Geoffroy became abbot at Vigeois (1170-1184) where he composed his Chroniques which trace in detail some great local families (often Geoffroy's forebears and kin) while relating events happening from 994 to 1184: the fiery convulsive sickness, actually Ergotism from a fungus or ergot of wheat, the preparations for the First Crusade, reports of combats in the Holy Land, the genocide of the Cathars in the Albigensian Crusade (he used the term "Albigensians" in 1181), all the while unconsciously revealing the preoccupations and manners of the times.
External link
History of the Romanesque Abbey of Vigeois (French) (http://correzeromane.free.fr/notice.php?nom=Vigeois)
This name appears to have been given to them at the end of the 12th century, and was used in 1181 by the chronicler GeoffroydeVigeois.
What is certain is that, above all, they formed an anti-sacerdotal party in permanent opposition to the Roman church, and raised a continued protest against the corruption of the clergy of their time.
The few isolated successes of the abbot of Clairvaux could not obscure the real results of this mission, and the meeting at Lombers in 1165 of a synod, where Catholic priests had to submit to a discussion with Catharist doctors, well shows the power of the sect in the south of France at that period.
The Cathars are also called Albigensians, this name originates from the end of the 12th century, and was used in 1181 by the chronicler GeoffroydeVigeois[?].
The name refers to the southern town of Albi (the ancient Albiga.) The designation is hardly exact, for the heretical centre was at Toulouse and in the neighbouring districts.
What is certain is that they formed an anti-sacerdotal party in opposition to the Roman church, and raised a continued protest against the corruption of the clergy.
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