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History of the Languedoc
The Languedoc lies in the so called "Midi", which is agricultural land for as long as we remember. The knowledge of agriculture and the fertility rituals in ancient times may have been connected to the suncult. Archeologists have found traces of this suncult and some people even speculate on Egyptian colonists introducing the cult of Aton. Also the Knights Templar are connected with the suncult. Many if not all esoteric orders claim that their knowledge is originally Egyptian which has grown since that time to what it is now.
Before the Romans arrived, two Celtic tribes ruled the land.
1. The Volcae Arecomici
2. The Volcae Tectosages
In 413 the Visigoths arrived. When they were pushed back in 507 by Clovis at the Battle of Vouillé, in which Alaric II was killed, they founded Septimania. The number 7 is a very important number in symbolism. There were 7 planets known to the old world. The week has 7 days. Because the earth is equal to the number 4 (square) and heaven is equal to the number 3 (triangle), 7 would mean the Great Covenant between God and men. Septimania would exist for 200 years. It was inhabited not by barbarians, but by scientists and philosophers.
After the short capture of Septimania by the Muslims, Charlemagne reconquered the land and added it to the Realm of the Franks. When the Carolingian realm fell apart after his death, feudal Lords ruled the Midi. The mightiest rulers were the counts of Toulouse and Barcelona. Trade and science flourished. People lived in a mixed society with Jews and Arabs, who shared their knowledge and intellect for the good of everybody. At the courts, troubadours sang songs of romance, but also politics. Free opinion was still tolerated here. These troubadours sang in a common dialect, so that everyone could understand what they were singing. This dialect was known as "koiné", which is better known as the langue d'Oc. In the 13th century, the whole area was called Languedoc. Oc means "yes".
The wealth of the south and their independence from the crown and the church irritated the French king and the pope was irritated by the growing anti-catholic movements like the Cathars, whose religion was based on oriental and dualist elements. This lead to the crusade against the Cathars, or the Albigenzian Crusade, a black page in the history books. Finally the Languedoc was conquered and added to the French crown. However, the bitter events resulted in a large gap between the people of the Languedoc and the kings of France. In theory, the Languedoc is part of France, but in reality you will leave France as soon as you get to Toulouse. Here, you enter the Land of Oc....
In the 14th century, the plague took 1/3 of the inhabitants of the Languedoc. However, thanks to the trade in textiles the people soon regained their strength. The area was still fertile for new ideas though. With the Cathar faith still deeply rooted in their souls, and their growing contempt against the wealthy catholic church, soon the Reformation became a fact. It was followed by the newly formed protestants and Huguenots. This again resulted in harsh Religious Wars. This did not only exist because of the urge for a new sort of faith, but also because of the urge to cut loose from France. Like Catharism, the protestant faith flourished in the Languedoc. After a period of sour acceptance, also the Huguenots were now publicly at war with France. As of 1685, many left the country and settled in Belgium and The Netherlands.
In 1791, the Languedoc was sliced up into eight departments:
The Ardeche Aude Gard Haute-Garonne Haute-Loire Hérault Lozère Tarn.
After the French Revolution, there was still a large gap between the Languedoc and Paris. Thanks to the growing tourism, the area was made accessible and the vine culture flourished. Around 1900, the land was devastated by a very small insect, the Phylloxera lice.
This caused much poverty, especially among the wine farms and in the wine trade. However, today the Languedoc is one of the largest wine-producing areas of France. But can we really say this? Because the Languedoc isn't really France, it is the Land of Oc.

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