Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It

by Janina Ramírez

The girls did find refuge from time to time. At Lavaur they stayed a full year at the home of the perfect Azalais. But in May 1211 atrocities were once again close. In the same town, the local castle was attacked. The defence was led by the owner and lady of the castle, Giralda, who commanded the troops and held back Simon de Montfort’s forces for two months.54 When Giralda and her soldiers finally capitulated the punishment was extreme. Sources report that 80 knights were hung, while 400 heretics were burned. Giralda herself was thrown down a well and stoned to death.55 Her sister, Esclarmonde of Niort, would also gain lasting notoriety in her actions against the crusaders. Along with their third sister, Navarra of Servain, the three women formed the foundations of a familial network which controlled the major estates across the entire Languedoc region.56