Montsegur and the Mystery of the Cathars

Rating:
Summary: Facts bombarded with speculation and personal bias
Review: Jean Markale has essentially written two books combined into one extremely difficult publication. As it is always the author's prerogative to state his/her opinion on events as they see them, it makes for a very stale read when those opinions impinge on the factual outlay of the history. Markale begins the book with what appears to be a personal account of his emotional trials in reaching the phantom "Montsegur". Meanwhile, the reader is left wondering if the book is actually an autobiography or indeed an historical account. Also, the order in which Markale has chosen to write his book is, for the non-expert, very confusing in that many items of terminology are assumed to be understood prior to their ever being explained. It also needs to be said that the way in which obvious personal attacks are waged against other so-called Cathar historians is not needed, nor does it represent professional authorship. This book is very difficult to finish and goes a long way in dowsing any intellectual fire the reader may have on the subject.

Rating:
Summary: Probably not for the general reader.
Review: Jean Markale's book is very dense-it is a book that will challenge any perceptions you might have about what you know about the late medieval period, philosophy, theology and collectively, the heresies that proliferated before the Protestant Reformation.

I read this French title in translation and thought, stupidly in hindsight, that I was familiar enough with the general topic of the Cathars and their modest place in the history of France and Europe. Ah-how wrong I was! Please don't let me put you off reading Markale's challenging book-just be somewhat aware of what you are in for because the author does not tread lightly over the intricate history of the Cathar theology. For instance in Part 2 he writes in-depth about Cathar philisophical/theological antecedents: the Mazdeans of ancient Persia, the Gnostics, Manicheans and finally the Bulgarian Bogomils. Markale is too wise to stitch a seamless sheet leading inexorably to the flowering of Catharism but he does trace the many common points where these early pre-Christian religions meet and the similarities they share with Catharism.

There is no dross in this book; seemingly every word, every sentence is a brick in the solid wall Markale is building.
His is not a book to skip over and be assured that you will be able to pick up the substance pages-indeed paragraphs-later. It is a book to be savored. His first chapter is one of those wonderfully literary compositions where the reader is left wondering if he/she is reading a wonderful novel or a piece of historical research. In later chapters this trails off but initially it reads like a beatiful piece of literature.

If you have time, background and interest I suggest that you find this wonderful book and enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Probably not for the general reader.
Review: Jean Markale's book is very dense-it is a book that will challenge any perceptions you might have about what you know about the late medieval period: philosophy, theology and collectively, the heresies that proliferated before the Protestant Reformation.

I read this French title in translation and thought, stupidly in hindsight, that I was familiar enough with the general topic of the Cathars and their modest place in the history of France and Europe. Ah-how wrong I was! Please don't let me put you off reading Markale's challenging book-just be somewhat aware of what you are in for because the author does not tread lightly over the intricate history of the Cathar theology. For instance in Part 2 he writes in-depth about Cathar philisophical/theological antecedents: the Mazdeans of ancient Persia, the Gnostics, Manicheans and finally the Bulgarian Bogomils. Markale is too wise to stitch a seamless sheet leading inexorably to the flowering of Catharism but he does trace the many common points where these early pre-Christian religions meet and the similarities they share with Catharism.

There is no dross in this book; seemingly every word, every sentence is a brick in the solid wall Markale is building.
His is not a book to skip over and be assured that you will be able to pick up the substance pages-indeed paragraphs-later. It is a book to be savored. His first chapter is one of those wonderfully literary compositions where the reader is left wondering if he/she is reading a rich novel or a piece of historical research. In later chapters this trails off but initially it reads like a beatiful piece of literature.

If you have time, background and interest I suggest that you find this wonderful book and enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Essential reading for anyone interested in Cathars
Review: On March 16, 1244, after a year-long siege, more than two hundred Cathars were captured in their fortress stronghold of Montsegur in the Pyrenees of southern France and burned alive by troops of the Inquisition.

Montsegur had been home to a community of men, women and children known as the "Cathars", the term itself deriving from the Greek word Katheroi meaning "Pure Ones".

According to legend, one of the secret purposes of Montsegur was to protect the most sacred treasure, the Holy Grail. The safekeeping of the Grail was allegedly part of the function of the Cathars.

Unfortunately all their writings and possessions were burned by the Inquisition along with their bodies in a mass suppression of their culture right across southern France.

They were, it seemed, above all else, a deeply religious people who practiced vegetarianism, non-violence, and tolerance. At the time their influence across Europe was enormous.

The crusade against the Cathars began in 1209 under the Roman Catholic Church. The religious beliefs of the Cathars were in direct opposition to the Catholic reading of the Bible, and their growing power in a forgotten rural part of the empire became a threat.

Although there are a many theories and speculation, it is not exactly known why the Church chose to annihilate the Cathars in this terrible way. The fact the Inquisitors did not arrest and interrogate their targets as they were wont to do, and no official document or charge was levelled against the Cathars, other than the ambiguous "heresy" tag, indicates the Church saw Catharism as a major threat.

Coins and sacred objects left behind by the Cathars were distributed to the conquering army and officials, but according to Inquisition records, the real treasure vanished the night before the sacking.

