History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 118, the Crusade against the Cathars, the Sack of Besier.

Hello again.

Last week we saw the crusading army march to the southern French town of Monpeleier.

There it was decided that the first target of the crusade would be the town of Bezier, only two days

March from Montpellier.

The Lord of Bezier was Raymond Roger Troncovell, who was not only the Viscount of Bezier, but also the Viscount of Albie and Carcasson, and

overlord of the regions surrounding those towns.

The two jewels in the Troncival crown were the towns of Bessie and Carcasson, two of the most prominent cities in Long dock.

Raymond Roger himself was 24 years of age at this time, considerably younger than his uncle,

Count Raymond of Toulouse, who was in his 50s. Raymond Roger had inherited his domains at the age of nine, and is described by Jonathan

Sumption in his book The Albigensian Crusade as and I quote a young man of

considerable charm but of greater pride than ability, end quote.

Experienced though the young Raymond Roger Troncovell may have been in administering his extensive holdings, it's safe to say that nothing could have prepared him for

what had happened over the last six months.

You might remember that at the beginning of the year 1209, Count Raymond had tried to interest Raymond

Roger Truncovell in forming an alliance against the Crusaders, but Raymond Roger had refused.

It's easy to see why. At that stage, Count Raymond had a massive target on his head, and it was clear that the focus

of both the wrath of Pope Innocent and the coming Crusade would be Count Raymond and his city of Toulouse.

It was understandable that Raymond Roger could see little benefit in putting his lands at risk by standing with his uncle against

the might of the church.

But in the last few weeks events had been turned on their head.

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