Around ten thousand northern crusaders from northern…

Around ten thousand northern crusaders from northern France under baronial leader Simon IV de Montfort (father of Simon de Montfort, earl of Leicester, famous in English history), who had participated in the siege of Zara and later fought in Syria, had gathered in Lyon, before marching south in mid-1209.

In June, Raymond of Toulouse, recognizing the disaster at hand, finally promises to act against the Cathars, and his excommunication is lifted.

The crusaders turn towards Montpellier and the lands of Raymond-Roger de Trencavel, aiming for the Cathar communities around Albi and Carcassonne.

Raymond-Roger is viscount of Béziers and Albi (and thus a vassal of the count of Toulouse), and viscount of Carcassonne and the Razès (and thus a vassal of the count of Barcelona, which is also ruling Aragon at this time).

Like Raymond of Toulouse, Raymond-Roger seeks an accommodation with the crusaders, but he is refused a meeting and races back to Carcassonne to prepare his defenses.