Who's Who In The Cathar War:   Savaric (Savory) de Mauléon and others

As brother-in-law of Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse, King John of England was a natural ally, particularly since John's mother Eleanor of Aquitaine had divorced the King of France and married the King of England, taking her dowery, the Aquitaine, with her.   It is not surprising therefore that John's Seneschal, Savaric de Mauléon should come to fight alongside Raymond of Toulouse.  He is mentioned several times in the Song of the Crusade. [61, 86, 87, 89, 93, 103, 123]. One source, the anonymouse History of the Dukes of Normandy and Kings of England, suggests that it was on John's initiative that Savaric became involved.

Niort in the Aquitaine was defended against the French by Savary on behalf of John in 1205. Savary had been a prisoner taken at Mirebeau and subsequently sworn an oath of fealty to the King of England. From thenceforth he proved a wise and valuable ally. It was Savary de Mauléon who stayed the hand of King John when he planned to execute the defenders of Rochester after their eventual surrender in November 1214.

All records except one portray Savaric as a most noble knight. The One exception is the Historia Albigensis which consistently bases its character assessments on how much the person in question supports the Crusade. Here is my favourite example from the whole of the Historia Albigensis [254]:

This traslates as "Savaric was a strong ally of the Count of Toulouse". Actually, if the author of the Historia Albigensis had known more about Savaric, he might have been less strident. For example when Savaric was not rewarded financially for his contribution to the campaign at Castelnaudry in 1211 he went off with the son of Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse (the future Raymond VII) and held him hostage until a ransom was paid. Later, in 1219 Savaric would go crusading in the Holy land, and would later fight alongside Louis VIII in his murderous campaign against Raymond VII in 1226.

A branch of his family still lives in the Languedoc.

Click on the following link for more about the coat of arms of Savaric (Savory) de Mauléon and other fighters in the Cathar Wars

Bernard, Count of Commynges and Couserans (1181-1225)  Vassal and loyal ally of the Counts of Toulouse, 1st Cousin to Ramon VI.

The Viscount of Béarn  Vassal and loyal ally of the Counts of Toulouse.

Click on the following link for more about the coat of arms of the Viscount of Béarn and other fighters in the Cathar Wars