Chronological Dates regarding the Medieval Era of Catharism
The Socratic philosophy of ‘critical thinking and reasoning’ and regards the ‘unexamined life not
worth living’, could just as well apply to unexamined history and unreasoned history not worth
reading. Also true, regarding history, when one casts a systemic quizzical eye over a specific period, it
often seems to raise more questions than answers. Again, should one decide to write about history,
one is warned to tread warily among the vexing subjects of religion, politics and sex. Hells bells!
Religion can’t truly be discussed without politics and sex for together they make the perfect menage
a‘ trois. Sex, true, is the exception, for it is often discussed (in clubs and pubs), being apparently
sufficient of its own, without needing the other two hangers-on. So all have noted that the discussion
of sex may well heat a dialogue - reason and rationality are left - both alone, outside, stone cold and
sober.
930s-40s
c. 970
991
999
1002
Emergence of Bogomilism in Bulgaria
First anti-Bogomil tract, Cosmas the Sermon Against tbe Heretics.
Gerbert d’AuriUac, later Pope Sylvester, forced to swear his orthodoxy at Rheims.
Leutard, first known heretic in the west, active in Chalons-sur-Mame
First executions of Cathars in France, at Orleans and Toulouse.
Ten Canons of the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross sent the stake.
First discussion (at the Council of Rheims) concerning appearance of a new heresy in
1049
France.
1077
A Cathar condemned as a heretic in Cambrai, and burnt at stake.
1082
Bogomil missionaries possibly active in Sicily.
c.1100 Execution of Bogomil Heresiarch Basil the Physician in Constantinople
1110s-50s
Heretics at large: era of Tanchelm of Antwerp, Arnold of Brescia, Henry of Lausanne
et al.
1114
Several heretics snatched from prison by the mob in Soissons and burnt.
1126
Peter de Bruys sent to the stake at Saint-Gilles in Languedoc.
1143
First recorded mention of Cathars, burnt at Cologne.
1145
St Bernard preaches against Cathars and visits die Languedoc
1160
Birth of the Waldensian Movement in Lyons.
1163
The Council of Tours denounces the threatening advance the 'new heresy', i.e.
Catharism. Eckbert of Scnonau’s Sermones ad Catharos
1165
The Council of Lombez pronounces against the boni hom (bons hommes).
1167
Council of Albigensians haeld at Saing-Felix-se-Cal under the presidency of f
Bulgarian Bogomil Bishop, Nicetas, to define Cathar beliefs and the organisation.
An ecclesiastical conference held at VCzelayx condemns Cathars to the stake.
1179
Third Lateran Council: use of force against heretics recommended.
1172
A cleric accused of heresy is burnt at Arras.
1177
Raymond V, Count of Toulouse, reports to the Chal General of Citeaux on the
alarming development of Catharist heresy.
1179
The eleventh Ecumenical (Third Lateran) Council at the ir -gation of Pope
Alexander Ill pronounces an Anathema against the Albigensian heretics.
1180
The Pope causes his Legate Henry, Cardinal-Bishop of Albato preach a Crusade
against the
heretics in the French Midi.
1181
Short-lived military campaign against Cathais in Lavaur, led by Henri de Marcy.
Capture of Lavaur.
1184
Pope Lucius III excommunicates the Waldensians. His Ad abolendam denounces the
Cathars and other heretical sects
1194
Raymond VI succeeds his father Raymond V as Count of Toulouse.
1198
Enthronement of Pope Innocent III.
Papal commission for action against heretics delivered to tthe Cistercians Reynier and
Gui: this is the first establishment of the so called episcopal or Legates' Inquisition.
1199
Pope Innocent’s Vergentis in senium equates heresy with treason, and allows heretics
property to confiscated
1200
Five men and three women burnt at Troyes on a charge of heresy.
1201
A knight owing allegiance to the Count of Nevers burnt at the stake in Nevers.
Persecution of the Catharist colony at Charité-sur-Loire.
1203
Peter of Castelnau as Legate.
April, Bosnian Church forced to swear fealty to Rome
1204
Raymond de Perella rebuilds Montségur, at the request of Cathars in the area.
February: Theological debate between Catholics and Cathars held at Carcassonne, at
the instigation of King Peter II of Aragon.
