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Chapter 112: Cathars, Waldensians and the War for the Throne of Neustria
Western Europe is a rather dangerous place in the thirteenth century. Guyany is a place striven by religious division, as is Burgundy as well. Further northwards, religion is not the main source of conflict. Warfare over there is fed by competing claims over the crowns of England and Neustria alike.
Guyany is one of the most culturally developed parts of Western Europe, especially ancient Septimania, with its culture of troubadours and urban heritage dating back to Roman times. Although not as populous as northern Italy, it is still relatively highly urbanized in comparison to Neustria. Commerce along the Mediterranean has especially transformed Septimania into a highly prosperous region, and Jews, Catholics and Cathars alike enjoy relative high level of tolerance. With written Visigothic law still valid in this part of the world, women enjoy a considerably higher status than in other parts of feudal society.
View attachment 533954
Castles in Guyany were built in largely inaccessible terrain
Catharism as a major religious movement in Guyany has begun in the 12th century already; by the end of the 13th century it has become widespread not only throughout Guyany, but their teaching was spreading also into Neustria and Navarre. The teachings of Catharism were noted to be very close to Manichean positions; especially in their dualist position, saying that the kingdom of God lies in heaven, while the earthly realm is described as the realm of evil. The Cathars did not acknowledge the extant sacraments of the Catholic Church, their most distinguishable sacrament was the consolamentum, upon which a credente (believer) becomes a bonhomme, also known as Perfect, which were required to live in celibacy and practice vegetarianism – very much comparable to the Manichean Elect.
View attachment 533948
Religion in western Europe Darker blue is Catharism, lighter blue is Waldensianism
The embracement of Catharism by the dukes of Septimania and Tolosa however leads to a backlash in Bordeú, where the dukes of Gascony are staunchly Catholic. Guyany thus continues to experience prolonged periods of warfare between the kings at Tolosa and their displeased Catholic vassals, the Dukes of Gascony, seated in Bordeú. The city at the mouth of the Garonne is known not only for its famous wines, but also for its long rivalry with Tolosa, and the Catholic Dukes of Gascony thus, conspiring with the Dukes of Poiteu, have waged war against the “Heretic King” of Tolosa. The “Heretic King” has rallied his vassals, the lords of Albi, Arvernia, Foix, as well as a few volounteers from Rosello, and defeated the Catholic zealots on the Lot River.
The kingdom of the Two Burgundies on the other hand sees a division of the realm, with Burgundy splitting into an Upper Burgundian kingdom based in Lyon and a lower Burgundian kingdom of Provence with its capital shifting from Arles to Marselha. Apart from religious divisions, caused by the spread of Waldensianism in Upper Burgundy and the predominance of Catholicism in Lower Burgundy, there were also other factors in place, such as the variation in the tongue of the peoples inhabiting the distinct regions. In the later part of the 13th century, Provence, this staunchly Catholic realm becomes part of the lands of the crown of Navarre, which has come to dominate the Ebro Valley in the Iberian Peninsula.
View attachment 533956
The Cross of Burgundy is the well-known flag of this realm
Waldensianism has become the religion of the King of Burgundy, and subsequently many of his nobles and courtiers accepted the teachings of Pierre Waldo. What Waldo called for was ascetic apostolic poverty, and declared the teaching of the purgatory and the veneration of saints as nonsense
Neustria sees prolonged warfare between the royalists, controlling the eastern parts of the realm and an Angevin-Burgundian alliance. Upper Burgundy has extended their control also to Ducal Burgundy around Dijon; Angevin control over Neustria is limited at first ot the western lands of Armorica, between the Loire and Seine rivers, consisting of Brittany, Anjou, Maine and Tourraine.
View attachment 533950
A political map of western Europe. Notice the Angevin position in Armorica
The Angevin king has found a claim to the throne of Neustria, and seeks to become its king. The result is the War of the Throne of Neustria (1). This war is one of the largest conflicts in the medieval world in Western Europe and displays the extensive deployment of armoured knights. When speaking of medieval feudal warfare, many people actually think of the War for the Throne of Neustria. While the heavily armoured knights in shining plate armour were iconic, they were defeated by another brilliant force – the English longbowman. England fielded vast numbers of archers, who were lightly armed and in case of injury were able to escape much faster than the heavily armed Neustrian knights, once shot down and wounded had trouble escaping the battlefield.
Crucial for the English success in the War for the Throne of Neustria was their conquest of Artois. This region, connecting Normandy and Flanders has been crucial for Neustria as it has been their only sea access. Once Artois and especially the valued port of Calais was in Angevin hands, and the Burgundians had joined from the south as well, Neustria was effectively defeated, and was to give up the region of Orleans on the Loire Valley as well. The landmark treaty of Arras (1284) sees Orleans, Bourbon and Blois returned to Neustria; however Artois and Calais as well as much of Picardy is to become part of the Angevin realm
Incidentally, Neustria also witnesses the spread of Catharism in their own territories – mainly in Nevers and Artois.
