The Albigensian Crusade

The recent history of the Tribunal has been marked by the atrocities and horrors of the Albigensian Crusade. This violence, now temporarily abated, will have had a strong impact on many characters from the Tribunal. The reason for the crusade is the prevalence of heresy in the region, and heretics can be found throughout the Tribunal, but the most infamous and numerous of these heretics are the Cathars, described earlier.

Winning Back Souls

The heretics have existed for centuries, but in 1145 Bernard of Clairvaux was sent to the region to preach and bring the heretics back to the Church. He was only present for one hot summer, and met with success in Albi and Toulouse, but outside of the cities was met with scorn and insults. The heretics were denounced in 1163 at the Council of Tours, as were those who gave them shelter, and entered in to commerce with, or even fraternized with them. While the response to the various heresies varied, the Cathars were the main targets of this anathema, which had very little effect. As was said by the nobles of the region during the crusade, how could they take up arms against their own friends and relatives, people they had lived with all their lives and knew to be good neighbors?

In 1165 a disputatio took place at Lombers, where the Cathars met with assembled churchmen. Unsurprisingly, the Cathars were found to be heretical, but they were allowed to depart in peace. In

The Cathars are extreme pacifists, and take non-resistance to evil very seriously, just as they will not swear oaths, lie, or perjure themselves. When captured, most rejoice in martyrdom, walking happily to their deaths. Non-Cathar characters may well be surprised, annoyed, and frustrated when, after considerable effort to rescue a Perfecta, the imprisoned Good Woman condemns them for violence and remains in her cell to await death. However, after 1214, a new doctrine developed among some of the Cathars, mitigating their extreme pacifism. While it is wrong to war with humans or harm animals, it is acceptable to fight demons and those possessed by demons to resist supernatural evil. As such, anyone with a Might score or who employs supernatural powers is a legitimate enemy, and some Cathars have gone as far as to take arms against Crusaders, arguing they are tools of devils. Magi may well find themselves treated with suspicion, or even violence. Cathars' sympathizers and friends were often willing to resort to violence to protect the Cathars anyway, else there would have been no real need for a crusade to begin with.

1167 the Cathars formed their own "church hierarchy," with five dioceses and a system of bishops and deacons.

In 1179, the third Lateran Council declared an anathema on the heretics, and called on all Christians to take up arms against them. In 1181 Cardinal Pietro d'Albano raised an army and marched to Lavaur, besieging the town, but only two Cathars recanted after the surrender, and little came of this expedition. Seeing no success, in 1203 the pope dispatched two papal legates, but this mission only revealed a further problem.

The region had a number of corrupt and wealthy bishops, who neglected their duties and yet proved almost impossible to remove, and who bitterly resented the intervention of the pope in their private affairs. The pope created another legate, one Arnaud Amaury. One of his chosen new bishops, Bishop Foulque, on being appointed to the See of Toulouse, found the bishop's status had sunk so low under his predecessor he needed to travel with an armed escort and could not reside in his diocese lest he was murdered.

It also became clear the nobility were

not driving heretics from their lands. In May 1207, Count Raimond VI of Toulouse was excommunicated for sheltering heretics. He immediately assured the pope he would comply and drive them from his domain; in August, the excommunication was lifted. When it became clear Pope Innocent III would call a crusade to ensure this was done, Raimond played for time, arranging to meet the papal legates in January 1208 at St. Gilles. The stage was set for catastrophe.

Death on the Riverbank

At the meeting, Raimond equivocated and stalled negotiations with the legates. Angrily, they rode away and the count publicly threatened them with death in a frustrated outburst. The legates traveled through the night toward Arles, and before dawn celebrated mass while waiting for the ferry. After the service, one of the legates, Pierre de Castelnau, took his mule down to the riverbank to watch for the ferry. Suddenly a knight appeared, lance leveled, and struck down the unarmed cleric. Pierre de Castelnau was dying by the time the others reached him, his murderer having ridden off. He died asking God for forgiveness for his assailant; it was too late, and the first victim of the impending horror died as the sun rose.

