Albigensian

A branch of the medieval Cathars in Southern France; its main center was at Toulouse but another place of activity was Albi, hence its name given by the Council of Tours in 1163. The sect was regarded as a serious threat by the Catholic Church: Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) failed to convert these Christian dualist heretics and Simon de Montfort led a savage Crusade (the Albigensian Crusade) against them until 1218. The Dominican Inquisition also sought to eliminate the sect.