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Catharism was a Gnostic movement that originated around the middle of the 10th century, branded by the contemporary Roman Catholic Church as heretical. It existed throughout much of Western Europe, but its home was in Languedoc, in southern France. The name Cathar most likely originated from Greek catharos, "the pure ones". Another suggested origin was from Latin cattus, for " cat", which were usually associated with witches and heretics. Most likely this is just a myth initiated by the Roman Catholics. One of the first recorded uses is Eckbert von Schönau who wrote on heretics from Cologne in 1181: "Hos nostra germania catharos appellat."
The Cathars are also called Albigensians. This name originates from the end of the 12th century, and was used by the chronicler Geoffroy du Breuil of Vigeois in 1181. The name refers to the southern town of Albi (the ancient Albiga.) The designation is hardly exact, for the centre was at Toulouse and in the neighbouring districts.
The beliefs came originally from eastern Europe by way of trade routeA trade route is a common path of travel for those who frequently traverse between any points of barter interest. The route is considered preferable based on ease of travel. These routes exist everywhere across the planet, and they are usually organized bs. The name of BulgariansBulgarians are a Slavic people that today lives mainly in the Republic of Bulgaria and Macedonia, but also in Greece, the Ukraine, Moldova, USA and other countries. Bulgarians are descendants of two peoples Southern Slavs, who settled on the Balkan penins (Bougres) was also applied to the Albigenses, and they maintained an association with the BogomilsBogomils was the name of an ancient Gnostic religious community which is thought to have originated in Bulgaria. It is difficult to ascertain whether the name was taken from the reputed founder of that sect, a certain pope Bogumil or Bogomil, or whether h of ThraceThrace is a historical and geographic area in south-east Europe spread over southern Bulgaria, north-eastern Greece, and European Turkey. Thrace borders on three seas: the Black Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara. History The indigenous population. Their doctrines have numerous resemblances to those of the Bogomils, and still more to those of the Paulicians, with whom they are also sometimes connected. It is difficult to form any precise idea of the Cathar doctrines, as all the existing knowledge of them is derived from their opponents, and the few texts from the Cathars (the Rituel cathare de Lyon and the Nouveau Testament en provencal) contain very little information concerning their beliefs and moral practices. What is certain is that they formed an anti- sacerdotalA priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. Priests have been known since the earliest times and in the simplest societies (see shama party in opposition to the Roman church, and raised a continued protest against the corruption of the clergy. The Cathar theologians, called Cathari or perfecti (in France bons hommes or bons chretiens) were few in number; the mass of believers (credentes) were not initiated into the doctrine at all - they were freed from all moral prohibition and all religious obligation, on condition that they promised by an act called convenenza to become "hereticized" by receiving the consolamentum, the baptism of the Spirit, before their death.
The first Cathars appeared in LimousinRegion Limousin Details Information Capital: Limoges Population Total Density 710 939 1999 42 /km² Area16 942 km² Arrondissements8 Cantons106 Communes747 President of the regional council Jean-Paul Denanot Departements Correze (19) Creuse (23) Haute-Vienn between 1012Events Mael Morda starts a rebellion against Brian Boru in Ireland, which would eventually end in 1014 at the Battle of Clontarf. Sulayman is restored as Umayyad caliph of Cordoba, succeeding Hisham II. Benedict VIII becomes pope. Gregory is antipope. and 1020. Several were discovered and put to death at Toulouse in 1022. The synods of Charroux (Vienne) ( 1028) and Toulouse ( 1056) condemned the growing sect. Preachers were summoned to the districts of the Agenais and the Toulousain to combat the heretical propaganda in the 1100s. The Cathars, however, gained ground in the south due to the protection given by William, Duke of Aquitaine, and that given by a significant proportion of the southern nobility. The people were impressed by the bons hommes, and the anti-sacerdotal preaching of Peter of Bruys and Henry of Lausanne in Perigord.