challenged and humiliated by royal power. Although he was soon freed, Boniface VIII died shortly afterward, weakened by the incident. The event symbolizes the decline of papal supremacy in the face of rising states.