The Cathars practiced vegetarianism, nonviolence, a liberal attitude toward women, and tolerance. And, without lifting a sword, posed a threat to Catholicism greater than the Muslims or Jews. Catharism was the most successful heresy of the Middle Ages. The Cathars believed themselves to be heirs to the true Christian heritage, completely rejecting the trappings of the Catholic Church. The Cathars gained support from the nobility, peasants, and artisans in Languedoc.Alarmed at the movement's spread, the Catholic Church launched the Albigensian Crusade -- the first to be directed against fellow Christians -- exterminating virtually all trace of Catharism. Today, the Cathars mystique is stronger than ever as historians continue to find links with movements such as the Knights Templar, the Troubadours, and the search for the Holy Grail.