Parma and Vercelli 1300 to 1307: Crusade against the Apostolic Brethren; Segarelli burned, Margherita slowly burned, Dolcino torn apart with red-hot pincers
The Apostolic Brethren wanted to live in complete poverty like the apostles and preached penance. Popes condemned them, and their founder Gerardo Segarelli was burned as a relapsed heretic at Parma in 1300. His successor Dolcino withdrew with over a thousand followers into the mountains near Vercelli. In 1305 Pope Clement V had a crusade preached against them and promised plenary indulgence. The Bishop of Vercelli led four crusades; those besieged starved to the point of cannibalism. On Holy Thursday 1307 their camp was stormed; according to Lea, more than a thousand died without quarter. The Church handed Dolcino, Margherita and Longino Cattaneo over to the secular arm: Margherita was slowly burned before Dolcino's eyes, and Dolcino was torn apart with red-hot pincers for an entire day.
Deaths
more than 1,000(estimated, Dolcinists at the storming of Monte Rubello, 23 March 1307 (chronicler in Lea))Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580)
„On that day more than a thousand of the heretics perished in the flames, or in the river, or by the sword“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88). Original
3(counted, Dolcino, Margherita and Longino Cattaneo, executed in June 1307; in addition Segarelli in 1300 and four burned in 1294)Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580)
„She was slowly burned to death before his eyes“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88). Original
Period
1300-1307 (7 years)
Country
Italy
Institutions
Pope Clement V Bishop Rainerio of Vercelli Inquisition
Gerard Segarelli (founder of the Apostolic Brethren, burned at Parma in 1300) Dolcino (leader of the Apostolic Brethren, torn apart with red-hot pincers at Vercelli in 1307) Margherita (companion of Dolcino, slowly burned in 1307) Longino Cattaneo (lieutenant of Dolcino, executed at Biella in 1307) Clement V (pope, proclaimed the crusade and promised indulgence, ordered the trial) Rainerio, Bishop of Vercelli (led the crusades against the Dolcinists)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
Dolcino of Novara, an Apostle since 1291 and caught three times by the Inquisition, took over the leadership; he proclaimed an approaching age of the Spirit and turned sharply against the clergy. At his side was Margherita, according to Lea a woman of noble birth who had been educated in the convent of St. Catharine at Trent. Because the Inquisition could not catch him, according to Lea it made the people of Serravalle pay dearly for having favoured him. In 1304 about fourteen hundred men and women went with him into the mountains at the head-waters of the Sesia. When their provisions ran out, they supplied themselves by raids on the valleys.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„Dolcino of Novara was brought up at Vercelli, and had been an Apostle since 1291. Thrice he fell into the hands of the Inquisition, and thrice recanted.“
„is described to us as a woman of noble birth, considerable fortune, and surpassing beauty, who had been educated in the convent of St. Catharine at Trent“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 112.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 113
„The Inquisition was soon upon the track, and, failing to catch him, made the people of Serravalle pay dearly for the favor which they had shown him.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 113.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 113
„some fourteen hundred of both sexes“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 113.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 114
„they replenished their stores by raids upon the lower valleys“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 114.
Original
On Holy Thursday, 23 March 1307, the fourth crusading army carried the last entrenchments. No quarter was given. According to the chronicler quoted by Lea, more than a thousand of the heretics perished that day in the flames, in the river or by the sword.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 117
„on Holy Thursday (March 23, 1307) the last entrenchments were carried“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 117.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 117
„No quarter was given.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 117.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 117
„On that day more than a thousand of the heretics perished in the flames, or in the river, or by the sword, in the cruellest of deaths.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 117.
OriginalEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„The Catholic crusaders seized Dolcino in his entrenchments on Mount Rubello, and the pope at once announced the happy event to King Philip the Fair.“
On 5 June 1305 Clement V issued bulls for a crusade to be preached against the Dolcinists. Bishop Rainerio of Vercelli and the inquisitors raised an army with the papal commissions. When their forces did not suffice, Clement anathematised the heretics and offered plenary indulgence to all who would serve in the army for thirty days or pay a recruit for such service. According to the Britannica, four crusades under the Bishop of Vercelli were needed.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„On the 5th of June 1305 Pope Clement V., recognizing the impotence of the ordinary methods of repression, issued bulls for preaching a crusade against the Dolcinists.“
„Armed with the papal commissions, Rainerio, Bishop of Vercelli, and the inquisitors raised a considerable force“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 114.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 116
„offered plenary indulgence to all who would serve in the army of the Lord for thirty days against them, or pay a recruit for such service“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 116.
OriginalEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„But four crusades, directed by the bishop of Vercelli, were required to reduce the little army of the heresiarch“
Dolcino, Margherita and Longino Cattaneo were captured alive and kept chained hand, foot and neck in the dungeon of the Inquisition at Vercelli. They affirmed their faith and refused all reconciliation. On Clement V's orders the customary assembly of experts was convened in Vercelli, and they were abandoned to the secular arm. According to Lea, the cruelty that followed was not the Church's doing but the expression of the secular authorities' fear of a peasant revolt.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 118
„the prisoners were kept, chained hand and foot and neck, in the dungeon of the Inquisition at Vercelli“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 118.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 118
„while the prisoners boldly affirmed their faith they were deaf to all offers of reconciliation“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 118.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 118
„About two months passed away before Clement’s orders were received, that they should be tried and punished at the scene of their crimes.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 118.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 119
„For the superfluous cruelty which followed the Church was not responsible; it was the expression of the terror of the secular authorities“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 119.
