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 THE WEST IN THE CRUSADING ERA 197 improved his opportunity by fostering the disloyalty of Richard's vassals in France, and of his brother John in England. When Richard was at last released, he paid only a flying visit to England, and returned to his continental dominions, bent on organising a great combination for the destruction of Philip; but his career was cut short by a mortal wound received when he was on an expedition to chastise a recalcitrant vassal. Richard's brother John succeeded to the Crown of England, by election, in accordance with English practice ; but the heir to his French dominions, by feudal law, was his _. ... nephew, Arthur of Brittany, the son of an elder France brother. Philip supported the boy's claims. John and Jonn a .u • I u- u a a .u u of England, got Arthur into his own hands, and the boy disappeared. John became the undisputed heir, but Philip summoned him to answer for the death of Arthur. John declined to obey, and Philip claimed the forfeiture of his domains. As a matter of course there was a war, in which Philip was completely successful. In the notable battle of Bouvines, he inflicted a total defeat upon John and his ally, Otto, the German emperor, who very shortly afterwards was displaced by Frederick 11. The final result of the war was to leave John in possession of little more than Guienne in the south-west of France. The King of England was still a French noble, but the King of France had enormously increased the Crown domains, and there was now no magnate in the kingdom who could challenge his supremacy. Toulouse also was practically secured for the Crown in the same reign. There had arisen in that part of France a heretical sect called the Albigenses. Pope Innocent ill. authorised The Albi- a crusade against them, which was conducted with genses. extreme cruelty. Count Raimond of Toulouse endeavoured to extend to them some slight protection ; consequently, the count was deprived of most of his possessions, which were transformed into a papal fief, and a few years later were transferred by their holder to the French king. Further advance was made in increasing the power of the French king under Louis ix., called St. Louis, whom we have
 * Philip of