Did the Albigensian Crusade undermine the crusading movement?

[Montalban]

In the early 1200s a dualist sect of Cathars (also known as the Albigensians) existed in sourhtern France.

The Pope wanted to be rid of them so promised the same spiritual rewards as normal crusaders to those who’d war agains the Albigensians. (excepting that one only needed to go on this crusade for 40 days).

Thus faced with a least a year of travelling to the Middle East, or just a 40 day quick trip to southern France, many took the easy crusade. Men who were needed in battling the Saracens went instead under Simon de Montfort to Toulouse.

Does anyone think that this Albigensian Crusade undermined the crusading movement?

For general information see
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albigensian_Crusade

 

[Genesis315]

It’s tough to say. Looking back and playing Monday morning crusader we might be able to say focusing on them was a bad idea. But, at the time, the Albigensian heresy seemed just as destructive to a just ordering of society as Islam–probably moreso. Albigensianism is even more erroneous than Islam, especially concerning morality–which is why it was so dangerous to society.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It’s tough to say. Looking back and playing Monday morning crusader we might be able to say focusing on them was a bad idea. But, at the time, the Albigensian heresy seemed just as destructive to a just ordering of society as Islam–probably moreso. Albigensianism is even more erroneous than Islam, especially concerning morality–which is why it was so dangerous to society.

As I recall, the equivalent of the Albigensians in the Balkans were the Bogomils (sp?). They became Muslims, while retaining much of their belief, after the Turks conquered the area.

 

[Gottle_of_Geer]

In the early 1200s a dualist sect of Cathars (also known as the Albigensians) existed in sourhtern France.

The Pope wanted to be rid of them so promised the same spiritual rewards as normal crusaders to those who’d war agains the Albigensians. (excepting that one only needed to go on this crusade for 40 days).

Thus faced with a least a year of travelling to the Middle East, or just a 40 day quick trip to southern France, many took the easy crusade. Men who were needed in battling the Saracens went instead under Simon de Montfort to Toulouse.

Does anyone think that this Albigensian Crusade undermined the crusading movement?

For general information see
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albigensian_Crusade

Not really, I think - the events of the Fourtth Crusade a little earlier are pretty good evidence that the crusades had lost any connection with the recovery of the Holy Land from the Muslims that that they might have had.​

I don’t think there was much to undermine - the Albigensian Crusade was shameless in its concern with personal advantage, that’s all. I don’t think it had much to do with God. It was convenient for the Pope that Raymond of Toulouse had his own reasons for wanting to prove his standing as a Catholic by butchering Cathars. The Pope had shown that he was prepared to use what he deplored to further the interests of the Church - that’s why he had created a Latin Patriarchate of Constantinople.

One of the interesting things about the Cathars is that the accusations against them were rather similar to the accusations against the early Christians - accusations of obscene practices were made against them, against the early Christians, & against witches: IOW, against quite a few groups who were not fully integrated into, or were considered pernicious to, society at large. So it’s difficult to take the accusations seriously - some of the same charges were made against the Knights Templar when Philip IV and Clement V destroyed them. ##

 

[Montalban]

It’s tough to say. Looking back and playing Monday morning crusader we might be able to say focusing on them was a bad idea. But, at the time, the Albigensian heresy seemed just as destructive to a just ordering of society as Islam–probably moreso. Albigensianism is even more erroneous than Islam, especially concerning morality–which is why it was so dangerous to society.

They sort of looked upon them as 5th columnists