Perfecti are, by their nature, world-denying ascetics, and so may prove difficult characters to fit into many sagas. Despite that, some players may relish the challenge. In Mythic Europe, a few Perfecti have powerful supernatural abilities; these are represented by Mythic Companions, played in place of a magus (see Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition, page 94). It is, however, quite possible to play a Perfectus as a normal companion character.

Virtue: Perfectus

Minor, Social Status

Due to your training, you may take Academic Abilities during character creation. Your responsibilities include preaching the Gospel, abstaining from eating meat and dairy produce, from sex and romance, and from other acts that ensnare you in the sinful world. You should take the Flaw: Vow to represent your solemn religious obligations. You may not take the Wealthy Virtue, as you are supported by the tithes and contributions of your congregations. As a heretic you are currently at great risk from the Crusade, which will execute you if you are caught and refuse to recant your beliefs. You may take the Purity and Transcendence Supernatural Abilities from Realms of Power: The Divine Revised Edition if your character has the True Faith Virtue, but these are not free Virtues. You may, however, take them as Virtues, as normal.

The Crusade Is Preached

The pope was incensed, convinced that Count Raimond had ordered the murder. Legate Arnaud Amaury and Bishop Foulques of Toulouse traveled abroad to preach a crusade, and the pope offered those who participated not just the usual benefits, but all debts to Jewish moneylenders were to be annulled, and the crusaders could take a share in the lands of the heretics they displaced.

French nobles and younger sons eyed their wealthy southern neighbors with avaricious eyes, and saw a chance to carve out great new estates. A crusading army assembled at Lyons, and sensing disaster, Raimond tried to make amends, undergoing strict penance and being led barefoot with a rope around his neck to be scourged in front of a huge crowd in the square at St. Gilles. His excommunication was lifted, but he was ordered to dismiss his mercenaries and all

Jews from his service, surrender seven castles, restore Church lands he had misappropriated and actively persecute the heretics. It was not expected he would comply with the conditions, but in June 1209 he did the unthinkable, and joined the crusade that had been declared primarily against him, hence depriving it of its major target. The Trencavel domains became the new target.

Kill Them All; God Will Know His Own

As the crusade approached Montpellier, a Raimond-Rogier Trencavel, Viscount of Béziers, asked to be allowed to join. Having lost the chance to overthrow Raimond VI of Toulouse who had cunningly joined the crusade, Arnaud Amaury refused; Raimond-Rogier retreated to Béziers, took the town's Jews to safety, and retreated further to Carcassonne, promising to send reinforcements back to Béziers. As the crusade approached, the townsfolk were asked to surrender two hundred known heretics. They refused and bolted the gates.

A huge group of crusading camp followers, ruffians armed only with knives and clubs, gathered near the walls as the crusaders' soldiery and knights planned their assault. Seeing unarmored men below, a group of Béziers' young warriors opened the gate and rushed out, slaughtering a few in the chaos. Suddenly, however, the mob of camp followers turned the tide, and ran in to the city beginning indiscriminate slaughter. Seeing the gates open, the crusading knights charged in as well. It may have been at this moment that a knight asked Arnaud Amaury the question as to how the good Christians could be separated from the heretics. His reply is said to have been the infamous words, "Kill them all; God will know his own."

The city was destroyed, and even those who took shelter in the churches were massacred. Perhaps fifteen thousand, perhaps twice that, died.

Treachery at Carcassonne

When the crusaders arrived at the walled city of Carcassonne, it was clear the city could withstand a siege for a considerable time. The crusaders laid siege anyway, and by August Viscount Raimond-Rogier Trencavel was willing to negotiate. He left the city for discussions with the crusaders; his foes treacherously took him prisoner and confined him. (See Chapter 4: Toulouse, Lastours). The city surrendered, and while the citizens and garrison were spared, the city was looted of treasures. A mystery remains as to why the city was forced to surrender.

A New Leader

When the French noble leaders of the crusade finished their forty days' service, they returned home. Arnaud Amaury and a committee elected a new leader, a minor knight called Simon de Montfort, who held estates in the Ile de Paris. He had lost his English estates by a decree of King John stating one could hold lands from the French King or from him; he had elected

The Bogomils hold many doctrines in common with the Cathars, and may historically share a common origin, but while the Cathars are strongest in the Provençal Tribunal, the Bogomils can be found in the Thebes and Transylvanian Tribunals (see Against the Dark page 50 for details). The Bogomils and Cathars regard each other as brethren, and in the 12th and early 13th centuries there was a considerable traffic of missionaries and scholars between them. While geographical distance has increased their doctrinal differences, the two great dualist religious movements continue to be linked, and Bogomil preachers from the East continue to arrive to inspire and preach among the communities of the Languedoc.

