Tomier and Palaizi

Tomier and Palaizi (or Palazi) were two knights and troubadours from Tarascon, possibly brothers, and frequent comrades and co-composers (fl.

In the sirventes De chantar farai, written probably during Louis VIII's siege of Avignon in 1226,[1] they criticised the Albigensian Crusaders and the Papacy — "those who have turned the crusade" — for diverting "succour and valour" (aid and military support) from the "Sepulchre" (the Holy Land), which was "disbelief", i.e. "a sin against the faith":[2] Al Sepolcr'an tout socors e valenza cil q'an la croz vout, et es decredenza.

The Albigensian Crusade was described as a falsa croisada and the song had a rhyming refrain which must have been intended to arouse Provenç passions for the fight against the French: Segur estem, seignors, / E ferm de ric socors!

[3] Tomier and Palaizi blamed the church leadership, especially the legate Romano of Sant'Angelo, for avarice.

[4] In an earlier, and less violent sirventes, Si col flacs molins torneja (c. 1216), the two troubadours explain that the Albiensian venture ruins the roads and ports that lead to Acre, where the true Crusade is being waged.