A belief or opinion that does not agree with the official belief or opinion of a particular religion.

Organization hailed by Cathars as a creation of Satan designed to lead the masses astray

The group that saw the Catholic Church as the ultimate evil even before they were crusaded against in the Albigensian Crusade

Crusader leader in the Albigensian Crusade, he abandoned the 4th Crusade after Zara

Suspected of ordering the death of the Papal Legate Peter of Casternau, he started the Albigensian Crusade by defying Innocent III

The region of France where Catharism was most prominent

Basic members of the Cathar ideology; they often chose not follow its teachings

Famous Pope that called for the Fourth Crusade and the Albigensian Crusade

Leader of the German section of the 'Children's Crusade'; claimed that he would walk to the sea and it would part for him paving his path to Jerusalem

One of the few survivors of Hattin, he survived by charging straight into Saladin's army; he also urged King Guy not to attack Saladin even though his wife was besieged by Saladin's army

The area where the Teutonic Order fought at the bequest of Conrad of Poland

Theological idea preached by Innocent III to inspire Crusaders; believed to be a fiction by Cathars

Women couldn't fight in crusades but they were encouraged by Innocent III to do this to aid the cause; this idea would spark the Protestant Reformation

The great crusader hero of Las Navas de Tolosa, he declared the Albigensians under his protection against Innocent III and Simon of Montfort

Signed away his family lands to end the Albigensian Crusade; much better Count of Toulouse than his father, who was also named Raymond

Leader of the Cathars and Count of Toulouse in 1194 when Innocent III orders him to return to the Church.

A Cathar of the highest order who can perform Cathar rituals; sworn never to sin, eat meat or eggs, or have sex

Monastic Order comparable to Cathar "Perfects" except that they preached Catholic Orthodoxy

Crusading monarchs who completed the Reconquista with their conquest of Granada

Viscount of Beziers and Carcasonne who refused to join the Albigensian Crusade; a vassal of Raymond VI of Toulouse

Alternate name for Catharism

The ritual that makes one a "Perfect", compared to baptism and ordination; usually performed before death

Term of service for most Albigensian Crusaders; also the typical number of days of service owed to a feudal lord

Highmaster of the Teutonic Order who shifted his Order's focus from the Holy Land to Eastern Europe, led his men in the Baltic Crusade

Family name of the Counts of Toulouse before and during the Albigensian Crusade; they were replaced by the house of Alphonse of Poitiers after the Crusade