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Much of our existing knowledge of the Cathars is derived from their opponents, the writings of the Cathars having been destroyed because of the doctrinal threat they posed to Christian theology. They raised a continued protest against the claimed moral, spiritual and political corruption of the Catholic Church. They claimed their own Apostolic Connection to the early founders of Christianity and saw Rome as having betrayed and corrupted the original purity of the message.
Much of our existing knowledge of the Cathars is derived from their opponents, the writings of the Cathars having been destroyed because of the doctrinal threat they posed to Christian theology. They raised a continued protest against the claimed moral, spiritual and political corruption of the Catholic Church. They claimed their own Apostolic Connection to the early founders of Christianity and saw Rome as having betrayed and corrupted the original purity of the message.


The persecution of the Cathars began in earnest when the crusader army, under the command of the papal legate Arnaud-Amaury, Abbot of Cîteaux attacked the town of Béziers on 22 July 1209. When the Crusaders asked Arnaud, how to tell Cathar from Roman Catholic., his famous reply, recalled by a fellow Cistercian, was "Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius." — “Kill them all, the Lord will recognise His own”.  Prisoners were blinded, dragged behind horses, and used for target practice. What remained of the city was razed by fire. Arnaud, the abbot-commander, wrote to Pope Innocent III: "Today your Holiness, twenty thousand heretics were put to the sword, regardless of rank, age, or sex".[3]
The persecution of the Cathars began in earnest when the crusader army, under the command of the papal legate Arnaud-Amaury. The last known Cathar perfect in Languedoc, Guillaume Bélibaste, was executed in 1321. After the suppression of Catharism, the descendants of Cathars were, in some southern French towns, required to live apart from the main town and its defenses. They thus retained a certain Cathar identity, although they became Catholic in religion.


The last known Cathar perfect in Languedoc, Guillaume Bélibaste, was executed in 1321. After the suppression of Catharism, the descendants of Cathars were, in some southern French towns, required to live apart from the main town and its defenses. They thus retained a certain Cathar identity, although they became Catholic in religion.
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The Crusaders asked papal legate Arnaud-Amaury, Abbot of Cîteaux, how to tell Cathar from Roman Catholic. He replied:
 
''"Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius." — “Kill them all, the Lord will recognise His own”.'' 
 
Prisoners were blinded, dragged behind horses, and used for target practice. What remained of the city was razed by fire. Arnaud wrote to Pope Innocent III and said, ''"Today your Holiness, twenty thousand heretics were put to the sword, regardless of rank, age, or sex".''
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===The Poor Men of Lyons (1173 A.D. +)===
===The Poor Men of Lyons (1173 A.D. +)===