Marseille 1318: Four Franciscans were burned for refusing to obey the pope on habits and stores; afterwards stakes throughout southern France
The "Spirituals" were Franciscans who wanted to keep their founder's rule of poverty strictly: simple, narrow habits and no stores of corn and wine. In 1317 Pope John XXII ordered them with the bull Quorumdam exigit to submit to their superiors. Twenty-five friars who refused were brought before the inquisitor of Marseille. After six months of proceedings, on 7 May 1318 Jean Barrani, Déodat Michel, Guillem Sainton and Pons Rocha were handed over to the secular arm and burned. Afterwards the Inquisition hunted the followers of the Spirituals throughout southern France; Lea names burnings at Narbonne, Lunel, Béziers, Toulouse and Carcassonne, where a list recorded 113 persons executed from 1318 to about 1350.
Deaths
4(counted, Franciscans, burned at Marseille on 7 May 1318)Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912)
113(counted, executed as Spirituals at Carcassonne, 1318 to about 1350 (list in Mosheim, according to Lea))Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580)
„Mosheim had a list of one hundred and thirteen persons executed at Carcassonne as Spirituals from 1318 to about 1350“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88). Original
Period
1317-1350 (33 years)
Country
France
Institutions
Pope John XXII Inquisition of Marseille Franciscan Order Inquisition of Carcassonne
John XXII (pope, issued Quorumdam exigit and had the Spirituals persecuted) Michel le Moine (Franciscan and inquisitor of Marseille, condemned the four to death) Jean Barrani (Franciscan, burned on 7 May 1318) Déodat Michel (Franciscan, burned on 7 May 1318) Guillem Sainton (Franciscan, burned on 7 May 1318) Pons Rocha (Franciscan, burned on 7 May 1318) Bernard Aspa (Franciscan, condemned to prison for life)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
Of the friars cited, all but twenty-five submitted; these were handed over to the Inquisition of Marseille. The inquisitor was Michel le Moine, who had himself been degraded and imprisoned under Clement V for his zeal in persecuting the Spirituals; according to Lea he was now able to glut his revenge. As early as 17 February 1317 John had instructed the inquisitors of Languedoc to denounce as heretics all who called themselves Fraticelli or Brethren of the poor life.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 71
„The twenty-five recalcitrants were handed over to the Inquisition of Marseilles, under whose jurisdiction they were arrested.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 71.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 71
„The inquisitor was Frère Michel le Moine, one of those who had been degraded and imprisoned by Clement V. on account of their zeal in persecuting the Spirituals. Now he was able to glut his revenge.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 71.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 71
„As early as February 17, he had ordered the inquisitors“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 71.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 72
„of Languedoc to denounce as heretics all who styled themselves Fraticelli or Fratres de paupere vita.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 72.
OriginalEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Franciscans
„twenty-five of them were tried before the Inquisition“
According to Lea, the church historian Mosheim had a list of 113 persons executed as Spirituals at Carcassonne from 1318 to about 1350; these cases were under Dominican inquisitors. According to Lea, the Franciscan chronicler Wadding boasted that in 1323 Franciscan inquisitors alone burned 114. The Inquisition of Marseille, in Franciscan hands, had the reputation of being excessively severe with the brethren of its own Order.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 77
„Mosheim had a list of one hundred and thirteen persons executed at Carcassonne as Spirituals from 1318 to about 1350. All these cases were under Dominican inquisitors“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 77.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 78
„that in 1323 there were one hundred and fourteen burned by Franciscan inquisitors alone“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 78.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 78
„The Inquisition at Marseilles, in fact, which was in Franciscan hands, had the reputation of being excessively severe with the recalcitrant brethren of the Order.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 78.
Original
How were they charged and sentenced?
