The Cathar Terror

A Short History of the Cathar Terror in relation to Carcassonne

From 1208, a war of terror was waged against the indigenous population of Languedoc and their rulers: Raymond VI of Toulouse, Raymond-Roger Trencavel, Raymond Roger of Foix in the first generation; and Raymond VII of Toulouse, Raymond Trencavel II, and Roger Bernard II of Foix in the second generation.

During this period an estimated 500,000 Languedoc men women and children were massacred - Catholics as well as Cathars.

In essence, the Cathars rejected any idea of priesthood or the use of church buildings. They were divided into ordinary believers and an inner Elect of Parfaits (men) and Parfaites (women), who led extremely ascetic lives although they also worked for a living in trades like weaving.

The Cathars believed in reincarnation and were vegetarians. They were strict about living in poverty and disdained lies, killing and swearing oaths. They regarded men and women as equals and apparently had no intrinsic objection to contraception, euthanasia or suicide.

By the early thirteenth century, the Cathar religion was supported throughout Languedoc by the nobility as well as the common people. Many people regarded the Cathars as ‘Good Christians’. At this time, Raymond-Roger Trencavel, was Viscount of Béziers and Carcassonne.

Arnaud, as Chief Abbot of the Cistercian monastic order, had a mission to convert the Cathars back to the One True Catholic Church. The people of Languedoc, however, scorned him; he preached poverty whilst living in luxury. As with Saint Dominic, who followed him, Arnaud reacted to his humiliation by destroying those he deemed responsible for it.

After Arnaud was appointed as military leader of the crusaders during the first stages of the war in 1209, the lands of Raymond-Roger were targeted by him. It seems that Raymond-Roger was given no warning and no opportunity to answer any charges against him.

In August, 1209, the crusading army of Arnaud forced the citizens of Carcassonne to surrender to his ‘Crusading’ army and drove the Cathars out. Worse was to come for them…

The siege of Carcassonne followed shortly after the Crusaders‘ massacre of the entire population of Béziers - where some 20,000 men, women and children were killed - an act designed to terrify everyone in the area. Arnaud was also responsible for the mass burning alive of the so-called heretics at Casseneuil and the deaths of 140 people at Minerve.

Nonetheless, it is widely thought - as it was then - that the Crusade against the Cathars and other heretics was really just a war against the people of Occitania, to gain their land.

When the first phase of the formal crusade over, Arnaud tried to find a senior French noble to hold the territory, but none would accept. Finally, Arnaud, speaking on behalf of the pope, ordered Simon de Montfort to take on the job.

Arnaud later became Archbishop of Narbonne although he is best remembered for his instruction before the massacre at Béziers: “Kill them all. God will know his own.”

References:

http://www.cathar.info/