Whilst Philip IV was engaged in a war with England, he decided it would be appropriate to tax the church. The pope at the time, Boniface VIII, didn't like this because he believed the church to be a separate entity from the kingdom; it could not be considered an arbitrator and be above such worldly engagements if it's actively helping in the war effort. Philip's response was if you own so much land in my country, you better damn well provide some funds for the kingdom. Their argument got more and more testy until Philip sent some men to Rome to find Boniface and physically abuse him.

I just want to repeat this. Someone thought it appropriate to send some dudes to beat the shit out of a pope. This was not just something that was contemplated, it was actually done. Can you imagine something like that today? For example, Kerry got some heat during the 2004 presidential election because he's pro-choice with some bishops announcing they wouldn't provide him with Communion. Can you imagine Kerry blowing his top and then getting some guys to corner the bishops — not the pope even! — and delivering a beat down? It's just insane. How the hell did he get away with it?