Original
What happened to those affected?
From 1291, according to the Britannica, the Apostolic Brethren were persecuted pitilessly as rebels; in 1294 four were burned. Segarelli was imprisoned again in 1294, abjured, relapsed and was burned as a relapsed heretic by the secular authorities at Parma on 18 July 1300.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„From that day the Apostles, regarded as rebels, were persecuted pitilessly. Four were burned in 1294, and Segarelli, as a relapsed heretic, went to the stake at Parma in 1300.“
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 1 (1907), Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II
„Segarelli was again imprisoned in 1294, escaped, was retaken, abjured his errors, but relapsed, and the secular authorities burned him at Parma, 18 July, 1300.“
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II.
Original
In the winter of 1305/06 the besieged ate mice, vermin and hay cooked in grease. During the move to Monte Rubello thirty-four of them were cut off and put to death. The Dolcinists, too, burned villages, despoiled churches and killed their prisoners after the exchange for food had been forbidden. The bishop surrounded them with forts. In the winter of 1306/07 many died of hunger and cold, others lived on grass and leaves; they ate the bodies of fallen enemies and of comrades who had starved. According to Lea, a pious chronicler wrote that this misery was brought upon them by the prayers and vows of the bishop and his flock.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 115
„they were reduced to eating mice and other vermin, and hay cooked in grease“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 115.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 115
„thirty-four of the Apostles were cut off in their retreat and put to death“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 115.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 116
„To deprive them of resources it was forbidden to exchange food with them for prisoners, and their captives were mercilessly put to death.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 116.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 117
„Hunger and cold did their work. Many perished from exhaustion. Others barely maintained life on grass and leaves“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 117.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 117
„Cannibalism was resorted to; the bodies of their enemies who fell in successful sorties were devoured, and even those of their comrades who succumbed to starvation.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 117.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 117
„The pious chronicler informs us that this misery was brought upon them by the prayers and vows of the good bishop and his flock.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 117.
Original
On 1 June 1307 the prisoners were brought forth. Margherita refused offers of marriage from nobles who promised her pardon if she abjured, and was slowly burned to death before Dolcino's eyes. Dolcino was driven through the roads on a cart with braziers for an entire summer day and gradually torn to pieces with red-hot pincers; when his nose was wrenched off, according to Lea, only his shoulders shivered. Longino Cattaneo was killed in the same way at Biella.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 119
„She was slowly burned to death before his eyes, and then commenced his more prolonged torture.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 119.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 119
„he was slowly driven along the roads through that long summer day and torn gradually to pieces with red-hot pincers“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 119.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 119
„Only when his nose was wrenched off was observed a slight shiver in the shoulders“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 119.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 119
„Longino Cattaneo, at Biella, was similarly utilized to afford a salutary warning to the people“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 119.
OriginalEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 1 (1907), Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II
„He was captured, his body broken and delivered to the flames, and his disciples crushed.“
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II.
Original
Background
Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)
Gerardo Segarelli from near Parma founded the Apostolic Brethren around 1260. They lived in poverty, begged and preached penance. Honorius IV (1286) and Nicholas IV (1290) condemned them, among other things for having founded a new mendicant order contrary to a conciliar decree. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the papal bulls are silent on the loose morals alleged by opponents.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„The order of the Apostles was founded about 1260 by a young workman from the environs of Parma, Gerard Segarelli“
„All had to live in absolute poverty, chastity and idleness. They begged, and preached penitence.“
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 1 (1907), Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II
„Honorius IV (11 March, 1286) and Nicholas IV (1290) condemned it“
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 1 (1907), Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II
„Honorius IV and Nicholas IV charged them with violating a decree of the Second Œcumenical Council of Lyons in founding a new mendicant order and with heretical teaching.“
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 1 (1907), Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II
„but the papal bulls are silent on this head“
Apostolici, Artikel Apostolici, Abschnitt II.
Original
Who received the assets, who profited?
Clement V rewarded those involved: the Bishops of Vercelli, Novara and Pavia and the Abbot of Lucedio received for three years the first fruits of all benefices falling vacant in their territories, and the Bishop of Vercelli in addition lifelong exemption from the exactions of papal legates.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 118
„The Bishops of Vercelli, Novara, and Pavia, and the Abbot of Lucedio were granted the first fruits of all benefices becoming vacant during the next three years in their respective territories, and the former, in addition, was exempted during life from the exactions of papal legates“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 118.
Original
Response of the Church
According to Lea, Clement V announced the victory to King Philip the Fair on the same evening in an extravagant paean of triumph. The Apostolic Brethren continued to be persecuted, condemned by councils at Cologne (1306), Trier (1310) and Spoleto (1311), in southern France by the inquisitor Bernard Gui; as late as 1402/03 two were burned at Lübeck and Wismar.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 118
„the extravagant pæan of triumph in which the pope hastened to announce the glad tidings to Philippe le Bel on the same evening in which he received them“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 118.
OriginalEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Apostolici
„In turn they were condemned by the councils of Cologne (1306), Treves (1310) and Spoleto (1311). The inquisitor of Languedoc, Bernard Gui, persecuted them unremittingly“
Scholarly literature
Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580): Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88).
Original(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
Reference work
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 1 (1907): Apostolici, 1 January 1907.
Original(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
Reference work
Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Apostolici, 1 January 1911.
Original(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
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