The Albigensian Crusade
Phase One: Béziers
A large crusading army assembled July 1209. Its first target was Béziers. Raymond-Roger Trencavel, one of the leaders of the resistance, fortified Carcassonne.
Mass slaughter at Béziers ends only when the fire drives the crusaders out. When the crusaders asked Arnold-Aimery whom to kill, he said "Kill them all. God will know his own."
Terror seizes the land. Narbonne submits, and the army passes through a series of empty, abandoned towns.
Carcassonne was invested in August. The city submitted after a short, brutal siege. The citizens leave, "taking nothing with them but their sins."
The conquered lands were given to Simon of Montfort. At the end of 40 days, the bulk of the army goes home. Simon is left with a few mercenaries in a hostile land. Simon is able, ambitious, zealous and unscrupulous.