The Albigensian Crusade [Paperback]

Jonathan Sumption (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2000

An extraordinary portrait of thirteenth-century Languedoc as well as of the savage war fought within its borders over the future of Christianity

In the twelfth century, Languedoc, in the far south, was among the most beautiful parts of France, far away from the world of the feudal north. However, it was in this rich region that a heresy of Eastern origin took hold, forcing the Catholic Church to confront a rival whose teachings questioned the foundations of Christian thought. These heretics, called Cathars, held a profoundly pessimistic view of the world that was based on the duality of all things, including good and evil: according to one heretic, "The one, the good God, made the invisible world, while the other, the evil God, made the visible one."

Jonathan Sumption's acclaimed history examines the roots of this heresy as well as of the crusade the Church undertook in 1208 to stamp out the infidels, who ultimately were conquered by the Catholic armies. But this book does more than simply describe this terrible war; it reconstructs a lost world of great cultural richness, one that saw the creation in Languedoc of the troubadour tradition as well as the magnificent castles at Cabaret and Carcassonne.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An admirably luicid account of the tragic demise of Languedoc's unique civilisation . . . Scholarship carried with élan."--R.L. Storey, The Times (London)

"Excellent . . . A model of sound history written with style and intelligence for the non-specialist reader."--Listener

"Sumption writes with fluent scholarship and with amiable and ironic succinctness. He never fails to keep his narrative lively with the particular and the pertinent. He is excellent on the tactics and spirit of medieval warfare."
--Frederic Raphael, Sunday Times

About the Author

Jonathan Sumption is the author of Trial by Battle and Trial by Fire, the first two volumes of his history of the Hundred Years' War. He lives in England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (June 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571200028
• ISBN-13: 978-0571200023
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #502,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent narrative, rich detail...., December 26, 2000

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Albigensian Crusade (Paperback)

THE ALBIGENSIAN CRUSADE by Jonathan Sumption is an extremely well written and readable book. Sumption was a history fellow at Magdalene College until 1975, and his historical training shows. His writing is accurate, detailed, clear, and concise. He currently serves as a QC practicing commercial law, but thank goodness he takes time away from his day job to write history. I will certainly read some of his other works. Sumption's book on the Albigensian Crusade(s) was first published in 1978, but never fear, his material is as current today as it was 22 years ago.

I found the sections describing the series of confusing battles de Montfort fought in Languedoc from Beziers to Murat, as well as the ever changing loyalties of the southern nobiliy and the mood swings of the Catholic Church quite easy to follow. He writes in a brisk style that provided me, a non-military enthusiast, with enough information to understand what took place without dampening my tiny enthusiasm for battle. In addition to his very rich text, Sumption's book is filled articulate maps showing the various sites where Simon de Montfort waged his crusader war. If you're about to visit Languedoc, this is the book to take along.

Sumption writes like Stephen Ambrose. Both provide on-the-ground detail while they simultaneously explain what was going on back at headquarters (Rome in Sumption's book). They personalize the impersonal. You also come to understand why leadership is so critical, why troops matter, why casualties happen inspite of the best plans, and just how wonderful De Montfort's tactical manuevering really was.(Yes, I know Ike was a strategist.)

Sumption writes dynamic and interesting passages, but he eschews the sensationalism found in O'Shea's book on this topic. Although Sumption's book provides some background on the Cathar heresy, it does not contain the detail of Lambert's book THE CATHERS. Read Lambert's book and Sumption's book on the crusades and you will have a very good understanding of what took place in the 13th Century in Languedoc.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrible war, November 1, 2000

By 

Chris Johnson - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Albigensian Crusade (Paperback)

Anyone of Huguenot extraction knows that the French have traditionally been rather rough on the religiously unorthodox. This book tells the story of France's most savage crusade, its war against the dualist Cathars of Languedoc and those who sheltered and supported them. But the Albigensian Crusade, as this book points out, was more than a war against heretics; it changed the king of France from a regional lord to a great European power.

Jonathan Sumption tells this story as well as I've ever read it. His research is meticulous and he never fails to be interesting. This is an excellent contribution to the subject as well as a fascinating read. Highly recommended.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on a tragic period, April 16, 2001

By 

Rodrigo Fenton (Mexico City, Mexico D.F. Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Albigensian Crusade (Paperback)

I stumbled on this book in a library in England, and since I've read all the important works on the Levant Crusades, I decided to check out the Crusades on Europe. The book is extraordinary, explaining the chain of events since the advent of the Cathars into Southern France to the creation of the Inqusition and the anexation of Tolousse into the French crown. You feel the despair in the Albigensian nobles, from almost certain defeat, to the joy of victory to the final summision by the French Crown. The military genius of Simon de Monfort, the indecisions of the Count Raymund, the greediness of the papal prelates are among the many pictures you see. Tha Author did an extraordinary job to fill the voids where no history has been written with creativity (read the notes to each chapter). If you are looking for a book that gives you the general outlook of the Albigensian Crusade, get this one.