Albigensian Crusade

2007-06-16T22:04:30Z

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The '''Albigensian Crusade''' (1209-1229) was part of the Roman [[Catholic Church]]'s efforts to crush the [[Cathars]].

The Cathars were especially numerous in southern France, in the region of [[Languedoc]], then part of the [[History of Catalonia|Catalan-Aragonese Confederation]] or [[Kings of Aragon|Kingdom of Aragon]]. They were termed Albigensians because of the movement's presence in and around the city of [[Albi]]. Political control in Languedoc was split amongst many local lords and town councils, the area was relatively lightly oppressed and reasonably advanced.

The crusading efforts can be divided into a number of periods, the first from 1209 to 1215 was a series of great success for the crusaders in Languedoc. The captured lands however were largely lost between 1215 and 1225 in a series of revolts and reverses. The situation turned again following the intervention of the French king, [[Louis VIII of France|Louis VIII]], in 1226. He died in November of that year, but the efforts continued under [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]]; the area was reconquered by 1229 and main protagonists made peace. From 1233 the efforts of the [[Inquisition]] to crush Catharism were key, there was resistance and revolts with the military action finally ending in 1255 but the Cathar efforts were clearly doomed.

[[Pope Innocent III]] organised the vigorous suppression of the Cathars. He sent a papal legate to investigate Languedoc in 1204 and found that it would be difficult to convert the heretics. The Pope called upon the French king, [[Philip II of France|Philippe II]], to act against those nobles who permitted Catharism, but Philippe was involved in the [[Bouvines War]] and declined to act. In 1206 the Pope sought support for action from the nobles of Languedoc. The powerful count [[Raymond VI of Toulouse]] refused to assist and was [[excommunication|excommunicated]] in May, 1207. Raymond met with a papal representative, [[Pierre de Castelnau]], in January 1208, and after an angry meeting Pierre de Castelnau was killed the following day. The Pope reacted to the affront by a [[Papal Bull|bull]] declaring a crusade against Languedoc

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Albigensian Crusade