History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 110 the Crusade against the Cathars Long Dock in 1208.

Hello again.

Last week we started the new series on the Crusade against the Cathars with a short introduction.

This week we will set the scene for the Crusade. This week we will take a closer

look at southern France in the early 13th century.

Okay, so it's the early 13th century.

Okay, so it's January in the year 1208.

The sack of Constantinople, the infamous outcome of the fourth Crusade occurred four years ago. Back in the Holy Land, young Maria of Monfra is ruling the kingdom of Acre under the guidance of her regent John of Iblen and a

delegation from the kingdom is currently in France trying to find an appropriate

husband for her.

Over in England, Richard the Lionheart's annoying little brother John

is nine years into his disastrous reign as King of England. Four years ago, so the year

1204, was a particularly bad one for King John.

Pretty much as soon as he was crowned,

King John launched into a war against King Philip II of France.

That war hasn't been going at all well for King John.

At the beginning of his reign, the Kingdom of England extended over an extensive region of what is now France.

Pretty much all of Western France, from Normandy and Brittany in the north, down Poetot, Anjou and Aquitaine was under the control of the English crown.

In 1204, however, King Philip conquered Normandy and advanced southwards to occupy both

Anjou and Poitou.

Also in that year, King John's formidable and dependable mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, died.

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