Medieval Kingdoms Total War: The County of Toulouse
The County of Toulouse
The Languedoc is a region divided between many masters. Its lords are split between loyalties to magnates in France, Spain, and elsewhere. Weak central authority and a tolerant culture has facilitated the growth of heresy in the region, a dualist philosophy known as Catharism. By the 13th Century, many among the nobility and peasant classes had converted to this heresy, and it was firmly entrenched, despite the best efforts of the Papacy to eradicate it. At this time, it may even have been the dominant religion in the area, and numerous chroniclers lament the fear that it might replace Catholicism in Languedoc completely.
Relations with Rome reached the breaking point in 1208, when the Papal Legate, Peter of Castelnau excommunicated Count Raymond VI of Toulouse. While gathering a league of local barons to root out the Cathar heresy, the Legate was assassinated, leaving Pope Innocent III no choice but to call the princes of Europe to arms against the Cathars. The Albigensian Crusade had begun.
The crusade was popular initially, and men flocked from all over Europe to destroy the Albigensians (so-named for the Viscounty of Albi, the region where the heresy was strongest). The crusaders were led by Simon de Montfort, an experienced commander fresh from service in Holy Land with the Fourth Crusade. Simon experienced much initial success, taking numerous towns and castles, and massacring Cathars by the hundreds.
The situation for Toulouse has become desperate. Peter II of Aragon has marched North with his army to the aid of Toulouse. Simon has accepted the challenge, and as the two armies draw toward the fateful battlefield at Muret, echoes of the words spoken at Béziers ring in the minds of crusader and heretic alike: "Kill them all. God will know his own."
Units
The Toulousians
Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse
Though finding himself against the crusading forces, Raymond is not a Cathar himself. Nevertheless, he feels an obligation to protect the rights of his vassals in Toulouse, which he feels have been unjustly violated by the ambitions of the Papacy.
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Primi Milites
The elite shock troops. Knights and men at arms of the highest caliber, with the best equipment money can buy.
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Milites Gregarii
Well-equipped troops who, for one reason or another, are unable to provide themselves with a horse to take into battle. These form a solid line of shock infantry.
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Servientes Equites
Valets, squires, or sergeants, typically in the service of a knight, often riding one of his master’s three to four horses and providing support in battle.
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Armati
Heavily-armed support troops made up of valets, sergeants, and squires.
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Scutiferi
Shield-bearers and lance-bearers who support the more heavily-armed knights.
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Pedites
Urban troops called upon to fulfill their feudal duty to their lord.
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Balistarii Equites
Mounted crossbowmen
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Balistarii
Crossbowmen
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Couleuvriniers
Handgunners
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Albigensians
Raymond II Trencavel, Count of Carcassonne
Known simply as ‘Trencavel’ in most charters, Raymond’s father Raymond Roger died in prison in 1209, a captive of the crusaders. The Trencavel family’s dominions included Beziers and Albi, the heartland of the Cathar heresy. This made them the primary target of Simon de Montfort’s initial campaigns in Languedoc. Though most of his father’s lands have been awarded to de Montfort, Trencavel is determined to regain his birthright, and restore his family to their rightful place among the nobility of Languedoc.
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Primi Milites Perfecti
Cathars did not recognize the legitimacy of any formal clergy. They distinguished between themselves as believers and “Perfecti,” (The Perfect) a special group who were believed to have special knowledge revealed to them. This unit is not necessarily historical, but represents nobles who had converted to Catharism. Their black and white colors were a deliberate choice to represent the dualist beliefs of Catharism, which believed in two Gods, a ‘Good’ God and a ‘bad’ God.
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Milites Perfecti
Heavy Cathar foot knights
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Servientes Equites Cathari
Cathar Melee Cavalry
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Armati Cathari
Cathar Foot Soldiers
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Reply With Quote
a nice Romance faction! Love those painted helmets! A pretty disting faction I may say! Keep up the good work Sir! 
Originally Posted by Visarion
