Siege of Avignon

The siege of Avignon was the principal military action of the Albigensian Crusade of 1226. King Louis VIII of France besieged the town of Avignon, which lay within the Holy Roman Empire, from 10 June until 9 September, when it surrendered on terms.Louis VIII assembled the largest army of the Albigensian Crusades at Bourges in May 1226. He advanced to Lyon and then down the Rhône Valley on the left bank , his ultimate goal being the submission of Count Raymond VII of Toulouse, who as Marquis of Provence also held lordship over Avignon. The latter was an autonomous city, governed by a podestà and consuls on the Italian model. It was wealthy, possessing a full double wall with two large gate towers . Its defences were manned by mercenary soldiers. It had, however, been under an interdict for twelve years for having refused an order of the pope.

Wikipedia