Any saga set in the Provençal Tribunal must face the reality of the recent horrors of the crusade, and it is highly likely that the events of the past eleven years have had a formative effect on newly Gauntleted magi, companions, and grogs alike. Are they Catholic, Cathar, Waldensian, Jewish, or of another faith group? How do they feel about the heretics? Do they support the crusade, or are they hostile to the de Montforts? Are they patriots supporting the southern lords, or do they look to the foreign French throne? It is likely that characters

of very different background and beliefs may come together in a covenant here, and will switch sides, betray friends, and change loyalties as events unfold.

When designing a character from the region, consider whether they have been caught up in any of the recent events, and how that back-history has influenced them. Did they survive Béziers? Fight at Muret? Take part in the betrayal at Carcassonne? Were they apprenticed in one of the covenants like Mistridge or Lariander that fell in the fighting?

The Church did have one outstanding missionary among the heretics in this period, Dominic of Guzman (later Saint Dominic), who walked barefoot among the heretics, begging for alms and practicing the strict personal sanctity and holiness familiar to the region only from the Cathar Perfecti and Waldensian preachers. Defeating demons, preach-

ing against heresy, and risking his life among his enemies, he won more personal admiration than converts, but his was a bold example of what a mission to the region could be. From 1206 to 1208 he was a familiar sight, and became well loved even among the heretics he opposed for his personal piety, humility, and bravery.

to maintain his French estates, but he was determined to take new lands in the south. Ably assisted by his wife Alice, he now led the crusade.

A Handful of Knights

In the autumn of 1209, as the crusaders returned home, de Montfort commanded thirty knights and five hundred foot soldiers both to garrison an unruly and hostile city, Carcassonne, and to face whatever resistance may emerge. De Montfort declared himself Viscount of Béziers and Carcassonne, but King Pedro of Aragon refused to accept him as a vassal.

The Fall of Mistridge

The covenant of Mistridge had long been famed for its powerful magi and awe inspiring location, a magically-created tower on the edge of a precipice in the Val du Bosque, seemingly impregnable to any mundane assault. In the winter of 1209 a magus named Tres declared Wizard's War on every member of the covenant. Some say he intended to avenge the magi of Windgraven, others claim he had a personal dispute with the proud magi of this covenant after they refused him hospitality and treated him as little more than a hedge wizard. Despite his infamous trial at the Tribunal of 1214 his reasons for the attack remain obscure. Tres had with him two other magi of the rusticani (see Houses of Hermes: Societates, page 130), his tradition, and a large number of mercenaries armed with magic weaponry of his own devising. The magical siege engines he brought with him demolished Mistridge, killing the defenders.

Murder of the Monks

Despite his overall success, de Montfort failed to take the strongholds at Lastours. The de Cabaret family provided a core of resistance. The Abbot of St. Gilles and a group of clerics were ambushed and slaughtered by a knight (the brother of then Bishop Raimond of Carcassonne) who fled to Cabaret for protection. As rebellion flared, most of the previously surrendered castles and towns changed loyalties again. De Montfort began a new campaign to suppress the revolt, taking Bram and conducting one of the greatest atrocities of the crusade (see Chapter 4: Toulouse, Bram) before marching to Alairac, taking it, and killing the entire garrison.

Raimond VI did nothing to fulfill his vows, resulting in excommunication. Having protested to the pope he needed more time, Raimond's excommunication was once again lifted in January. Meanwhile, in Toulouse, Bishop Foulques de Marseilles formed his White Brotherhood to attack heretics, money lenders and Jews. A Black Brotherhood developed in opposition, and street battles begin.

The Fall of Minerve and Termes

When the castle at Aguilar held out, the crusaders abandoned the siege and marched to besiege Minerve. One hundred and thirty seven Cathars were burned; only three women chose to recant and save their lives. De Montfort took several more castles and towns, establishing himself as lord over the Trencavel lands. Yet only 150 Cathars had been executed during the crusade, most of them at Minerve. It became clear the crusade was more about military conquest of the south than about heresy, despite the efforts of the papal legates.

