Albigenses
The Albigenses
They were known as the "Cathari" or "Puritans" of that time period, having
been organized in Southern France about 1170. They strongly opposed the Roman
Catholic Church, called for reforms, and circulated the New Testament as widely as
possible. Pope Innocent III called for a crusade against them in 1208, even
after many of their numbers had been burned at the stake. There were many more
crusades against them until they were finally exterminated.