The infamous crusade against the Cathars in the Languedoc region of France was one of these ‘internal crusades’ that had the same indulgencies as one to the Holy Land. Who were these Cathars? How did the clergy react? What was the role of the Crusaders in the south of France?
Cathars and the clergy
The words ‘Cathar’ and ‘Albigensian’ are used interchangeably, both in sources and in literature. The earliest reports concerning heresy in the south of France were near Albi – one of the bigger cities in the Languedoc province. As with most religious movements, the heretics in Languedoc tried to offer a simpler belief than Christianity. Cathars, for example, had only two sacraments – confirmation and the last rites – instead of the seven (or more) that medieval Christianity offered. Cathars believed in two gods: one good and one evil. This was easier to grasp than the monotheistic. The mightiest noble of southern France was Count Raymond of Toulouse, whom the clergy regarded as the champion of the Cathars. He made no effort to drive them out, but supported and even housed them.