History has it that four high-ranking Cathars carried a treasure of great importance out of the fortress the night before its fall. They were said to have escaped down the steepest side of the mountain and disappeared.

Speculation still exists about the nature of the treasure and where it may be hidden today. Historians and researchers have sweated over possible contenders for such a relic including sacred texts, uncensored religious writings, or perhaps even the Holy Grail itself.

Many believe that it may still reside in one of the many limestone caves that surround Montsegur, or in an abandoned, water-logged mine in the Ariage.

It was this kind of speculation that led rebel Huguenots of the 17th century and members of Hitler's S.S. to scour Europe for the treasure.

While the subject of the Cathars has been tackled countless times, I believe Jean Markale's book Montsegur and the Mystery of the Cathars is the best.

A poet, philosopher, and experienced historian, Jean Markale doesn't get weighed down by the legends and mythology of the Cathars. He presents a very focused and fascinating treatise with enough detail to satisfy even the most knowledgeable Cathar scholar.

Markale is the author of more than 40 books, including The Templar Treasure at Gisors, The Druids, The Celts, Merlin, and Women of the Celts and has spent years researching pre-Christian and medieval culture and spirituality. His style of writing and research is always clear and direct. His work Montsegur and the Mystery of the Cathars is no different.

The book is in three parts, the first of which is The Sights, a fantastic introduction to the various areas of southern France associated with the Cathars and what it was like to be alive in feudal France.

Part two, Who Were the Cathars?, covers Markale's indepth research into the Cathar sect. He points out that the origins of the Cathar movement can be traced to the missionary work of the Bogomils, a dualistic sect that emerged in south eastern Europe in the 11th century.

Markale presents an enlightening view into their philosophy and practice. He covers Mazdaism, the Manicheaism brought to Gaul in the 8th century by missionaries from Bulgaria, Croatia and Bosnia, and the concept of duality central to the Cathar Gnostics. Markale provides a perceptive understanding of how creeds and religious cultures develop over time.

The third part of the work is titled The Cathar Enigma, and deals with modern-day manifestations of Catharism, its relation to Druidism and Norse culture, and evidence the Cathars built Montsegur as a solar temple.

The last chapter also investigates the connections between the Cathars and the Knights Templar, and of course the enduring legend of the Holy Grail within Montsegur. All of these topics are covered with minimal fantasy and maximum scholarship.

In all, an essential part of any library dealing with the historical relevance of Catharism and the progression of religious thought.


Rating:
Summary: Another pulp history, not as good as Holy Blood, Holy Grail
Review: The book says ostensibly very little about Montsegur or the mystery related to the fall of the castle during the Albigensian crusades. It has a nice section of reviewing some of cites, such as major castles where Cathars, hid from their persecutors; it has a section dedicated to some of the heresies; it expounds on the role of heresies for the society of the middle ages.

I found the book lacking in each of these areas. For those interested in the chronology of events, try "The Albigensian Crusades" by Stryer. Those interested in mysteries should try "Holy Blood, Holy Grail"; those interested in Cathars, should try "The Cathars in Lanquedoc".

Rating:
Summary: An Important Book to Read
Review: This book is about dualism. A dualism is created when a human thinks about two antagonistic principles such as God/Satan, good/evil, light/darkness, mind/body, etc. Markale is a teacher. People who are beginners on the subject of dualism will certainly benefit from Markale's rather simple style of writing. Markale's book focuses on the dualisms used by the Carthars. The thought of the Cathars are very similar to the thoughts of Christians. Unfortunately, the thoughts of the Cathars were silenced by the Inquisition.

I recommend this book because the current good/evil dualism of Christianity is being rejected rapidly by keen Christians. This failing dualism of Christianity, which is also known as Original Sin, is the good/evil story of Adam and Eve told by Moses in the Genesis. Along with the rapid rejection of this Christian dualism, the Christian theory of eschatology will also be rejected by these keen Christians. The loss of the Christian theory of eschatology means that our world has no end, which means that Heaven and Hell are false ideas. All Christian should consider this book in order to prepare for the radical changes that are certain to come in Christianity soon.

Rating:
Summary: An Important Book to Read
Review: This book is about dualism. A dualism is created when a human thinks about two antagonistic principles such as God/Satan, good/evil, light/darkness, mind/body, etc. Markale is a teacher. People who are beginners on the subject of dualism will certainly benefit from Markale's rather simple style of writing. Markale's book focuses on the dualisms used by the Carthars. The thought of the Cathars are very similar to the thoughts of Christians. Unfortunately, the thoughts of the Cathars were silenced by the Inquisition.

I recommend this book because the current good/evil dualism of Christianity is being rejected rapidly by keen Christians. This failing dualism of Christianity, which is also known as Original Sin, is the good/evil story of Adam and Eve told by Moses in the Genesis. Along with the rapid rejection of this Christian dualism, the Christian theory of eschatology will also be rejected by these keen Christians. The loss of the Christian theory of eschatology means that our world has no end, which means that Heaven and Hell are false ideas. All Christian should consider this book in order to prepare for the radical changes that are certain to come in Christianity soon.