A Last Chance at Peace?

In 1211, King Pedro of Aragon attempted to broker a peaceful settlement. He finally accepted homage from de Montfort as viscount of Béziers and Carcassonne. Count Raimond of Toulouse met with the legates, also attempting one last effort to end the crusade. The terms were too harsh, and the south responded with general warfare. The atrocity at Lavaur followed (See Chapter 4: Toulouse, Lavaur), and the executions of sixty more Cathars captured at Les Casses. Finally, after an extended campaign in the north of the county, de Montfort besieged Toulouse. Loyal members of the Church looked to Bishop Foulques for leadership — he told them to surrender the city, and renounce the count, or suffer the same fate as the heretics. This appalled and angered the Church's faithful, and they turned against the Bishop who was forced to flee, even as de Montfort failed to take the city.

The Massacre at Montgey and the Fall of Lariander

In the summer of 1211, peasants and a small party of southern knights massacred a large party of three hundred German knights as they passed through a faerie forest near the village of Montgey. The reprisals destroyed the village and the Tremere covenant of Lariander in the forest, leaving a terrible warning that even the Order could fall victim to the Crusade's violence.

The Battle of St Martin-Lalande

In autumn 1211, Count Raimond gathered his forces and menaced de Montfort's small outnumbered force, but de Monfort constantly raided and took the initiative. Finally, the southerners attacked only to be routed and decisively defeated in open battle by the crusaders.

The Children's Crusade

The year 1212 saw an extraordinary popular movement, as thousands of children and peasants followed a young visionary south from the Rhineland, passing through Northern France before entering the region and marching toward the Mediterranean. They claimed the sea would part, allowing them to cross and convert the Muslims of North Africa before marching on to Jerusalem. When they reached Marseilles, the sea did not part, but a large number boarded ships to sail to Africa, and were never seen again. It is feared many were sold into slavery in Africa, though the truth remains obscure. Others simply gave up and returned home, or found employment in Marseilles.

The Battle of Muret

With King Pedro II of Aragon now actively supporting the southerners, the crusaders were again outnumbered and in real trouble. Ten miles downriver from Toulouse, the town of Muret was attacked by Pedro, Raimond, and the Count of Foix with a vast army in autumn 1213. They took the town easily and hanged the garrison, but de Montfort appeared on the other side of the river, and while greatly outnumbered, a surprise flank march through the marshes ensured his victory. King Pedro was killed, and ten thousand men died in a battle lasting less than half an hour; the southerners routed. Many drowned trying to flee across the Garonne; their ghostly cries still issue from the river when rainfall swells the waters and disturbs their bones. The Battle of Muret ended the resistance for many years, forcing Raimond to seek redress in Rome rather than on the battlefield.

The Struggle for Toulouse

In 1215 Simon de Montfort triumphantly entered Toulouse and installed himself in the Château Narbonnais. Within a year a popular uprising occurred, and fighting throughout the city was put down after great efforts. In the autumn of 1217, while de Montfort campaigned in the north of the region, Count Raimond suddenly returned and the jubilant citizens admitted him. On his return, de Montfort found the city gates locked against him, and Raimond restored as count, so once again besieged the city. After many months, a stone from a siege machine upon the walls struck de Montfort directly upon the head, killing him. Some suspect this may have been one of the magical siege engines devised by Tres Ex Miscellanea and employed in the destruction of Mistridge.

Amaury de Montfort laid claim to Simon's titles, and Alice de Montfort continues to play an important role as a leader and strategist for the campaign, but Simon's death precipitated the disintegration of the great domain he carved out. Today there are no clear borders; castles owing allegiance to either side stand within a few miles of each other, and both sides maintain garrisons scattered across the County and beyond.

The French Intervention

In 1219, a second crusade began. Directed by the French royal court, the nobility of northern France supported this endeavor to incorporate the South within greater France. After taking Marmande and conducting a massacre there, the invaders were repulsed before the walls of Toulouse, and today Count Raimond is re-ascendent, restoring control over his County.