Pseudo-historical theory that the Cathari (a Gnostic-type group, circa tenth through thirteenth centuries) possessed a significant artifact or secret hidden during the Albigensian Crusade. Holy Blood, Holy Grail alleges that the Cathari were wealthy and possessed secret evidence that Jesus had children with Mary Magdalene. (The Da Vinci Code presents this as historical fact.) Despite the theory's popularity, though, there is no objective historical data to support it. Contemporary accounts say the Cathari lived simply and did not possess great wealth. Furthermore, they didn't even believe Jesus was human — they viewed him as a bodiless spiritual being — so it's highly unlikely they were the keepers of evidence that Jesus had children. See Albigensian Crusade; Cathari; Gnosticism; Holy Blood, Holy Grail; Mary Magdalene; Saunie're, Be'renger.