History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 150. Episode 115, the Crusade against the Cathars, the Murder.

Hello again.

Last week we saw Count Raymond the sixth of Toulouse, excommunicated by the Papal Legate, Peter of Castelno, for failing to agree to expel heretics from his lands.

In a stinging letter, Pope Innocent III confirmed Raymond's excommunication. We left the narrative last week with

Peter of Castelno riding to Toulouse in the year 1207 to personally inform Count Raymond

what the excommunication meant for him and the people of Toulouse.

The news he had to deliver was this.

The excommunication meant that no religious service could be held at any place where

Raymond was staying. No nobleman or officials were allowed to meet with Raymond and no doctors or judges were to offer their services to him.

This prohibition extended even to the Farrier whose job it was to shoe Riemont's horse.

Any individual who failed to comply with these requirements

would themselves face excommunication.

Even worse, because he had been expelled from the church,

Pope Innocent could now legally invade his lands and replace him with someone more

pleasing to the papacy.

Now, there are differing accounts as to exactly how the meeting between the count and the people

legate played out.

Peter of Castelno no no doubt relished being the carrier of bad news and probably hoped

that Raymond would quail beneath the might of the church and finally take action against the heretics

living in his domain.

Count Raymond on the other hand, like many of his southern French counterparts,

...