Massacre at Montsegur: A History of the Albigensian Crusade

by Zoé Oldenbourg

Book Overview

In 1208 Pope Innocent III called for a Crusade-this time against a country of fellow Christians. The new enemy: Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse, one of the greatest princes in Christendom, premier baron... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0753802023
• ISBN13: 9780753802021
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Orion Books Ltd.
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.4" x 5.4"

Customer Reviews

ONE OF THE BETTER BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT

This is the story of the last days of the Cathar religion, a gnostic sect wiped out in Europe in the Thirteenth Century. It is shocking to realize just how powerful and numerous the group was at its height. It is surprising the church did not crush the group sooner. This is a much easier read than most books on the subject. The history is told more in the manner of a novel than an academic treatise. For that reason alone many will read through to the end who might otherwise quit early on. I wish the author had gone into more detail about Cathar and Catholic belief. A comparison would have been fascinating. The book also ends rather abruptly after the seige of Montsegur. We are told that Catharism lived on, but also that it was soon eradicated. Just how it vanished from Europe could justify a last chapter.

The Tragedy of History--and Religious Bigotry

This is the fourth book I have read about the Cathars, also referred to as the Albigensians. This one was different from the others both because it concentrated more on describing the political-military maneuvers on all sides, and because the author frequently referred to the existing (if scanty) medieval records that bear on these events. While she is very clear in her sympathy for the victims, this is not a cartoonish presentation; where atrocities were committed on the Cathar side of the ledger, they are duly reported. She does not give anyone a free pass. That said, what clearly stands out is the development at this crucial juncture of the Roman Catholic church as an instrument of wholesale, mass religious persecution. It is here--in the suppression of the Cathars--that the Inquisition originates. The author shows how this occurs and its effects, not only upon its victims, but in transforming the Catholic Church itself. The Cathars themselves are reasonably presented, though at least one point bears scrutiny. In all the other books I read, one of the features of the Cathar religion that stood in contrast to the prevailing, surrounding Catholic culture and faith, was the high status of women. In the Cathar religion, women could--and did--attain the highest status, that of perfectus. I was perplexed by the author's characterization of the Cathar church as "patriarchal," since this is the only source where I've seen this. She does acknowledge the attainments of women in the Cathar faith, so it is unclear to me what she has by way of objection or criticism. This is one point only, and overall, I think this book is scrupulous with available evidence from the time of these events, and the author is judicious with her interpretations from the chansons that constitute her primary source. A story replete with nobility, cruelty, tragedy, and loss, this is a book that shows humanity at its worst. Have we learned a lesson from the history of one religion's oppression of another?

In days of old when....

This is a well written and researched book which combines history with narrative. Although sources of the period are limited the author has approached the events of the Albegesian Crusade methodically and logically. Explaining the Cathar faith as well as the regional and national political influences and there variance with the Church of Rome add intrigue and bring to life the tightrope that the Counts of Toulose had to walk. Simon de Montforts role, activities and demise are well documented as is the role of he Dominicans, and their stubborn and dogmatic experience as Inquisitors. Finally the brutality towards, the stoicism of and the ultimate tradgedy and futile struggle of the Cathar faith against a seemingly omnipotent Roman Church illustrates all the personal attributes the make a good story. It's all here, from cowardice to heroism and from honesty to hypocrisy, that even today we see in the 3 Estates . A very good historical read and strongly recommended for those interested in the Crusades. The lack of maps would be my only criticism, but this could be easily remedied.

It's about freedom of religion.....

MASSACRE AT MONTSEGUR is a history of the church of Rome's persecution of `heretics' in Languedoc from early (1208) to mid (1244) 13th Century. First published in 1959 Oldenbourg's book remains current, and it is both scholarly and extremely readable. If you are new to the subject, MM is a good place to begin reading about the religious persecution carried out by the church of Rome against the Cathars and other "heretics" in Languedoc during the Middle Ages. At the time of these persecutions, the church of Rome appears to have been Machiavellian to the core (do unto others before they do unto you whether those others be `heretical' Christian sects or other religions), militaristic, and absorbed by the acquisition of material goods. Oldenbourg does not discuss how Christianity evolved from a religion based on faith and love to one dominated by the seven deadly sins, but he suggests the introduction of the Dominican Inquisition, first carried out by the church of Rome against the people of Languedoc, forever altered the religion. The Inquisition used torture and murder as a means to an end, and is probably the first historical instance of police-state terrorism. According to Oldenbourg, in the 13th Century, the Cathars appear to have been more Christ-like than many members of the church of Rome -- else why would so many have been attracted to their point of view. Although Oldenbourg's sympathies appear to have been with the Cathars, he makes a superb effort to understand the motivation and actions of the church of Rome which persecuted the Cathars until they no longer existed. I believe his writing is fair and impartial, no small task as the vast majority of the extant records on this subject come from the archives of the church of Rome. In the end, the question to ask yourself is this...does anyone have the right to tell another what to believe? Little is known about the Cathar religion. Apparently the movement was quite large as members of the Cathar faith could be found all over Europe. Church documents reveal the Cathar perfects and bishops drew inspiration from the Bible although their interpretation of the Bible differed from the official version sanctioned by Rome, thus they were "heretic." Oldenbourg suggests the Cathar faith was an older version of Christianity than the religion espoused by Rome. (See THE CATHARS by Malcolm Lambert and the `Epilogue' by Carol Lansing in THE ALBIGENSIAN CRUSADES by Joseph Strayer for various perspectives on the Cathar religion.)Excepting the siege and destruction of the inhabitants of Montsegur in 1244, Oldenbourg provides little information about the military operations of the crusaders who were ordered to Languedoc by various popes. For a better understanding of the sieges, battle tactics, etc. see the ALBIGENSIAN CRUSADE by Joseph Stayer which includes maps, diagrams, etc. and views the various encounters from the perspective of the assaulting Crusaders. For more information about the Cathars after the

Gripping and powerful from start to finish

Massacre at Montsegur presents the tragic history of the Catholic Church's persecution of the Christian Catharist religion, focusing on the period 1209 to 1244. With masterful interpretation of what are very few original sources (mostly anti-Cathar), Oldenbourg reveals Catharism to be far more rational,human and truly spiritual than the corrupt, highly politicized and institutionalized Catholicism of the times. Catharism flourished in the 12th and early 13th centuries in Languedoc (southern France) where it was widely accepted and indeed practiced by people of all classes. What is so exciting about this story, even though we know what happens in the end, is the intricate weaving of political and religious motives as the nobles of Languedoc fight to the death to preserve their freedom and way of life. Oldenbourg writes beautifully, with gratifying digressions for greater context and more detail every step of the way. The book was, for me, utterly riveting. Finishing left me desolate, longing for more.