Béziers was a stronghold of the Cathars, a 12th/13th century Christian sect who were
critical of what they considered to be corruption in the Roman Catholic Church.
Pope Innocent III waged a crusade against them, and in 1209, 20,000 citizens of
Béziers were massacred. The papal army was ordered not to discriminate between
Catholics and Cathars, but to "Kill them all. God will recognize his own!".