The Yellow Cross: The Story of the Last Cathars

The Yellow Cross: The Story of the Last Cathars

A brilliant exploration of the medieval community that, with almost miraculous psychological fortitude and strength of faith, defied the Catholic Church and the Inquisition.

The Cathars, whose religion was based on the Gospels but contradicted the orthodoxy of Rome, resided in what is now southwest France. In the early thirteenth century, they became the focus of systematic repression by both the monarchy and the Church, and were forced to wear the yellow cross, the original hereticsâ€™ symbol of shame. In successive waves of brutal persecution, thousands of Cathars were captured, summarily tried, and burned at the stake. Yet so ardent was the faith of their community that during the years 1290 to 1320 the Cathars rose up one last time.

RenÃ© Weis tells the full story of these thirty years with the aid of remarkably detailed documentationâ€”including previously untapped trial records, verbatim notes of interrogations, and minutes of the Inquisitorsâ€”as well as his own intimate knowledge of the last Catharsâ€™ hiding places, many of which survive to this day. It is a rich medieval tale of faith, adventure, sex, and courage that is miraculously true in every detail.

Authoritative, eminently readable, andpeopled with indelible charactersâ€”almost 250 of them, from a charismatic, beautiful chÃ¢telaine and a double-dealing priest to a loquacious, heroic shepherd and a merciless bishopâ€”The Yellow Cross is a exceptionally vivid re-creation of a fascinating, and otherwise lost, world.
Country USA
Brand Knopf
Manufacturer Knopf
Binding Hardcover
ReleaseDate 2001-04-10
UnitCount 1
EANs 9780375404900

Country	USA
Brand	Knopf
Manufacturer	Knopf
Binding	Hardcover
ReleaseDate	2001-04-10
UnitCount	1
EANs	9780375404900