History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 155, the Crusade

The Crusade against the Cathars Prince Louis Crusade.

Hello again. Last week we saw Simon de Monfort perform an astonishing political act when he managed to affect the outcome of Peter Benavento's Council at Montpellier in January 1215. Instead of the Council

voting to reduce Simon's powers, it instead unanimously supported awarding the title of Count of Toulouse to Simon, an act which would see Simon assume control of most of Long dock. The Papal Legate Peter Benavinto decided he didn't have the legal

authority to confer this title on Simon, so he handballed the matter to Pope Innocent the Third.

Now, Count Riemann the 6th had already travelled to Rome and was present in the city at the same time as the Council of Montpellier was taking place back in southern France.

At some stage after February 1215 the Archbishop of Ombron arrived in Rome bearing news of the outcome of the Council of Montpellier and Peter Benavinto's letter asking the pontiff to make a decision

as to whether Simon de Monfort could be conferred the title of Count of Toulouse by the Church. With the current Count of Toulouse

presenting himself in person in Rome and the Wannabe Count of Toulouse out in the field

Pope Innocent needed to make a decision.

As usual, Pope Innocent took his time in doing so.

It wasn't until the second of April that he finally put pen to paper and wrote three letters,

one to Peter Benavinto, one to Simon de Monfour, and one to the Lords who held land within the County of Toulouse.

The letters were lengthy and differed slightly in their wording, but the gist of the three letters was the same.

Simon de Monfor was to govern the county of Toulouse, not as its count, but as its custodian until you guessed it the Ecumenical

council could meet and decide matters once and for all.

Ah the elusive Ecumenical Council.

It has now been nearly two years since Pope Innocent had suggested calling an Ecumenical

Council to fix everything everything and Pope Innocent is finally making

arrangements for the council to meet but no date has yet been set. In his Historia Albigensus, Peter the Monk sets out the contents of Pope

Innocent's letter to Simon in full. Now I won't read out the whole letter as it's very lengthy, but I will

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