History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 100 and 7. Episode 170, the crusade against the Cathars, the Inquisition, resistance rises.

Hello again.

Last week we saw resistance commence in Long dock against the arbitrary unjust methods used

by the Dominican friars in their inquiries against the heretics of southern France.

In the city of Toulouse, in the winter of the year 1234 to 1235 there appears to have been a decline in the

number of people being pursued by the Inquisition. However in Easter 1235 the

situation was reversed when seven heretics were hunted down and discovered in a hideout just outside the city.

Then one of the Inquisitor of Toulouse, a Dominican friar named William Arnold, decided to up the ante. Up until now virtually all the

talusans dragged before the Inquisitor's had been from the working and artisan

classes.

In the autumn of 1235, however,

William Arnold issued inquisitorial citations

against 12 citizens from a more prominent class. These 12

citizens were in fact members of the consular families. People related to the powerful group of men who ran the

Citizens Council of Toulouse. All 12 citizens, confident of the support of

the town council, refused to answer the summons directed to them by the friar and demanded that the citations be dismissed.

William Arnold's fellow friars, however, insisted that he stand firm, and stand firm he did,

refusing to withdraw the notices and renewing his demand that the 12 citizens appear before the Inquisitor's.

The Council of Toulouse decided that it needed to intervene and it did so, expelling

William Arnold from the city. But William Arnold was not prepared to back down.

Basing himself in the city of Carcasson, he issued even more citations against prominent

...