The Waldensians, also known as Waldenses, were a Christian movement that emerged in the late 12th century, founded by Peter Waldo, emphasizing a life of poverty, simplicity, and direct study of the Bible, leading to persecution and eventual integration into the Protestant Reformation. They believed in living a life of simplicity and poverty, following the example of Jesus and the apostles. They had a strict moral code, rejecting practices like the veneration of saints, purgatory, and oaths.