Alan of Lavaur

Alan of Lavaur (died 1211) was a Catholic bishop of Lavaur in Occitania, France. He is primarily remembered for his role in the Albigensian Crusade and his brutal execution by crusading forces.

Alan was a prominent figure in Lavaur and the wider Languedoc region during a period of intense religious and political conflict. He opposed the advancing armies of the Albigensian Crusade, which sought to suppress the Cathar heresy that had taken root in the area.

When Lavaur was besieged and eventually captured by the crusaders under Simon de Montfort in 1211, Alan was taken prisoner. Accounts of his execution vary, but he was reportedly dragged to death, along with Aimery, Lord of Montreal, and other members of the garrison. The bodies were then thrown into a well which was subsequently filled with stones.

Alan of Lavaur is remembered in some circles as a martyr for the resistance against the Albigensian Crusade, while others view him as an obstinate opponent of legitimate religious authority. His death marked a significant moment in the crusade, symbolizing the ruthlessness and violence employed by the crusaders in their efforts to eradicate Catharism.