On 6 November 1317 the pope and the general of the Order, Michael of Cesena, directed the inquisitor to proceed with the trial. The proceedings lasted exactly six months; according to Lea no details survive, but most of the accused were brought to repentance and abjuration. They were charged only with disobedience to the bull Quorumdam: they declared that the Gospel forbade them other garments and stores of corn and wine, and that the pope could not compel them to this. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the four refused to recognise the principle of papal authority over the Franciscan Rule.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 72
„it was not until November 6, 1317, that letters were issued by John and by Michele da Cesena to the Inquisitor Michel, directing him to proceed with the trial“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 72.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 72
„the proceedings were protracted for exactly six months, the sentence being rendered on May 7, 1318“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 72.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 73
„It was simply a question of disobedience to the bull Quorumdam.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 73.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 73
„They affirmed that this was contrary to the Gospel of Christ, which forbade them to wear garments of other fashion than that which they had adopted, or to lay up stores of corn and wine.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 73.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912), Artikel Spirituals
„refusing to obey and to recognize the principle of papal authority on the Franciscan Rule“
On 7 May 1318 the four who persevered to the last, Jean Barrani, Déodat Michel, Guillem Sainton and Pons Rocha, were handed over the same day to the secular authorities of Marseille and burned alive as heretics. Bernard Aspa, who said he repented but did not abjure, was condemned to prison for life. The rest had to abjure publicly and accept penances; anyone who failed to publish his abjuration wherever he had preached was to be burned as relapsed.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 73
„Only four of them had the physical and mental endurance to persevere to the last“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 73.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 73
„Jean Barrani, Déodat Michel, Guillem Sainton, and Pons Rocha“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 73.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 73
„these were handed over the same day to the secular authorities of Marseilles and duly burned“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 73.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912), Artikel Spirituals
„were handed over to the civil power, 7 May, 1318, and burned as heretics at Marseilles“
„four were burned alive at Marseilles as obstinate heretics, 1318“
Franciscans, Artikel Franciscans.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 73
„A fifth, Bernard Aspa, who had said in prison that he repented, but who refused to recant and abjure, was mercifully condemned to prison for life“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 73.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 73
„The rest were forced to abjure publicly and to accept the penances imposed by the inquisitor, with the warning that if they failed to publish their abjuration wherever they had preached their errors they would be burned as relapsed.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 73.
Original
According to Lea, the burning of the four was the signal for the Inquisition to move against the followers throughout the region. In February 1322 John XXII ordered all Tertiaries in the suspected districts to be summoned and closely examined, which caused general terror. Those who held that the pope could not dispense from vows of poverty and chastity had the alternative of recantation or the stake. Lea names three burned in 1319 and seventeen in Lent 1321 at Narbonne, seventeen at Lunel, two at one time and seven at another at Béziers, four in 1322 at Toulouse and burnings from 1319 to 1321 at Carcassonne.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 76
„The burning of the four martyrs of Marseilles was the signal for active inquisitorial work.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 76.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 77
„the order issued in February, 1322, by John XXII., that all Tertiaries in the suspected districts should be summoned to appear and be closely examined. This caused general terror.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 77.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 77
„now those who adhered to the established doctrine had the alternative of recantation or the stake“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 77.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 77
„there were three burned in 1319, seventeen in Lent, 1321, and several in 1322“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 77.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 77
„At Lunel there were seventeen burned; at Béziers, two at one time and seven at another“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 77.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 77
„at Toulouse, four in 1322“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 77.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 77
„At Carcassonne there were burnings in 1319, 1320, and 1321“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 77.
Original
Background
Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)
In 1317 John XXII cited the Spirituals to his court and had them examined before a commission; their leaders were imprisoned. With the bull Quorumdam exigit of 13 April 1317 he referred to the general of the Order the decision on the kind of habits and on whether stores might be laid up in granaries and cellars, and commanded obedience under pain of excommunication. The bull ended with the words that poverty is great, but blamelessness greater, and perfect obedience the greatest good. According to Lea it left the Spirituals only the alternative of submission or rebellion.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912), Artikel Spirituals
„cited them to his court (Bull. Franc., V, 118; 120) in 1317 and had them examined before a commission, with the result that their leaders were imprisoned“
Spirituals, Artikel Spirituals.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 72
„April 13, he had issued the constitution Quorumdam“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 72.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 72
„the character of vestments to be worn, and the legality of laying up stores of provisions in granaries, and cellars of wine and oil“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 72.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912), Artikel Spirituals
„the pope enjoined them under obedience and pain of excommunication to give up all particularities and to submit to the orders of the minister general“
Spirituals, Artikel Spirituals.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 72
„Great is poverty, but greater is blamelessness, and perfect obedience is the greatest good.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 72.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 72
„gave them the naked alternative of submission or rebellion“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 72.
Original
Response of the Church
On 23 January 1318 John XXII also excommunicated the Spirituals of Tuscany who had fled to Sicily with the bull Gloriosam Ecclesiam. According to Lea, popular belief held that the four of Marseille were burned because they wore the mean and tightly fitting habits of the Spirituals; their followers venerated them as martyrs.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 14 (1912), Artikel Spirituals
„John XXII directed against them, 23 Jan., 1318, the Bull "Gloriosam Ecclesiam" (Bull. Franc., V, 137), by which they were excommunicated“
Spirituals, Artikel Spirituals.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 79
„the four martyrs of Marseilles were burned because they wore the mean and tightly-fitting garments which distinguished the Spirituals“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 79.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 76
„The burning of the four martyrs of Marseilles“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 76.
Original
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. 14 (1912): Spirituals, 1 January 1912.
Original · Archive copy(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
Reference work
Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Franciscans, 1 January 1911.
Original · Archive copy(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
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