Italy 1389 to 1471: Popes had the Fraticelli hunted, their villages razed, their children taken away and burned at Fabriano before Nicholas V
The Fraticelli were successors of the Franciscan Spirituals who held to strict poverty and regarded Pope John XXII as a heretic because of his bulls on poverty. In 1389 the Archbishop of Florence had their preacher Michele Berti burned. In 1426 Martin V appointed the Franciscans John of Capistrano and James of the March inquisitors for the whole of Italy. In 1428 he ordered for the village of Maiolati that all suspects be put to the rack, the village destroyed, the children taken from their parents and the older people dispersed. In 1449 prisoners were burned at Fabriano in the presence of Pope Nicholas V, one of them, according to Lea, piecemeal over three days. In 1467 Paul II exhibited captured Fraticelli with paper mitres on a scaffold in Rome.
Deaths
1(counted, Michele Berti, Florence 1389; in addition the uncounted victims burned at Florence and Fabriano in 1449)Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909)
„condemned by the Franciscan Archbishop of Florence, Bartolomeo Oleari, to be burned at the stake“
Michele Berti (Fraticelli preacher from Calci, burned at Florence in 1389) Bartolomeo Oleari (Franciscan, Archbishop of Florence, condemned Michele Berti to the stake) Martin V (pope, appointed the inquisitors in 1426, ordered torture, destruction and removal of children at Maiolati in 1428) John of Capistrano (Observant Franciscan, inquisitor general against the Fraticelli, later canonised) James of the March (Observant Franciscan, inquisitor general against the Fraticelli, described the burnings at Fabriano) Nicholas V (pope, present at Fabriano when the prisoners were burned in 1449) Chiuso (treasurer of the Fraticelli, burned piecemeal over three days at Fabriano in 1449) Paul II (pope, exhibited captured Fraticelli in Rome in 1467)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Capistrano and James of the March burned thirty-six establishments of the Fraticelli or dispersed their members; a number were burned at the stake at Florence and Fabriano, at the latter place in the presence of the pope. The Britannica writes that from 1426 to 1449 the Fraticelli were unremittingly pursued, imprisoned and burned.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„John of Capistrano and James of the March burned thirty-six of their establishments or dispersed the members and a number were burned at the stake at Florence and Fabriano, at the latter place in the presence of the pope.“
Martin V issued two bulls against the Fraticelli in 1418 and 1421. Because legates and the Inquisition could not eradicate them, in 1426 he appointed the Observants John of Capistrano (27 May) and James of the March (11 October) as inquisitors general without territorial limitation and with power to appoint deputies, and thus, according to Lea, supreme over the whole of Italy. They acted under Martin V, Eugene IV and Nicholas V; the Church later canonised Capistrano and beatified Giacomo.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Fraticelli
„fulminated two bulls (1418 and 1421) against the heretics, and entrusted different legates with the task of hunting them down“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„In the same year Martin V nominated St. John Capistran (27 May) and St. James of the March (11 October) as inquisitors general to take action against the Fraticelli.“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 175
„appointed two Observantines as inquisitors, without limitation of districts and with power to appoint deputies, thus rendering them supreme over the whole of Italy“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 175.
OriginalEvidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Fraticelli
„These two inquisitors, who pursued their duties under three popes (Martin V., Eugenius IV. and Nicholas V.) were Giovanni da Capistrano and Giacomo della Marca.“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„who richly earned their respective canonization and beatification by lifelong devotion“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
Original
What happened to those affected?
Michele Berti, a Fraticelli preacher from Calci near Pisa, was arrested in Florence on 20 April 1389 and condemned to be burned at the stake by the Franciscan Archbishop Bartolomeo Oleari. On 30 April 1389 he died at the stake chanting the Te Deum, while his followers exhorted him to remain steadfast.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„Fra Michele Berti, from Calci near Pisa, a member of the Ancona branch of Fraticelli“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„was arrested 20 April, 1389, as he was about to leave the city, and was condemned by the Franciscan Archbishop of Florence, Bartolomeo Oleari, to be burned at the stake. He died chanting the Te Deum, while his followers, unmolested by the authorities, exhorted him to remain steadfast (30 April, 1389).“
On 1 June 1428 Martin V commanded the Bishop of Ancona to put all suspects in the village of Maiolati (Magnalata in Lea) to the rack, destroy the village, separate the children from their heretical parents and disperse the elder population. According to Lea the village was to be levelled with the earth, never to be rebuilt; stubborn heretics were to be burned according to the law, which according to James of the March was the case with many. Repentant leaders were to be imprisoned for life and tortured if necessary to make them reveal others; the children were to be sent far away and brought up in the faith.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„On 1 June, 1428, he commanded the Bishop of Ancona to enforce his rulings strictly in Maiolati, to put all suspects to the rack, destroy their village, separate the children from heretical parents, and disperse the elder population.“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„As it had been a receptacle of heretics, it is to be levelled with the earth, never to be rebuilt.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„to be burned, as Giacomo della Marca tells us was the case with many of them“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„Those who repent may be reconciled, but their leaders are to be imprisoned for life, and are to be tortured, if necessary, to force them to reveal the names of their fellows elsewhere.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„The children of heretic parents are to be taken away and sent to a distance, where they can be brought up in the faith.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
Original
In 1449 a combined attack was made on the Fraticelli of the March of Ancona. Pope Nicholas V himself went to Fabriano, while Capistrano and Giacomo scoured the country. The prisoners were burned at Fabriano before Nicholas; according to James of the March, the stench lasted for three days and reached as far as the convent in which he was staying. The treasurer of the community, Chiuso, who refused to recant and said that fire would not burn him, was, according to Lea, burned piecemeal at intervals for three days until he died.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 177
„in 1449 a combined attack was made on the heretics of the Mark“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 177.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 177
„Nicholas himself went to Fabriano, while Capistrano and Giacomo scoured the country.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 177.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 178
„The unlucky captives were brought before Nicholas at Fabriano and burned. Giacomo tells us that the stench lasted for three days and extended as far as the convent in which he was staying.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 178.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 178
„This hardened heretic was the treasurer of the sect, named Chiuso. He refused to recant, and would not call upon God or the Virgin or the saints for aid, but simply said “Fire will not burn me.”“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 178.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 178
„For three days he was burned piecemeal at intervals, but his resolution never gave way, and at last he expired impenitent“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 178.
