Nicola Boccasini, at the time of the seizing of Pope Boniface VIII at Anagni, had been one of only two cardinals to defend the papal party in the Lateran Palace itself.

However, upon being elected Pope Benedict XI on October 22, 1303, he had released Philip IV of France from the excommunication that his predecessor had laid upon the king, and practically ignores the bull Unam sanctam.

Nevertheless, on June 7, 1304, he excommunicates Philip IV's implacable minister, Guillaume de Nogaret, and all the Italians who had played a part in the seizure of Boniface.

Benedict XI dies suddenly at Perugia on July 7, 1304.

As original report has it, suspicion falls primarily on Nogaret amid rumors that the pope’s sudden death had been caused by poisoning through his agency.

However, there is no direct evidence to support that Nogaret had poisoned the pope.