During the crusade on Christian heretics (Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade) in the early 13th century, Pope Innocent III led the nobility of northern France.
When they reached the city of Beziers, in the south of France near the Mediterranean coast, they surrounded it.
A question among the crusaders arised: how to distinguish true Christians from heretics who follow the so-called Cathar learning?
Cistercian monk Arnaud Amalric and French nobleman Simon IV de Montfort suggested unusual solution to the pope:
"Kill them all. For the Lord knows them that are His (Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius )."
Unfortunately, the pope and crusaders did as suggested. The entire population of twenty thousand Cathars and Catholics that lived in Beziers were slaughtered.
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