History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 144, the Crusade against the Cathars, towards Muray.

Hello again. Last week we saw King John of England attempt to involve himself in the upcoming showdown between

King Peter II of Aragon and Simon de Monfort. King John was keen to fight alongside the armies of England to support

his former brother-in-law, Count Raymond the 6th of Toulouse and King Peter, but he was prevented from doing so by

unfavourable wins. So King John was left to self-destruct in England while the King of Aragon and the Count of Toulouse were forced to consider their next move.

Things in Long dock at this time were very much in balance.

Simon de Monfort was currently occupying most of Long dock and was intent on turning the region into a little part of Northern France.

He had imported Northern French men to garrison the towns and had imported Northern French laws

to govern the territory. The King of Aragon and the three rebel

southern counts, Toulouse, Foulouse, Foula and Camage had a different plan.

They wanted to boot Simon de Monfort and his Northern Frenchmen out of the region and return

it to its former status as a cosmopolitan, independent troubadour loving and tolerant region

under the protection of the crown of Aragon. Perhaps even turning the region into a little part of the kingdom of Aragon,

satisfying King Peter's ambitions to extend the influence of the throne of Aragon over the Pyrenees into Long dock.

In May, Pope Innocent had confused matters mightily.

He had previously declared for team Aragon, but in May 1213 he sort of reversed

that decision, telling King Peter he should not support the Southern Counts.

But Pope Innocent didn't go all the way and declare for Team Monfort.

As a way of emphasizing that his new crusading priority was to retake Jerusalem, Pope

innocent hamstrung Simon de Mon 4's ability to achieve a total victory in southern France by failing to reinstate the

Crusader indulgences for volunteers who travelled to Long dock to serve in Simon's Army. This was going to limit Simon's

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