Editing Medieval Inquisition (section)

===Legatine inquisitions===
The spread of other movements from the 12th century can be seen at least in part as a reaction to the increasing [[moral corruption]] of the clergy, which included [[illegal marriage]]s and the possession of extreme wealth.
In the Middle Ages, the Inquisition's main focus was to eradicate these new sects. Thus, its range of action was predominantly in Italy and France, where the [[Cathars]] and the [[Waldensians]], the two main heretic movements of the period, were.

Bishops always had the authority to look into alleged heretical activity, but as it wasn't always clear what constituted heresy they conferred with their colleagues and sought advice from Rome. Legates were sent out, at first as advisors, later taking a greater role in the administration.<ref name="Deanesly" />

During the pontificate of [[Pope Innocent III|Innocent III]], papal legates were sent out to stop the spread of the Cathar and Waldensian heresies to Provence and up the Rhine into Germany.<ref name="Deanesly" /> Procedures began to be formalized by time of [[Pope Gregory IX]].

====Cathars====
The [[Catharism|Cathars]] were a group of dissidents mostly in the South of France, in cities like [[Toulouse]]. The sect developed in the 12th century,{{sfn|Peter of les Vaux de Cernay|1998|p=5}} apparently founded by soldiers from the [[Second Crusade]], who, on their way back, were converted by a Bulgarian sect, the [[Bogomils]].

The Cathars' main heresy was their belief in dualism:<ref name=medieval>{{Cite web |url=http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/medieval/francis/inquisition.htm |title="Medieval Inquisition", Univ. of St. Thomas |access-date=2013-06-24 |archive-date=2013-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602042126/http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/medieval/francis/inquisition.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> the evil God created the materialistic world and the good God created the spiritual world. Therefore, Cathars preached poverty, chastity, modesty and all those values which in their view helped people to detach themselves from [[Economic materialism|materialism]]. The Cathars presented a problem to feudal government by their attitude towards oaths, which they declared under no circumstances allowable.<ref name="blotzer">{{Cite web|title=Catholic Encyclopedia: Inquisition|url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm|access-date=2020-06-23|website=www.newadvent.org|archive-date=2019-05-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507115121/http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Therefore, considering the religious homogeneity of that age, heresy was an attack against social and political order, besides orthodoxy.<ref name=idis>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alleanzacattolica.org/idis_dpf/english/i_medieval_inquisition.htm |title=Pappalardo, Francesco. "Medieval Inquisition", Istituto per la Dottrina e l'Informazione Sociale |access-date=2013-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211075814/http://www.alleanzacattolica.org/idis_dpf/english/i_medieval_inquisition.htm |archive-date=2013-12-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Albigensian Crusade]] resulted in the defeat of the Cathars militarily. After this, the Inquisition played an important role in finally destroying Catharism during the 13th and much of the 14th centuries.{{sfn|Sumption|1978|pp=230–232}} Punishments for Cathars varied greatly. Most frequently, they were made to wear yellow crosses atop their garments as a sign of outward penance. Others undertook obligatory pilgrimages, many for the purpose of fighting against [[Muslim]]s. Another common punishment, including for returned pilgrims, was visiting a local church naked once each month to be scourged. Cathars who were slow to repent suffered imprisonment and, often, the loss of property. Others who altogether refused to repent were burned.{{sfn|Costen|1997|p=173}}

====Waldensians====
The [[Waldensians]] were mostly in [[Germany]] and North [[Italy]]. The [[Waldensians]] were a group of orthodox laymen concerned about the increasing wealth of the Church. As time passed, however, they found their beliefs at odds with Catholic teaching.<ref name=medieval/> In contrast with the Cathars and in line with the Church, they believed in only one [[God]], but they did not recognize a special class of priesthood, believing in the priesthood of all believers. They also objected to the veneration of [[saints]] and [[martyrs]], which were part of the Church's orthodoxy. They rejected the sacramental authority of the Church and its clerics and encouraged [[apostolic poverty]].<ref>Peters, Edward (1988). ''Inquisition''. New York London: Free Press Collier Macmillan. p. 43 {{ISBN|9780029249802}}</ref> These movements became particularly popular in Southern France as well as Northern Italy and other parts of [[Holy Roman Empire]].