For the Angevin monarchs, their domains south of the Channel were as important for them as their domains to its north, if not more. True enough, their title begins with being “King of England, and Normandy, Brittany were mere duchies. Ultimately, king Edward declares himself “King of Armorica” – “Roy d´ Armorique”.
Angevin expansion is also targeted westwards, where Dumnonia is conquered in a rather short campaign; success in Devon has inspired the Angevin kings to try their luck in Cambria as well. Advance into Cambria is slow, and the Cambrians offer fierce resistance. The Welsh are led by a charismatic leader, named Llywelyn (2).
View attachment 533952
Glamorgan experiences an influx of Latinate knights from Armorica , speaking a dialect called Gallo, as well as Normans, who have established their fortresses in southern Glamorgan, and this influx of Latinate speakers ghas managed to keep the Romance language of Britain alive
At first, the English defeat the Cambrian knights, or at least their best imitation thereof, at the Battle of the Severn, where the King of Wales is killed as well. The English proceed and occupy the lowland region of eastern Powys and Glamorgan. However, Gwynedd sees the rise of Llywelyn, master-at-arms of the duke of Gwynedd, who himself has been killed in battle, while his heir is only a minor.
Llywelyn manages to convince his fellow countrymen and unites them in their struggle against the English, putting away old disputes. While the lowlands of Glamorgan are occupied by Norman and Angevin knights, the Cambrians are never truly subdued in the hills, using the terrain to their advantage.
View attachment 533953
The Cambrian Mountains. This hilly landscape was the bastion of Llywelyn´s resistance
The English have suffered a number of defeats in the hills, and Llywelyn leads an expeditionary force, devastating Lancashire and Merseyside, before turning southwards into the Severn Valley. Ultimately the kings are forced to accept the reality and independence of Cambria, even though the border is pushed in favour of the English.
Alba, in the north of the island, continues its struggle against the Norse in the Kingdom of the Isles. The kings of Alba are seated in Perth in the Fife, and the country struggles as continued feuds between the various clans and lords of the Highlands continue. Gaelic culture is vibrant in Alba, although some of the burghs are populated by settlers mainyl from Flanders and Denmark, bringing in their dialects and influencing the Anglish varieties spoken in Lothian.
View attachment 533955
A Medieval warlord of Alba
Ireland remains disunited, although the number of competing has reduced throughout the 13th century to five. Connaught has become the domineering force of Gaelic Ireland, while other polities include Munster and Tir Eogain. Scottish lords have taken over control over western parts of Ulster, in their vision to unite the Gaelic peoples. And last, but not least, we have Leinster, ruled by the Norse-Irish, controlling the south-eastern parts of the country.
Guyany is one of the most culturally developed parts of Western Europe, especially ancient Septimania, with its culture of troubadours and urban heritage dating back to Roman times. Although not as populous as northern Italy, it is still relatively highly urbanized in comparison to Neustria. Commerce along the Mediterranean has especially transformed Septimania into a highly prosperous region, and Jews, Catholics and Cathars alike enjoy relative high level of tolerance. With written Visigothic law still valid in this part of the world, women enjoy a considerably higher status than in other parts of feudal society.
View attachment 533954
Castles in Guyany were built in largely inaccessible terrain
Catharism as a major religious movement in Guyany has begun in the 12th century already; by the end of the 13th century it has become widespread not only throughout Guyany, but their teaching was spreading also into Neustria and Navarre. The teachings of Catharism were noted to be very close to Manichean positions; especially in their dualist position, saying that the kingdom of God lies in heaven, while the earthly realm is described as the realm of evil. The Cathars did not acknowledge the extant sacraments of the Catholic Church, their most distinguishable sacrament was the consolamentum, upon which a credente (believer) becomes a bonhomme, also known as Perfect, which were required to live in celibacy and practice vegetarianism – very much comparable to the Manichean Elect.
View attachment 533948
Religion in western Europe Darker blue is Catharism, lighter blue is Waldensianism
The embracement of Catharism by the dukes of Septimania and Tolosa however leads to a backlash in Bordeú, where the dukes of Gascony are staunchly Catholic. Guyany thus continues to experience prolonged periods of warfare between the kings at Tolosa and their displeased Catholic vassals, the Dukes of Gascony, seated in Bordeú. The city at the mouth of the Garonne is known not only for its famous wines, but also for its long rivalry with Tolosa, and the Catholic Dukes of Gascony thus, conspiring with the Dukes of Poiteu, have waged war against the “Heretic King” of Tolosa. The “Heretic King” has rallied his vassals, the lords of Albi, Arvernia, Foix, as well as a few volounteers from Rosello, and defeated the Catholic zealots on the Lot River.
The kingdom of the Two Burgundies on the other hand sees a division of the realm, with Burgundy splitting into an Upper Burgundian kingdom based in Lyon and a lower Burgundian kingdom of Provence with its capital shifting from Arles to Marselha. Apart from religious divisions, caused by the spread of Waldensianism in Upper Burgundy and the predominance of Catholicism in Lower Burgundy, there were also other factors in place, such as the variation in the tongue of the peoples inhabiting the distinct regions. In the later part of the 13th century, Provence, this staunchly Catholic realm becomes part of the lands of the crown of Navarre, which has come to dominate the Ebro Valley in the Iberian Peninsula.
