History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 161, the Crusade against the Cathars, the Siege of Toulouse,

1217.

Hello again.

Last week we saw Simon de Monfor move to the east to subdue the Rhone Valley, only to receive the

disturbing news that the rebel counts had entered the city of Toulouse

which had erupted into full rebellion. As we stated last week Simon Simon's wife Alice was inside Toulouse, or more specifically inside the N'Arbanese castle, when the rebellion broke out.

Apparently, Alice was overheard stating,

as she looked out a castle window onto the streets full of rebellious citizens below,

and I quote,

Alas, yesterday everything was going so well, end quote.

As we saw last week, Alice's first move was to send two urgent messages, one to her brother-in-law,

Giedemonfor in Carcasson, and one to Simon, way out east in the Rhone Valley.

Now, it took Simon three weeks to arrive back into loose.

According to Mark Peg, in his book A Most Holy War,

the messenger sent to inform Simon of the Siege didn't change horses.

Preferring to travel hard for two days, then rest his horse for the third day. Consequently, it took him a full two weeks to travel

to Simon's camp outside the castle of Crest. Apparently, when he arrived negotiations to conclude the siege were at a critical

juncture. Knowing full well that if news spread that Simon's main city back in Long dock was in

rebellion it would adversely affect the negotiations, Simon ordered the

messenger not to reveal the contents of his message to anyone, but to act relaxed and happy, as if the news he was bearing was pleasing.

Simon, too, acted relaxed and happy and was forced to pretend that he had all the time in the world to conclude the negotiations.

...