Christian Cyclopedia

Branch of the Cathari* found mainly in S. Fr.; named after Albi, city in SW Fr. Believing in a god of light and a prince of this world, they developed a New Manichaeism*; the fallen angels were the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”; Jesus' death was only apparent (see Docetism). They were repeatedly subjected to armed attack 1181–1229 but did not finally disappear till the middle of the 14th c. See also Avignon.

C. G. Coulton, Inquisition and Liberty (London, 1938); C. G. A. Schmidt, Histoire et doctrine de la secte des Cathares ou Albigeois, 2 vols. (Paris, 1848–49); H. J. Warner, The Albigensian Heresy, 2 vols. (London, 1922–28).