Waldenses
The Waldensians
This group was found around 1170, about the same time as the Albigenses, by a
man named Peter Waldo. He was a rich merchant in Lyons, Southern France and
circulated the Bible through his business. He wrote many tracts against the
Catholic church. He deposed of his property, took a vow of poverty and gathered a
group of likeminded men to go around preaching. They were known as "the poor men
of Lyons," and later as Waldenses. The movement spread rapidly until Pope Lucius
III excommunicated them in 1184 and officially condemned them as heritics
along with the Albigenses.
In 1229 the Council of Toulouse decreed to forcefully suppress the heresy. The
inquisition came down upon the Waldenses with great force. They were
eventually driven from France where they escaped to caves in the valleys of Northern
Italy. Peter Waldo died about 1217 but his movement has survived until the present
day.