Page 58 - History of War - Issue 30-16

FRANCE’S

WORDS ERICH B ANDERSON

What began as a holy war to end Cathar heresy, later became a conl ict in
which northern France would subjugate the south of the kingdom

n 22 July 1209 a huge crusader army the Orb River adjacent to the city. Leaving the said to have been, “Kill them all! God will know
was encamped outside the city of safety of their fortii cations, citizens neared the his own.” In the end, at least 7,000 were slain in
OBéziers, in the Languedoc region of bridge, shooting arrows, throwing stones and the massacre that followed.
southern France. The crusaders demanded shouting insults. The crusaders closest to the The Albigensian Crusade was the i rst holy
that the townspeople hand over 222 leading attacks managed to chase them back to the war sanctioned by the pope and the Catholic
Cathar heretics within, or they would all be city gate before it could be shut. The guards Church against western Europeans. Although
punished for harbouring the enemies of the nearby left their posts on the walls to stop the a part of the Kingdom of France, the southern
Catholic Church. Not only did the citizens of besiegers from entering the city, but it was too inhabitants of the Languedoc region were
Béziers dei antly refuse to betray their friends, late. The crusaders l ooded Béziers, butchering independent. Not only did the magnates in the
neighbours and family members, but they even anyone who attempted to stop them. When area refuse to acknowledge the authority of
mocked the crusaders from the city walls. some crusaders asked Arnaud Amalric, the the church throughout their lands, but also the
The crusader camp was located on the overall commander, how to distinguish between language and culture of the region was more
opposite side of the only bridge that stood over the Catholics and the Cathars, his response was similar to northern Spain, making their ties to

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