Arnaud Amaury

Arnaud Amaury was a 12th-century French Benedictine monk who became a prominent religious leader during the Crusades. He served as the abbot of the Abbey of Cîteaux and later as the Pope’s representative in the Holy Land. Notably, he was involved in the events surrounding the Crusades, including the tragic massacre at Béziers in 1209, where he reportedly ordered the killing of thousands to suppress heretics. His actions and decisions reflect the complex interplay between religion, militarism, and politics during medieval times. Amaury remains a significant, if controversial, figure in the history of the Crusades.