1206
Esclarmonde, sister of the Count of Foix, receives the Consolamentum.
March, Dominic de Guzman proposes preaching in poverty in the Languedoc to bring
people back to the Church; the Dominican Order is later founded as a result. Dominic establishes a
foundation at Pronille to serve as an asylum for converted Catharist women.
1207
29 May, Pope Innocent III confirms the sentence of excommunication pronounced
against the Count of Toulouse by Peter of Castelnau.
1208
15 January, Pater of Castelnau mudered.
10 March, Peter of Castelnau canonized.
St Francis of Assisi decides to devote his life to apostolic work.
1209
18 June, Raymond VI, Cunt of Toulouse, makes his submission to the Church and is
whipped publicly on the front steps of the Church at Saint-Gilles.
The Crusaders' army forms up marches on Languedoc [early July].
22 July, Beziers sacked and burnt.
15 August, capture of Carcasonne.
August, Simon de Montfort is granted by the Legates the title of Viscount of
Carcassonne and Béziers.
A Council held at Avignon utters twenty-one canonical decrees against heretics and
Jews [September].
10 November, death of Raymond-Roger Trencavel, Viscount of Carcassonne and
Béziers, found dead in his cell.
The following towns fall into the Crusaders' hands: Albi [surrendered], Castres,
Caussade, Fanjeaux, Gontaud, Mirepoix, Puy-la-Roque, Saverdun, Tonneins, and others.
1210
April, siege and fall of Bram; forced march of 100 blinded and mutilated men to
Cabaret; fall of Cabaret:
June/July, siege and fall of Minerve, one hundred and forty Cathars burnt as well as
30 children.
The Papal Legates summon the Count of Toulouse before a
September, Council held at Saint-Gilles, and excommunicate him a second time.
23 November, Termes falls after a nine months' siege.
The Franciscan Order founded.
20 December, Philip II has Amaury de Bène's disciples burnt at the stake Paris.
The Crusaders gain control of the strongholds of Alayril (garrison massacred), Brain
(garrison mutilated), Pennauti and others.
1211
April/May: siege and fall of Lavaur; 80 knights hanged
Lady Geraida of Lavaur thrown down a well and stoned to death
3 May, 400 Perfecti burnt outside Lavaur
May, Fall of Le Casses: ninety-four Cathars burnt.
End of May, First Siege of Toulouse.
September, Siege of Castelnaudary.
The following places fall into the Crusaders' hands: Cahuzac, Coustaussa, Gaillac, La
Garde, La Grave (garrison m sacred), La Guépie, Montaigu, Moncuq,. Montferrand, Mogey
(complete destruction), Puy-Celsi, Rabastens, and otbers.
1212
Nearly eighty heretics on trial at Strasburg. Majority sent to the stake.
1212
Pierre des Vaux de Cernay goes to the Albigeois district.
Simon de Montfort captures Agen.
1 December, Simon de Montfort summons an Assembly at Pamiers, chars, with
settling the political and legal status of the conquest.
The following fall into the hands of the Crusaders: Ansu 1 (massacre), Auterive
(burnt), Biron, Castelsarrasin, Hautpoul (siege and massacre), L'Isle, Moissac (siege and massacre of
mercenaries), Montaut, Muret, Penne d'Ageru (siege), Penne d'Albigeois (siege),
Saint-Antonin (sack of 1 outer borough), Saint-Gaudens, Saint-Marcel, Saint
Samatan, Verdun-sur-Garonne.
1213
17 January, Innocent suspends the Albigensun Crusade
21 May, Innocent persuaded to relaunch Crusade
Philip II's son Prince Louis joins the Crusade.
12 September, The Battle of Muret.
Siege of Casseneuil, it’s capture. Massacre, and demolition of its walls.
1214
27 July, Battle of Bouvines.
Capture of the fortresses of Dome, in Périgord (keep demolished) and of Montfort.
1215
First Crusade of Prince Louis,
Simon de Montfort's entry into Toulouse (April-October).
The wealthy Toulouse burgher Peter Seila (or Celia) presents St Dominic with several
houses which afterwards becomes the home of the Inquisition.
1215
11 November, Opening of the Lateran Council. The Council transfers lands to Simon
de Montfort, making him Lord of all Languedoc
Persecution of heretics at Colmar.
