Jacques Dalarun

SUMMARY: The ‘‘Charter of Niquinta’’ tells the meeting, in May 1167, at the initiative of the Church of Toulouse, of a multitude of men and women, in the presence of Papa Niquinta and five bishops. This strange document would be the only one that comes from those whom the Roman Church designated as ‘‘heretical’’ and whom we call ‘‘Cathars’’, but it was known to us, until recently, only through an edition of 1660. Its authenticity has been discussed, but the debate has been particularly strong since 1999. This article traces the positions of the debate, located in the perspective of the various interpretative currents of medieval heresy.