The Albigensian Crusade
by Jonathan Sumption
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jonathan SumptionEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-06-15
ISBN: 0571200028
Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Book Reviews of The Albigensian Crusade
Book Review: A strange, profoundly sad read.
Summary: 5 Stars
I just finished this excellent piece of historical writing. Reading historical accounts is something I enjoy and I must say that Sumption has completed a remarkably good book about an extremely difficult historical period. This I believe is because of the difficulty of the sources themselves: the fragmentation of these accounts in terms of geography and time; the number of players and most importantly the difficulty of piecing together the duality of the subject matter-- Cathar heresey versus Catholic orthodoxy. Added to this volatile mix is the intercine relations between church and state during this late medieval period.
The second chapter, " The dualist tradition", was exceedingly helpful to me, an interested general reader of these arcane events of the High Middle Ages. This early chapter set the tone of the rest of the book in that Sumption was able to continually demonstrate his keen reading of the sources and better, his ability to sprinkle his narrative with many little pieces of information that makes this difficult examination of these complex yet hugely important events in French history a real joy to read.
His last chapter, that I just finished minutes ago, demonstrates this importance in that the French Crown used the total elimination of Cathar belief as a means of subjugating the unique culture of the Languedoc people. France was unified and religious centralism was used as the excuse. We can only speculate about the eventual nature of European history and therefore world history had not Innocent III decided to erradicate heresy in southern France.
"The Albigensian Crusade" contains a plethora of minute details that flesh out the intricat skeleton of this complex period. On pages 126 and 127 Suption details the Church's demands in order for Raymond VI to be accepted back into the faith and escape punishment as a heretic: no more than two meat dishes at his table at one time; he was to dress in only in simple, plain clothes; his castles were to be demolished.
On page 131 he recounts the harrowing capture of the Cathar town of Lavaur complete with stoning, burnings and the hardship of Medieval warfare.
I cannot speak highly enough about this book; Sumption has steered an extremely precise but easily negociable path through the difficult terrain of this immensely important and difficult period in French history.
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