1216
10 April, Simon de Montfort receives investiture at the King's hands as Lord of
Languedoc.
Siege of Beaucaire and the Crusader’s first defeat [May/August].
16 July, Death of Innocent III.
August, Simon de Montfort's entry into and sack of Toulouse; the crushing of the
revolt and the dismantling of the city's defences.
A Bull of Honorius III solemnly confirms the Order founded by St Dominic.
1217
Persecution of heretics at Cambrai.
Simon de Montfort captures the fortresses of Crest in the Dauphin, Lit Bastide,
Monteil, Montgrenier, and Pierrepertuse.
13 September, soldiers loyal to Raymond VI enter Toulouse; siege of Toulouse
begins Opening of the Siege of Toulouse [October].
1218
Pope Honorius restores Indulgences for those who go on the Albigensian Crusade in
the Languedoc.
25 June, death of Simon de Montfort outside the walls of Carcasonne from a stone
from a mangonel manned by women.
December, death of Pierre des Vaux de Cernay.
1218
December, around Christmas, Massacre at Marmande, when King Louis 1, assaulted
Marmande. His army massacred the chateau and entire town of 7,000 men women and children, with
no one spared (Chanson Laisse 212)
1219
Prince Louis's second Crusade.
Capture of Marmande folowed by a massacre, 7,000 killed of all ages and reigions.
Cathar and Catholic.
The unsuccessful siege of Toulouse [May-June].
1220
Heretics persecuted at Troyes.
1221
Death of St Dominic [6th August].
1222
Death of Raymond VI [August].
1223
April, death of Raymond-Roger, Count of Foix.
!4 July, death of Philip II [14th July].
6 August, Louis VIII crowned at Rheims.
1224
15 January, Amaury de Montfort leaves Languedoc. He relinquishes control of the
Languedoc to the French crown
1225
Assembly of Catharist Churches at Pieusse.
Death of Arnald-Amairic, Archbishop of Narbonne (29th September].
1226
28 January, Raymond VII excommunicated by the Council of Bourges.
Spring, Louis VIII’s Crusade.
3 October, death of St Francis of Assisi.
8 November, Louis VIII, 39, dies at Montpensier. His widow Blanche of Castille
becomes Regent.
1227
Gregory IX becomes Pope.
1228
Scorched-earth campaign against Toulouse
1229
12 April, End of the Albigensian Crusade, the Treaty of Meaux (The Treaty of Paris),
which ends the Albigensian Crusade after two decades of fighting.
13 April, Raymond VII scourged before the altar of Notre-Dame in Paris.
November, Council of Toulouse.
1231
Montsegur becomes the central stronghold of Catharism.
The Inquisition founded to combat Catharism
Death of Foulques of Marseilles, Bishop of Toulouse.
1232
Guilhabert de Castres convenes the Synod of Montségur.
1233
Gregory IX gives definitve power to the Monastic Inquisition.
12 April, Gregory IX grants Dominicans general authority for exercising the powers
of the Inquisition.
29 April, the Pope ratifies the foundation of the University of Toulouse ,to cause the
Catholic Faith to flourish in these parts’.
30 July, first Inquisitor Conrad of Marburg murdered.
1233
Spring, Inquisition arrives in the Languedoc
Three Dominicans thrown into a well at Cordes.
August, 200 Cathars and Waldensians burnt in Verona .
1234
Raymond VII publishes his 'statutes against heretics’
The Inquisitor Arnald Cathala had sundry dead heretics exhumed at Albi when he
was roughly handled by the mob
The Inquisitors William Arnald and Peter Seila condemn two hundred and ten
persons to the stake at Moissac.
The Dominican convent in Narbonne sacked by the mob.
1234-46
Crusades against heresy in Bosnia
1235
The Dominicans are expelled from Toulouse on the orders of the Count and the
consuls November].
1239
Mont Aime, one hundred and eighty-three Cathars are burnt in the presence of the
Count of Champagne.
1240
September, Carcassonne besieged by Raymond Trencavel.
The Book of the Two Principles to have been written.
1241
Raymond VII promises Louis IX to destroy the fortress of Montsgur.
1242
Raymond Vii's rebellion (April-October).
28 May, the Massacre of Avignotet.
1243
January, The Treaty of Lorius.
