Description
Book SynopsisThe Cathars and the Albigensian Crusade brings together a rich and diverse range of medieval sources to examine key aspects of the growth of heresy and dissent in southern France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and the Church's response to that threat through the subsequent authorisation of the Albigensian crusade.
Aimed at students and scholars alike, the documents it discusses papal letters, troubadour songs, contemporary chronicles in Latin and the vernacular, and inquisitorial documents reflect a deeper perception of medieval heresy and the social, political and religious implications of crusading than has hitherto been possible. The reader is introduced to themes which are crucial to our understanding of the medieval world: ideologies of crusading and holy war, the complex nature of Catharism, the Church's implementation of diverse strategies to counter heresy, the growth of papal inquisition, southern French counter-strategies of resistance and
Trade Review
"The authors and editors of this...volume have made a remarkable effort to produce not only a sourcebook with translations of the central texts – both well-known and hitherto unpublished; they have also accompanied it with a state-of-the-art introduction, a guide to further reading and the necessary indexes of both persons and places... the book should not only be reserved for or recommended to...specialists. Easy to read, it ought to be a widespread travel-companion to the hordes of tourists, who more or less clueless travel from castle to abbey to village in the Pays Cathare every summer!" - Karen Schousboe, Medieval Histories
“This is a well-compiled anthology of texts that offer multiple and contrasting perspectives on one of the most infamous events of the High Middle Ages. If it is an exciting time to be studying medieval heresy, this sourcebook makes a welcome contribution to spreading the excitement.” –Huw Grange, University of Cambridge, UK
Overall, the benefits of the source tape for academic teaching is undeniable. The breadth of genres and meaning of selected texts allow for an in-depth scientific study of key aspects of the Albigensian Crusade as part of courses. - Jörg Supreme
Table of ContentsHistorical Introduction. Section 1: Papal Letters. Introduction. Part 1: Innocent III. Part 2: Honorius III. Part 3: Gregory IX. Section 2: Troubadour Poems. Introduction. Part 1: Political Poems. Part 2: Religion Section. Section 3: Inquisitors. Introduction Part 1: Extracts from Summaries of Crimes and Sentences. Part 2. Extracts from Depositions of Witnesses Interrogated. Part 3: Extracts from Depositions after the Siege and Fall of Monts. Part 4: Extracts from Depositions in the Processus against Peter Garcias. Part 5: Extracts from Depositions Relating to the Circle of Raymond Unaud of Lanta. Section 4: Chronicles and Narratives. Part 1: Extracts from the Song of the Albigensian Crusade by William of Tudela and the Anonymous Continuator. Part 2: Extracts from the Chronicle of Peter of Les-Vaux-de-Cernay Introduction. Part 3: Extracts from the Chronicle of William of Puylaurens Introduction. Part 4: Extracts from the Chronicle of William Pelhisson Introduction. Part 5: Extracts from The Tale of the Heretic. Further Reading.
