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Religions/Belief Systems - Albigenses
The Albigenses are a French Christian sect, also known as Cathari. They were, from the point of view of the Catholic Church, heretics. The name Albigenses comes from the town of Albi in Provence. They appeared in the 11th century, challenging the Catholic Church as to the true nature of the Christian life. They promoted a lifestyle of extreme asceticism as contrasted with the local clergy. The Albigenses way was adopted by the majority of the population, especially in the area surrounding Toulouse. They were condemned as heretics by Pope Innocent III and exterminated in the Albigensian Crusade (1208-1229).