Battle of Montgey

In the Spring of 1211 the leader of the Albigensian Crusade, Simon de Montfort besieged the cathar stronghold of Lavaur. A large force of German and Frisian^[2][3] reinforcements had left the crusader headquarters at Carcassonne and was making its way to the siege at Lavaur. Meanwhile, the Count of Foix, had gathered a raiding party to oppose the crusaders.^[4] Aware of the approaching crusader army, Foix prepared an ambush in the forest near the town of Montgey.^[5]

The crusader army was primarily composed of Germans and Frisians led by a knight named Nicholas of Bazoches.^[1] William of Tudela writes that the crusaders numbered at least 5,000^[2] but this is considered an exaggeration by modern historians.^[1][5] Marvin considers the figure of 1,500 given by Alberic of Trois-Fontaines to be realistic number.^[1] Sumption gives an estimate of "several hundred".^[5]

The southern raiding party was led by Raymond-Roger of Foix, his son Roger-Bernard II, and Giraud of Pepieux.^[6][7][5] While numbers for the southern army are not known, it was composed of knights, mounted sergeants, and a large number of mercenaries.^[6][7] Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse also sent men with the Count of Foix despite ostensibly being an ally to the crusade.^[6][7][2]

In the forest near Montgey, Foix ambushed the crusader army, catching them by surprise. Peter of Vaux-de-Cernay writes that the crusaders were not wearing their armor^[7], which Marvin says may indicate that the crusaders were resting or camping at the time.^[6] Peter of Vaux-de-Cernay and William of Puylaurens both write that the crusaders were slaughtered^[7][8], while William of Tudela writes that the crusaders had put on their armor and fought "hard and long".^[2] All sources indicate that the crusaders were eventually overwhelmed and almost entirely killed^{[6][9][5][2][8][7]} while the southern forces suffered negligible casualties.^[10]

After the battle had concluded, the southern army looted the defeated army^[10][11] before quickly riding to Montgisard.^[10][5] Anything that wasn't taken by the southern army was taken by the people of Montgey^[5][10] who also killed some of the remaining survivors.^[10] A survivor was able to escape and make his way to Lavaur, where Simon de Montfort was informed of the ambush.^[10][2]

Despite the complete victory achieved by the Count of Foix, the battle had little strategic impact.^[1] Montfort led a large mounted force in pursuit of Foix but failed to catch him.^[10] While the defeat was a setback, the crusaders were still able to maintain the Siege of Lavaur and take it on the 3rd of May. The defeat at Montgey was likely a contributing factor to the massacres committed against the garrison and people of Lavaur.^[1][9][5] After Lavaur was taken, Montfort destroyed Montgey in revenge for the ambush.^[12][13]