This fine
castle is in the Ariege Department.
Perhaps
the most moving story of the crusade is that of Montsegur. Being
then outside of French territory and because if it's formidable
natural defences, it was able to survive the early stages of the
war.
Originally
it housed a community of Cathar women, but with the advent of the
crusade was more heavily fortified and manned by soldiers. From
1232 the Cathar command moved to the location.
In 1243 Cathar sympathisers from the
castle formed a raiding party which killed a number of
inquisitors in Avignonet
. This lead to
retaliation:
Later in
the year 1243 a siege was commenced under the leadership of Hugh des
Arcis of Carcassonne. The castle housed about 600 men, women and
children, including about 200 Parfaits. For months the siege was
a stalemate with no progress on either side. Before Christmas,
however, a group of crusaders managed to storm part of the outer
defences and a siege machine was set up able to bear more deadly fire
on the defenders. In February a two week truce was negotiated
with the offer of Catholics being allowed to leave unharmed, only the
Parfaits were to be burned. After this offer a number of others
joined the Parfaits and accepted death at the stake, Around 220
Cathars went to their deaths on 16 March 1244. A cross stands
below the castle commemorating their brutal
killing.
The
present castle, like most in the area has been rebuilt by the French
as a border fortress reinforcing it at the end of the 13th century, so
is not in the form it would have at the time of the
crusades.
Walking to
the fortress is a very rewarding visit offering fine views passing and
a moving memorial to the victims of the Holy
Inquisition.