The Council of Beziers decides to destroy Montsegur.
13 May, the start of the Seige of Montsegur.
Ramon Daniors brings letters from the Catharist Bishop of Cremona to Bertrand
Marty at Montsegur (before November).
November, Durand, Bishop of Albi, brings reinforcements for the army besieging
Montségur.
1243
2 December, Pope Innocent III grants Raymond VII absolution.
Council held at Narbonne, attended by the army commanders besieging Montségur.
1244
5 January, night attack attempted by the besiegers of Montségur.
1 March, night sortie by the garrison: a failure.
2 March, Truce concluded between besiegers and besieged.
16 March, The Massacre of Monsegur, 225 Cathars immolated at a field near the base
of the mountain.
1246
St Louis ordains the erection of special prisons to house heretics in Carcassonne and
Beziers.
1249
The Count of Toulouse has eighty credentes burnt at Barleiges (Agen).
27 September, death of Raymond VII.
1245-46
Extensive Inquisitorial proceedings in the Languedoc
1252
Inquisitor Peter of Verona (St Peter Martyr) murdered in Italy; use of torture given
papal approval by Innocent VI
1255
Capture of Quóribus, one of the Cathars' last places of refuge in Languedoc.
1271
Death of Alphonse of Poitiers and his wife Jeanne of Toulouse.
21 - 24 August, Languedoc passes under the French Crown.
1276.
Mastino Della Scala accedes to Inquisition.
1278
200 Cathars, most from Sirmione, burned in Verona’s Roman arena, including the
last bishops of northern France and of Toulouse (Bernard Oliba). Interdict lifted.
1296
October, Peter and William Aimer travel to Lombardv to be consoled.
1299
Pierre and Guillaume Autier, consoled by Cathar perfect in Piedmont, return home to
Montaillou, near Montsegur, start of Cathar revival.
1305
Autiers win back about 1000 households to the Cathars as well.
September, William Belibaste’s first encounter with Aurier Perfect while in hiding
after murdering a fellow shepherd
1307
Appointment of Geoffrey d’Abiis as Inquisitor in Toulouse.
September, Belibaste, imprisoned for heresy, escapes from jail
1308
8 September entire village of Montailiou arrestee on heresy charges
1309
In Montaillou, the Autier brothers are betrayed by a credente, is arrested.
1309
From the mass arrests, one perfectus, Guillaume Bellibaste, escapes from prison and
heads for Catalonia, where he lives peacefully for 9 years. He departed from Cathar purity by secretly
having a mistress.
1310
Autiers is burnt.
1321
Lured back to Foix, Guillaume Bellibaste, the last Perfecti in Languedoc is burned at
the stake.
1321
Last Italian Cathar bishop burned in Florence.
1325
Pope John XXII calls for action against the Bosnian Church.
1329
The last four Cathar believers (Credente) are led to the stake built on the banks of the
Aude River below the walls of Carcasonne.
1342
Last Perfecti in Florence is burned at the stake (moi) (Antonnio Scharchi).
1373
Cathars were discovered in the Val di Lanso’ s inquisition
1387-89
The Inquisition of Antonio di Settimo di Savigiiano, uncovered the last two Cathars,
Antonio di Galosna and Jacob Bech who were arrested and burnt.
1412
Posthumous burning ot 15 Cathars at Chieri.
1459
Bosnian Church persecuted by King Stephen Thomas
1463
Fall of Bosnia to the Ottoman Turks
1867
Last reported Bogomils in Bosnia
2020
The Crop Circle of a Cathar Cross at Cavallo Grigio, 30 June 2013.
The Crop Circle with the Templar/Cathar Cross at Hunts Down on 17 June 2020
The Cathar Message
An essential Cathar message:
‘The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness discovered it not’.
The Cathars unfailingly carried St John’s Gospel with him or her at all times. It was an absolutely
central saying. They believed they knew and had to manifest this message in the darkness, and that in
doing so they were agents for change of the most far-reaching sort possible.
The essence to understanding the Cathars is their quest to:
Bring the light into the darkness.
The Cathars were famous for:
Caring with quietness and lightness of soul with tranquility of mind, the the physical and spiritual
needs of every other soul we encounter, be it tree, animal or human.
Johny Bineham
Sydney 2022