The Cathars

This fascinating study of the development of radical religious belief , and its violent suppression, is the first comprehensive examination of the history of the Cathars, one of the most famous heretical movements of the late twelfth and thirteenth centuries. They infiltrated the highest ranks of society and posed a major threat not only to the Catholic church but also to secular authorities as well. The movement was finally smashed during the Crusades and the Inquisition . The Cathars addresses several major topics in medieval history including heresy, orthodoxy and the Crusades, as well as providing a history of the social and political history of Languedoc and the rise of the Capetian dynasty. Should be of interest to readers of Medieval history, religious history or French history. Also available in Hardcover 0-582-25662-3 $ 79.95.