Minerve Village and the Valley of the River Cesse, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
In 1210 a group of Cathars sought refuge in the village after the massacre of Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade. The village was besieged by Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester. The attacking army besieged the village for six weeks before it capitulated. They set up four catapults around the fortification: three to attack the village, and the largest, Malevoisine, to attack the town's water supply. Eventually the commander of the 200-strong garrison, Viscount Guilhem of Minerve, gave in and negotiated a surrender which saved the villagers and himself after the destruction of the town's main well. However, 140 Cathars refused to give up their faith and were burned to death at the stake on 22
Size: 5670px × 3780px
Location: Minerve Village, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Photo credit: © George Munday / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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