Carcassonne: Did you mean...?

A section of the fortifications of Carcassonne, southern France.

A 15th century CE illustration showing the expulsion of the Cathars heretics from Carcassonne during the Albigensian Crusade in southern France (1209-1229 CE). (British Library, London)

Hoardings - wooden additions to a medieval tower or wall to protect defenders and give a better line of fire towards the wall below. 13-14th century CE. Carcassonne, Aude, France.

The Albigensian Crusade (aka Cathars' Crusade, 1209-1229 CE), was the first crusade to specifically target heretic Christians - the Cathars of southern France. Not successful in repressing the heresy, the on-off campaigns over two decades...

The AHE team live and breathe history, but we all have our favourite historical periods and authors. We thought it would be fun for each of us to nominate one or two books that we would recommend for the general reader as well as high school...

The Cathars (also known as Cathari from the Greek Katharoi for “pure ones”) were a dualist medieval religious sect of Southern France which flourished in the 12th century and challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. They were also...

Marie Durand (c. 1715-1776) stands apart in French Protestant history for her courage in the struggle for freedom of conscience. She was imprisoned for 38 years in the Tower of Constance at Aigues-Mortes in the south of France, liberated...

The Last of the Merovingians, oil on canvas by Évariste Vital Luminais, late 19th century. The painting depicts a young Merovingian having his hair cut. Known as the "Long-Haired Kings", the Merovingians' long hair symbolized their right...