[1]: 169–171  Though Simon was practically the Count of Toulouse by 1214, it was not Pope Innocent III's decision following the Fourth Council of the Lateran in November 1215 that it was made official.

The citizens of Beaucaire had been forewarned of Raymond VII's return and threw the gates open to welcome him into the city and fight the unprepared crusader garrison.

[1]: 186  Simon and his crusader forces made numerous attempts to besiege the city and make contact with their fellow men in the castle, all to no avail.

[1]: 187  Finally on August 24, 1216 Simon was forced to accept terms, and that he had suffered his first major loss of the Albigensian Crusade and to a young unseasoned commander nonetheless.

During the Crusaders' counter-assault, Simon stopped to aid his brother Guy, who had been wounded by a crossbow, and was hit on the head by a stone from one of the defenders' siege engines (either the trebuchet or a mangonel), apparently operated by donas e tozas e mulhers (ladies, girls, and women).

The events of the siege prompted the resident troubadour (and possibly priest) Raimon Escrivan to compose a song, Senhors, l'autrier vi ses falhida, on it.