View attachment 533956
The Cross of Burgundy is the well-known flag of this realm
Waldensianism has become the religion of the King of Burgundy, and subsequently many of his nobles and courtiers accepted the teachings of Pierre Waldo. What Waldo called for was ascetic apostolic poverty, and declared the teaching of the purgatory and the veneration of saints as nonsense
Neustria sees prolonged warfare between the royalists, controlling the eastern parts of the realm and an Angevin-Burgundian alliance. Upper Burgundy has extended their control also to Ducal Burgundy around Dijon; Angevin control over Neustria is limited at first ot the western lands of Armorica, between the Loire and Seine rivers, consisting of Brittany, Anjou, Maine and Tourraine.
View attachment 533950
A political map of western Europe. Notice the Angevin position in Armorica
The Angevin king has found a claim to the throne of Neustria, and seeks to become its king. The result is the War of the Throne of Neustria (1). This war is one of the largest conflicts in the medieval world in Western Europe and displays the extensive deployment of armoured knights. When speaking of medieval feudal warfare, many people actually think of the War for the Throne of Neustria. While the heavily armoured knights in shining plate armour were iconic, they were defeated by another brilliant force – the English longbowman. England fielded vast numbers of archers, who were lightly armed and in case of injury were able to escape much faster than the heavily armed Neustrian knights, once shot down and wounded had trouble escaping the battlefield.
Crucial for the English success in the War for the Throne of Neustria was their conquest of Artois. This region, connecting Normandy and Flanders has been crucial for Neustria as it has been their only sea access. Once Artois and especially the valued port of Calais was in Angevin hands, and the Burgundians had joined from the south as well, Neustria was effectively defeated, and was to give up the region of Orleans on the Loire Valley as well. The landmark treaty of Arras (1284) sees Orleans, Bourbon and Blois returned to Neustria; however Artois and Calais as well as much of Picardy is to become part of the Angevin realm
Incidentally, Neustria also witnesses the spread of Catharism in their own territories – mainly in Nevers and Artois.
For the Angevin monarchs, their domains south of the Channel were as important for them as their domains to its north, if not more. True enough, their title begins with being “King of England, and Normandy, Brittany were mere duchies. Ultimately, king Edward declares himself “King of Armorica” – “Roy d´ Armorique”.
Angevin expansion is also targeted westwards, where Dumnonia is conquered in a rather short campaign; success in Devon has inspired the Angevin kings to try their luck in Cambria as well. Advance into Cambria is slow, and the Cambrians offer fierce resistance. The Welsh are led by a charismatic leader, named Llywelyn (2).
View attachment 533952
Glamorgan experiences an influx of Latinate knights from Armorica , speaking a dialect called Gallo, as well as Normans, who have established their fortresses in southern Glamorgan, and this influx of Latinate speakers ghas managed to keep the Romance language of Britain alive
At first, the English defeat the Cambrian knights, or at least their best imitation thereof, at the Battle of the Severn, where the King of Wales is killed as well. The English proceed and occupy the lowland region of eastern Powys and Glamorgan. However, Gwynedd sees the rise of Llywelyn, master-at-arms of the duke of Gwynedd, who himself has been killed in battle, while his heir is only a minor.
Llywelyn manages to convince his fellow countrymen and unites them in their struggle against the English, putting away old disputes. While the lowlands of Glamorgan are occupied by Norman and Angevin knights, the Cambrians are never truly subdued in the hills, using the terrain to their advantage.
View attachment 533953
The Cambrian Mountains. This hilly landscape was the bastion of Llywelyn´s resistance
The English have suffered a number of defeats in the hills, and Llywelyn leads an expeditionary force, devastating Lancashire and Merseyside, before turning southwards into the Severn Valley. Ultimately the kings are forced to accept the reality and independence of Cambria, even though the border is pushed in favour of the English.
Alba, in the north of the island, continues its struggle against the Norse in the Kingdom of the Isles. The kings of Alba are seated in Perth in the Fife, and the country struggles as continued feuds between the various clans and lords of the Highlands continue. Gaelic culture is vibrant in Alba, although some of the burghs are populated by settlers mainyl from Flanders and Denmark, bringing in their dialects and influencing the Anglish varieties spoken in Lothian.
View attachment 533955
A Medieval warlord of Alba
Ireland remains disunited, although the number of competing has reduced throughout the 13th century to five. Connaught has become the domineering force of Gaelic Ireland, while other polities include Munster and Tir Eogain. Scottish lords have taken over control over western parts of Ulster, in their vision to unite the Gaelic peoples. And last, but not least, we have Leinster, ruled by the Norse-Irish, controlling the south-eastern parts of the country.
- A variation of the Hundred Years´ War
- Who is going to play a role similar to William Wallace in Scotland
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 1.5k