Massacre at Béziers

The Massacre at Béziers occurred on 22 July 1209 during the sack of Béziers by crusaders. It was the first major military action of the Albigensian Crusade.The Albigensian Crusade was initiated in the Kingdom of France at the behest of Pope Innocent III. Its purpose was to squash the growing Cathar movement, a religious sect challenging the teachings of the Catholic Church. The movement flourished mainly in the Languedoc region of what later became Southern France. At the time, the Kingdom of France controlled only part of what is now Northern France, whereas the Languedoc was divided between multiple different polities. The two regions had distinct customs and languages. The immediate cause of the crusade was the killing of the papal legate, Pierre de Castelnau. The retinue of professional soldiers, mercenary bands , and pilgrims, assembled and departed from Lyon in early July 1209, thus beginning the Albigensian Crusade.

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