This month, on July 21, sees the 817th anniversary of the Massacre at Béziers as part of the Catholic Church’s attempt to eradicate the Cathars – known as the Albigensian heresy. Cistercian abbot Arnaud Amalric besieged the town of Béziers, which was populated by both Catholics and Cathars.
Amalric’s troops confronted the townspeople – Catholics and Cathars together – with many of the Catholics shielding their Cathar neighbours. When asked how to sift the wheat from the chaff, Amalric famously replied: “Kill them all. God will sort them out.”