Original
In 1466 Fraticelli from Poli and Maiolati were captured at Assisi during the Portiuncula celebration and imprisoned in the castle of Sant' Angelo; their protector at Poli, Count Stefano de' Conti, was also imprisoned. In 1467 Paul II had eight men and six women with paper mitres on their heads exposed to the jeers of the populace on a high scaffold at the Aracoeli, while his vicar and five bishops preached to them. As penance they were imprisoned in the Campidoglio and had to wear a long robe bearing a white cross on breast and back.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„in 1466, when a number of Fraticelli from Poli, near Palestrina, and Maiolati were captured at Assisi during the Portiuncula celebration. They were imprisoned in the castle of Sant' Angelo and proceedings instituted against them. Their protector at Poli, Count Stefano de' Conti, was imprisoned“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 178
„Eight men and six women, with paper mitres on their heads, were exposed to the jeers of the populace on a high scaffold at the Aracœli, while the papal vicar and five bishops preached for their conversion. Their penance consisted in imprisonment in the Campidoglio, and in wearing a long robe bearing a white cross on breast and back.“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 178.
Original
Background
Why? Justification and motives (according to the sources)
Like the Spirituals, the Fraticelli held to the strict poverty of St. Francis. Their preacher Michele Berti of Calci maintained to the end that John XXII had become a heretic through his four decretals, that he and his successors had forfeited the papacy and that no priest supporting them could validly absolve. According to the Britannica, the papacy dreaded their social influence even more than their doctrine.
Evidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„To the end he maintained that John XXII had become a heretic by his four decretals; that he and his successors had forfeited the papacy, and that no priest supporting them could absolve validly.“
According to Lea, the misled simple folk were to be resettled in the vicinity and recompensed with the property confiscated from the rest. Communities that favoured heretics were threatened with forfeiture of their municipal rights. The monasteries of the Fraticelli went to the Franciscans: in 1426 Martin V transferred the monastery of Palestrina, in 1427 the Observants of Ancona were permitted to occupy the monastery at Castro l'Ermita; Capistrano founded Observant houses at Massaccio and Palestrina.
Evidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„are to be recompensed by dividing among them the property confiscated from the rest“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
OriginalEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„any favor or protection shown to heretics will be visited with forfeiture of municipal rights“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
OriginalEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„on 7 April, 1426, transferred to them as a special grant the monastery of Palestrina, which had been a stronghold of the Fraticelli“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909), Artikel Fraticelli
„Martin V had permitted the Observants of Ancona to occupy the monastery of the Fraticelli at Castro l'Ermita“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 176
„after driving the Fraticelli out of Massacio and Palestrina, founded Observantine houses there“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 176.
Original
Response of the Church
In 1471 Fra Tommaso di Scarlino was sent to Piombino and the coast of Tuscany to track down Fraticelli discovered there; after that the name disappears from history. Lea judges that the Church lost much vitality and that causeless suffering was inflicted by the theological arrogance and obstinate perversity of John XXII.
Evidence: Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911), Artikel Fraticelli
„in 1471 Tommaso di Scarlino was sent to Piombino and the littoral of Tuscany to track out some Fraticelli who had been discovered in those parts. After that date the name disappears from history.“
Fraticelli, Artikel Fraticelli.
Original · Archive copyEvidence: Harper & Brothers; Project Gutenberg (eBook 39580), Bd. 3, S. 180
„how much causeless suffering was inflicted by the theological arrogance and obstinate perversity of John XXII“
Henry Charles Lea, A History of the Inquisition of the Middle Ages, Bd. 3 (New York 1887/88), Bd. 3, S. 180.
Original
Reference work
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Bd. 6 (1909): Fraticelli, 1 January 1909.
Original · Archive copy(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
Reference work
Encyclopædia Britannica, 11. Auflage (1911): Fraticelli, 1 January 1911.
Original · Archive copy(retrieved 30 Oct 2026)
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)
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