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During the medieval period, the Catholic Church condemned any sect of Christianity
as heresy that differed from the tradional Catholic teachings. One of these sects,
called the Albigensians (or Cathars), came out of southern France, and Pope
Innocent III saw this group as a threat to the unity of Chirstendom at a time when
he was leading a war to retake the Holy Land from the Muslims. The pope called for
a separate “crusade” to destroy the Albigensian heresy, offering spiritual
blessings to those warriors who would commit to forty days of service. His main
goal in eradicating such heresies was to gain complete control over medieaval
Europe, including Byzantium and Spain, and eventually regain control in the Holy
Land. Despite efforts to unify Europe and retake the Holy Land, the Albigensian
Crusade further divided the continent and increased the anti-roman sentiments of
those living in southern France. The rift would eventually lead to a second pope
sitting the throne at Avignon.
In 1213, Innocent called off the crusade. But that did not end the fighting.
The king of Aragon took up the cause of Raymond and the Albigensians and led an
army against Simon and his allies. What had started as a war against a heretical
sect turned into a war of two countries: France and Spain. This time, Innocent
backed the king of Aragon and Raymond, but the majority of French nobles still
supported Simon. The French forces eventually defeated the Spanish forces.
Innocent would later excommunicate Simon de Montfort for his acts of brutality
throughout the conflict. Simon died in 1218 at the Battle of Toulouse. Raymond
died in 1222. The Albigensians continued to frustrate the Catholic Church until
the year 1229 when Raymond’s son negotiated the treaty of Meaux, and the
Albigensians territory was handed over to Capetian France and returned to the
traditonal Catholic Church.
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