Massacre at Montsegur: A History of the Albigensian Crusade

Massacre at Montsegur: A History of the Albigensian Crusade by Oldenbourg, Zoe. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780880294775.

In 1208 Pope Innocent III called for a Crusade - this time against a country of fellow Christians. The new enemy: Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse, one of the greatest princes in Christendom, premier baron of all the territories in southern France where the langue doc was spoken. Thus began the Albigensian Crusade, named after the town of Albi. It culminated in 1244 at the mountain fortress of Montségur with the massacre of the Cathars, or "pure ones" - a faith more ancient than Catholicism. At stake was not only the growth of this rival religion right in the heart of the Catholic Churchs territory, but also the very survival of the Languedoc itself as an autonomous and independent region of France.