Cathar
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The Cathars, also known as the Albigensians, were adherent to the beliefs of Catharism. Catharism was a belief-system which combined Christianity with apparent Manichaean influences; it was declared a heresy by the Catholic Church. Catharism was widespread during the 12th century in what is now south-western France, before being violently suppressed by French lords after the Catholic Church declared the Cathars a heretical sect.
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[edit] History
[edit] Appearance of the Cathars
Beliefs, such as Bogomilism, had arrived in southern France via trade routes from Eastern Europe by the 11th Century. The first Cathars appeared in Limousin between 1012 and 1020, but by the 12th Century the movement had grown to become very popular and the Church considered it a threat. The name "Cathar" was not used by them but by their opponents. They called themselves Good People.
[edit] Suppression
On coming to power in 1198, Pope Innocent III was resolved to deal with the Cathars. He first tried peaceful conversion; however preachers sent in to convert the Cathars met with little success. Even St. Dominic managed to convert only a handful. The Cathars were protected by local nobles, and also by some bishops who resented papal authority. In 1204 the Pope suspended the authority of some of these bishops, and appointed papal legates to act in his name. In 1206 Innocent sought support for wider action from the nobles of Languedoc. Those who supported the Cathars were excommunicated. In 1209 the Albigensian Crusade began in earnest; pitting the Catholic Church, the French King and northern France nobles against the Cathars and their supporters. The crusade lasted twenty years; although scattered uprisings continued for another 25 years.
After the surrender of the last Cathar citadel, the Medieval Inquisition was given great power to uproot the heresy. Cathars who refused to recant were sent to the galleys, hanged, or burned at the stake. [1]
[edit] Later history
After the suppression of Catharism, the descendants of Cathars were, in some southern French towns, required to live apart from the main town and its defenses. They thus retained a certain Cathar identity, although they were Catholic in religion. This practice of separation, though increasingly uncommon, finally ended during the French Revolution.[citation needed]
[edit] Catharism today
Any use of the term "Cathar" to refer to people after the suppression of Catharism in the fourteenth century is a cultural or ancestral reference, and has no religious implication. Nevertheless, interest in the Cathars, their history, legacy and beliefs continues. Also, the Cathars have been depicted in popular books such as Holy Blood, Holy Grail as a group of elite nobility somehow connected to "secrets" about the true nature of the Christian faith, although there is no critical proof of such secrets being kept.
[edit] Pays Cathare
The term Pays Cathare (French meaning "Land of the Cathars" or "Cathar country" ) is used to highlight the Cathar heritage and history of the region where Catharism was traditionally strongest. This area is centered around towns such as Montsegur and Carcassonne; also the French département of the Aude uses the title Pays Cathare in tourist brochures.[2] These areas have ruins from the wars against the Cathars which are still visible today.
Some criticise the promotion of the identity of Pays Cathare as an exaggeration for tourist purposes.
[edit] Modern-day Cathars and Catharism
Some of the locals in the Pays Cathare region identify themselves as Cathars even today. They claim to be descended from the Cathars of the Middle Ages. It can be safely assumed that many local people have at least some ancestors who were Cathars.
There are also people alive today who espouse the Cathar religion, either in the Pays Cathare or elsewhere.[3][4]
Cathar Heretics was also the name of a Toronto punk band formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Richard Menich and bassist Larry Kiff (nee Wayne), joined later by drummer David Bedard. They were among the last artists to play the revered Larry's Hideaway. Their hits include "Barbies From Hell", "War Regime" and "Tear Down the Walls". They disbanded in 1987.
[edit] See also
- Catharism
- Paulicianism
- Bogomils
- Albigensian Crusade
- Medieval Inquisition
- Cathar castles
- The Templar Revelation
- Cathar Heretics Punk Band
[edit] External links
- The Cathars of the Languedoc in the South of France Origins, history, theology, suppression and modern vestiges.
- The Cathars. Philosophy of the catharism by the philosopher Yves Maris.
- Cathar and counter-Cathar writings from Gnosis.org
- Cathar Center
[edit] References
- ^ Martin, Sean (2005). The Cathars. Pocket Essentials, pp. 105-121. ISBN 1-904048-56-0.
- ^ Pays Cathare
- ^ Modern Cathars with links to modern Cathar groups
- ^ Cathar Net
