History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 166 the

the crusade against the Cathars the Crusade of King Louis VIII

hello again last week we left the narrative Hello again.

Last week we left the narrative in the year 1224 with the crusade all but over.

Armory de Monfor had surrendered everything but his title of Count of Toulouse and had headed back to Northern France, leaving southern France, mostly in southern French hands.

With the Trunkervales once again ruling in Carcasson,

and with most pre-Cruseid ruling families restored to their pre-Cruseed lands.

The ownership of the lands and title of the Count of Toulouse was the only matter still in

dispute.

Raymond the seventh of course was keen to be reconciled with the church and to be recognized as the true count of Toulouse.

Armory, however, was not ready to seed the title to him. The church also was reluctant to let go of the lands gained during the Crusade, while King Louis, well King Louis was becoming increasingly

interested in Longdock. While his father Philip, had been happy to keep the region at arm's length,

the more King Louis thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea for the French crown to make a move on southern France.

So in February 1225, when Armory de Monfort renewed his offer to transfer his land and title in southern France

to the French crown, King Louis accepted the proposal. He quickly put into place a plan of action. He would

use the wealth and resources of the church to back a new crusade against the Cathars, one that would regain all the territory

recently lost by the Crusaders.

He sent three bishops to Rome with a proposal to place before Pope Honorius.

The proposal was this.

King Louis would lead an army into southern France.

Both King Louis personally and all the members of his army would enjoy the indulgences granted to Crusaders.

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