History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 135, the Crusade, the Crusade against the Cathars, the Winter Campaign of the

year 1212.

Hello again. the year 1212.

Hello again.

Last week we saw things take a turn for the worse for Simon de Monfor and his crusade

against the Cathars. Despite besting Count Raymond the sixth of Toulouse

militarily, Simon lost vast amounts of territory as southern France rose in rebellion against their

northern French occupiers. We left Simon at Christmas time in the year

1211.

Somewhat cheered by the arrival of both 100 unexpected Crusaders

and his brother Ghee who had journeyed back from the Holy Land, Simon planned his next move.

Now, ordinarily, winter wasn't part of the campaigning season. Winter was a time when you bunker down in your castle, keeping warm and

munching your way through the fruits of the autumn harvest, but 100 Crusaders had recently arrived and the clock was

ticking on their 40 days of crusader service. Despite the inclement weather, Simon was going to attempt a winter campaign.

Winter campaigns have their challenges.

Keeping morale up while your men are cold and

uncomfortable is one challenge as is the problem of supply. Not much grows during winter and foraging the countryside for food is a largely

useless waste of time and energy. Food either has to be carried with you or you have to procure it for yourself by raiding the

winter stores of towns and fortifications you conquer.

Simon de Monfor decided he would rise to these challenges and try to wrestle back territory he lost in the Vai County of Albie.

Now Simon was currently at Kastra.

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