When we think of the Crusades, we think of wars with Muslim armies in the Middle East. But at least one Crusade took place in Europe and the opponents were not Muslims. This was the Crusade against the Cathars, also known as the Albigensian Crusade which took place in the thirteenth century.
Who were the Cathars? The problem is that most of our knowledge comes from those who were trying to kill them and so they had a reason for painting them as bad as possible.
Tom Holland, on the Rest is History podcast (one of my favourite podcasts) offers a different perspective on the Cathars. I found this discussion very interesting.
