In the Middle Ages, anyone who deviated from or challenged the teachings of the Catholic Church, especially on matters of doctrine or religious belief, would have been considered a heretic. This could include individuals who practiced or promoted alternative forms of Christianity, such as the Cathars or Waldensians, as well as individuals who denied fundamental Christian beliefs such as the Trinity or the divinity of Jesus Christ. Heretics were often persecuted, condemned, and punished by the Church through measures such as excommunication, imprisonment, or even death by burning at the stake.
