Medieval Kingdoms Total War: County of Toulouse feature

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."

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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Tier 2 (Count of Toulouse)

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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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Pavise Spearmen and Halberdiers



Routiers, Free Companies, Ecorcheurs

The relative impotence of central authority in certain periods is particularly well demonstrated at the end of wars, when troops had to be dismissed. This could be simple, but when circumstances combined at a critical point, it could be difficult for governments to rid themselves of soldiers. In France, this situation arose in three major occasions: with the Routiers of at the turn of the 13^th Century, the Free Companies that ravaged the countryside in the 14^th Century, and the Ecorcheurs that arose after the Treaty of Arras in 1435. These bands would often raid and pillage the periphery of the great kingdoms for years until they were rounded up and defeated by authorities, or simply hired into another army.

Note: I don’t intend for these units to be specific only to Toulouse, and there is possibility for them to be used as rebels and auxiliaries by many other Western European factions.

Ruttae
'Ruttae' is the latin word for Routiers.

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Ruttae Equites

Though rarer, sometimes Routiers were mounted troops. These are a medium shock cavalry unit.

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Pailleri Equites

Pailleri is Latin for "strawmen." It is unclear why bandits were sometimes referred to in this way by chroniclers. Perhaps it was because they wore straw hats, or because they set fire to straw while raiding. This unit is a skirmisher cavalry unit similar in style to Almagovars

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Pailleri

Light melee infantry. Throw a precursor javelin before charging.

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Cothrelli

Cothrelli is another term sometimes used by chroniclers to describe these bandits. The origin of this is also unclear, but it is thought to derive either from a Latin word for knife (cultellus), or from 'cottar' a word for a poor peasant.

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Free Company Longbowmen

English Archers who, having no skills other than fighting, can't seem to find much use for themselves when there are no wars to find employment in, and often sell their services as mercenaries or resort to banditry.




Free Company Hommes d'Armes

French Men at Arms who, having no skills other than fighting, can't seem to find much use for themselves when there are no wars to find employment in, and often sell their services as mercenaries or resort to banditry.

Free Company Chevaliers

French Men at Arms who, having no skills other than fighting, can't seem to find much use for themselves when there are no wars to find employment in, and often sell their services as mercenaries or resort to banditry.