Since the Minervois had few large communities and was rather a rural environment, the effects of degradation of city life, of the administrative services and the decline of commercial activity which occurred at the end of the Roman Empire were much less apparent here. The total number of communities were greater than today. Because of a lack of documentary evidence, we have to rely on archeological investigations which reveal that pre-roman villages existed alongside later developments or domaines. Around Laure-Minervois there were four such domaines dating from the IX and X centuries and around Pépieux, five dating from the IX century. But much uncertainty still exists about the detail in the Minervois during the late middle ages.

When the Arabs retreated, the resident Goths were joined by other Goths fleeing from Spain, the 'Hispanis', and other religious groups settled the area. The Minervois remained too far from Paris for the Carolingian monarchs to have any detailed knowledge of what was going on or to exert their control in any systematic manner. The ownership of the land passed to those who cultivated it and Minerve remained a local capital for a long period. The Carolingians did however know the extent of their southern territory, their Gothie. Documentary evidence exists which shows that Charles le Simple signed a diploma in favour of the Abbey of Caunes renewing their privileges granted by Charlemagne.

The later Capetiens seemed to know nothing of Gothie or the Midi. Their territory was strictly limited to a small area around Paris and their efforts were largely to strengthen their dynasty. Louis VII was the first king to try to reestablish links with the south and its control by the north : on the marriage of his niece Adelaide to Roger, viscount of Beziers and Carcassonne, in 1171, Louis VII reminded the south of his sovereinty by giving the chateau of Minerve to Roger and reminding him that he 'should hold it from us and that when we come to our lands in the south, you will pay homage to us.'