History of the Crusades

the Crusades Episode 177, the crusade against the Cathars, have we not horns?

Hello again.

Last week we were introduced to Bernard Delicier, a Franciscan friar from Carcason, who was not exactly

a fan of the Dominican Order and the Inquisition they were undertaking.

We are going to start this week's episode by fast-forwarding to the year 1303. The Oti brothers have managed to steer clear of

the Inquisition for the past few years and are still constantly on the move in the

county of Foire, preaching, advising and administering the rights of the Cathar

faith.

In Kargasson, Bernard Delicier may well have been reflecting on how busy the past couple of years has been.

So what has Bernard been up to?

Well here are a couple of highlights.

Over the past few years, Bernard started to become well known for his opposition to the Inquisition,

and those with complaints about the Inquisition in particular and the operation of the church in general

began finding a sympathetic ear in the Franciscan friar.

But Bernard wasn't just a good listener. In a time where understandably

fear of the inquisitors made most people keep their concerns to themselves, Bernard was happy to voice those

concerns to whomever would listen.

In October of 1301, a person who was prepared to listen to those concerns, was none other than the King of France.

Now, the King of France at this time was King Louis the Ninth's grandson King Philip the

fourth also known as Philip the Fair.

Now if you're thinking that Philip the Fair sounds like a reasonable sort of

...