The Occitan War: A Military and Political History of the Albigensian Crusade, 1209–1218

by Laurence W. Marvin

In 1209 Simon of Montfort led a war against the Cathars of Languedoc after Pope Innocent III preached a crusade condemning them as heretics. The suppression of heresy became a pretext for a vicious war that remains largely unstudied as a military conflict. Laurence Marvin here examines the Albigensian Crusade as military and political history rather than religious history and traces these dimensions of the conflict through to Montfort's death in 1218. He shows how Montfort experienced military success in spite of a hostile populace, impossible military targets, armies that dissolved every forty days, and a pope who often failed to support the crusade morally or financially. He also discusses the supposed brutality of the war, why the inhabitants were for so long unsuccessful at defending themselves against it, and its impact on Occitania. This original account will appeal to scholars of medieval France, the Crusades and medieval military history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History, France

356 pages, Hardcover

First published March 6, 2008

Reviews

[Manolo González · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a week (eventhough its 300 pages long), is tremendously adictive. The way its written reminds you a kind of fairy tale, full of detail and with a logical chronological order that makes keeping up really easy, however the constant show of the main sources (with the notes), make you remember you are reading an academic book.

The only bad thing about this book is that did not make a second part (2018-1229).

[Roy Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed account of the military events of the Occitan War. Well done.

[Doris Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LIKE THIS BOOK.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant history covering the entirety of military operation from 1209-1218, the book is very readable and easy to keep up with.