Morten St George Theory

[Morten St. George]

I've written five responses to this and I realize it's pointless. You only see the VMS through your theory-colored glasses.

JP, I've been looking at your blog to try to see the VMS through your eyes and have just stumbled upon an interesting article about "swallowtail merlons, similar to those on the rosettes foldout in Beinecke 408. This architectural style was associated, in earlier centuries, with the Ghibellines, supporters of the Holy Roman Empire, who were at political odds with those who supported the pope in Rome."



It seems those swallowtail merlons are one of the reasons much of academia has assumed that the VMS comes from Northern Italy where such merlons are found. I've been investigating these merlons and, so far, the earliest instance of them that I could find is Soncino Castle in Cremona province of Lombardy, which dates back to the 10th century. You see it here in this Wikimedia pic:



Note that it has a lot in common with your pic: arches and vertical slits in the walls as well as the swallowtails.

Here's what's new: I have found hard proof of a direct link between Cremona and Montségur:

«««

Raymond de NIORT.  Perfecta from Belesta.  Arrived clandestinely at Montsegur in October 1243 with a letter from the Cathars of Cremona in Italy.
...
Jean REY.  From Saint-Paul-Cap-de-Joux. Courier.  Arrived at Montsegur on January 1, 1244, bearing a letters from the Cathars of Cremona.  Received consolamentum March 13.

»»»

Montségur underwent renovations and expansion not long before its destruction in 1244, so it is easy enough to imagine Italian influence on its architecture.

Meanwhile, Soncino Castle itself was rebuilt in 1283, just 39 years after the fall of Montségur, so even a reverse influence is possible, for example, in solidarity with those who died at Montségur, the Italian Cathars could have adopted the Montségur swallowtails as a symbol of defiance against the pope.