Editing Albigensian Crusade (section)

====Toulouse====
To repel the Crusaders, the Cathars turned to [[Peter II of Aragon]] for assistance. Peter II had been crowned King of Aragon by Innocent III in 1204. He fought the [[Moors]] in Spain, and served in the [[Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa]].{{sfn|Barber|2014|p=63}} However, his sister, Eleanor, had married Raymond VI, securing an alliance.{{sfn|Barber|2014|p=54}} Peter was able to use the prestige from his victories in the south against the Moors, along with the persuasion of a delegation sent to Rome, to lead Innocent III to order a halt to the crusade. Innocent trusted Peter and was hoping to bring an end to the Albigensian Crusade to launch a new crusade in the Middle East and to maintain pressure on the Moors. As the Cathars had suffered many defeats, and as those bishops he felt had been too lenient with heresy had been removed, he believed that the time had come to bring peace to the Languedoc. On 15 January 1213, Innocent wrote to Arnaud Amaury, papal legate and newly appointed Bishop of Narbonne, as well as to Montfort. He rebuked Simon for his alleged attacks on Christians and ordered him to restore the lands that he had taken. In addition, Innocent removed most of the crusading indulgences and demanded that Simon and his legates hold a council, listen to Peter, and report their feelings to him.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|pp=89–91}}{{sfn|Madden|2005|p=130}} Peter petitioned the clergy at the Council of Lavaur to restore Raymond's lands, arguing that he was ready to repent. If this was unacceptable, the lands could be placed under the protection of his son while he went on crusade. The council rejected his recommendations, refusing to absolve Raymond and insisting that the lands Peter believed should be returned were still influenced by heresy.{{sfn|Madden|2005|p=130}}

Peter rejected the council's verdict.{{sfn|Madden|2005|p=130}} Concerned that Simon had grown too powerful,{{sfn|Strayer|1971|pp=86–88}} he decided to come to the aid of Toulouse.{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|pp=367–466}} The Crown of Aragon, under Peter II, allied with the County of Toulouse and various other entities to oppose Simon.{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|p=463}} These actions alarmed Innocent, who after hearing from Simon's delegation, denounced Peter and ordered a renewal of the crusade.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|p=92}} On 21 May, he sent Peter a letter severely castigating him for allegedly providing false information, and warning him not to oppose the Crusaders.{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|pp=401–411}} He was threatened with excommunication.{{sfn|Madden|2005|p=130}} The crusade was not restored to its initial status. In April 1213, Innocent issued the papal bull ''[[Quia maior]],'' which called for the [[Fifth Crusade]]. It limited indulgences for those participating in the Albigensian Crusade exclusively to Crusaders from the Languedoc.{{sfn|Tyerman|2006|pp=597–598}}

Peter's coalition force engaged Simon's troops on 12 September in the [[Battle of Muret]]. The Crusaders were heavily outnumbered. Peter and Simon both organized their troops into three lines. The first of the Crusader lines was beaten back, but Simon managed to outflank the coalition cavalry. Peter II was struck down and killed. The coalition forces, hearing of his death, retreated in confusion.{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|p=463}}{{sfn|Wolff|Hazard|1969|p=302}} This allowed Simon's troops to occupy the northern part of Toulouse.{{sfn|Nicholson|2004|p=62}}

It was a serious blow to the resistance, and in 1214 the situation became worse. As the Crusaders continued their advance, Raymond and his son [[Raymond VII of Toulouse]] were forced to flee to England.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|p=102}} King John of England was wary of the crusade due to Simon's loyalty to the French crown. He visited the Languedoc, and though direct confrontation between English troops and Crusaders was usually avoided, a contingent of King John's soldiers did help defend [[Marmande]] against the Crusaders in 1214. In 1214, Philip won a major victory against the English-German alliance at the [[Battle of Bouvines]], helping to solidify the success of the Albigensian Crusade.{{sfn|Tyerman|2006|p=595}} In November, Simon de Montfort entered Périgord{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|pp=528–534}} and easily captured the castles of [[Domme, Dordogne|Domme]]{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|p=529}} and [[Château de Montfort|Montfort]];{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|p=530}} he also occupied Castlenaud and destroyed the fortifications of [[Beynac]].{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|pp=533–534}} In 1215, Castelnaud was recaptured by Montfort,{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|p=569}} and the Crusaders entered Toulouse.{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|pp=554–559, 573}} The town paid an indemnity of 30,000 marks.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|p=134}} Toulouse was gifted to Montfort.{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|pp=554–559, 573}} The [[Fourth Council of the Lateran]] in 1215 solidified Crusader control over the area by officially proclaiming Simon the Count of Toulouse.{{sfn|Lock|2006|p=165}} It proclaimed that all of the lands of Raymond VI that previously had been conquered by the crusade would be placed under the control of Simon IV de Montfort, and that the lands which had not yet been conquered would be placed under the protection of the Church until Raymond VII was old enough to govern them.{{sfn|Strayer|1971|pp=102–103}} The council also once again called for a new crusade in the Middle East, which dried up recruits for the Albigensian Crusade, forcing Simon to rely increasingly heavily on mercenaries.{{sfn|Madden|2005|p=131}}