History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 117, the Crusade against the Cathars, the Gathering Force.

Hello again.

Last week we saw Pope Innocent III call for a crusade against the Cathar heretics of Long dock,

following the murder of the Papal legate, Peter of Castelno.

After doing all he could to avert the crusade, and failing miserably, Count Ray Maund the sixth then surprised everyone by taking the

cross himself and joining the crusade against the heretics. The Papal Legate Arnold Armory

formerly proclaimed the crusade in September 1208, and across France and beyond, noblemen, clergymen and common folk are busy putting their affairs

in order so they can join the campaign.

Arnold Armory has decreed the forces of the Crusade should muster at Leon in late June 1209. on the at the Church of Sanjil and he had taken the cross a mere week before the mustering date.

You may have noticed that the papal legate, Arnold Ar Arnold Armory, seems to be calling the shots here.

That's because, surprisingly, Arnold Armory has been appointed leader of the Crusade.

Despite being a religious man with no military experience to speak of,

Arnold Armory doesn't appear at all daunted by the task set out before him.

He wasn't even the first choice for leader.

No, the man Pope Innocent wanted to lead the crusade was none other than King Philip of France.

Yes, Pope Innocent had written the French King Letter Number Six, requesting him to either take

leadership of the expedition or to appoint someone else to do the job on his behalf.

In a by now very familiar response King Philip declined, stating that he had two fierce lions at his flanks, those being King John of

England and Emperor Otto, and couldn't leave Northern France.

He also declined to send his son or any other representative to lead the crusade. He did, however, make two concessions. He sent a moderately large

contingent of knights southwards to join the expedition and authorized any of his vassals to take the

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