Hello,
I realize that this comment is a bit late, but I didn't come across this thread until recently.
Considering the 'mission statement' of the HNN ("To point out bogus analogies. To deflate beguiling myths.") I too must deflate some myths about medieval heresy and violence, particularly that regarding Fra Dolcino in Italy in the early 14th century (which, I should point out, is the subject of my dissertation "Creating the Apocalyptic Community: Gerard Segarelli, Fra Dolcino and the Legitimization of Deviance Among the Order of Apostles, 1260-1307").
Leaving aside the major part of the debate regarding the spread of communism in the 19th and 20th centuries, I wish to take issue with the comment(s) made by F.H. Thomas regarding Fra Dolcino, the "penitentii" and violence.
First, I'd like to ask what source(s) the author used for the "information" about Dolcino and his activities? Since the execution of Dolcino in 1307, many so-called histories of the Order of Apostles (Apostolici, Apostolic Brethren...in this thread referred to as 'penitentii'), including the inquisitorial account penned by Bernard Gui around 1316, have obscurred the history of Dolcino and his order by falsely referencing their violence against the pious people of northern Italy. Though it is true that supporters of the Apostolici (and perhaps some members themselves) took up arms in their rebellion, it was NOT directed at the unsuspecting and innocent peasants (or the rich for that matter). Instead, the violence was between the Apostolici and successive crusading armies headed by the bishop of Vercelli and approved by the papacy. However, according to F.H. Thomas:
"Communism was not invented in the 19th century by Marx and Engels. One could better trace its precepts of violence and armed taking of property by an elite cadre, as well as its name, to the radical "penitentii" of the 12th and 13th centuries, in Northern Italy, who loved to murder and steal as a means of equalization in society, until they themselves were killed."
And from a follow-up post:
"Look up Fra Dolcino. His group killed around 20,000 up and down the Po valley, in the name of equality, before he and 5000 followers were themselves done in. He was only one of many. Although the links are a little stretched, at least one link to him goes back to the patron of poverty himself, Saint Frances of Assisi. The middle ages did more to make modern times than we sometimes give them credit for."
I don't take issue with the idea that communism originated prior to Marx and Engels. However, I do believe that the connection between violence and communism has been overstated, especially if Dolcino's group is being used as an example.
Instead of taking the inquisitorial documents at face value or any of the subsequent historical works (in English) which repeat the same errors (Gordon Leff, Marjorie Reeves, Malcolm Barber) some contextual analysis helps expose the biases and misrepresentation that originated with Gui's "On the Sect of the Pseudo-Apostles" and have been perpetuated ever since.
Let me briefly supply some facts that have been lacking in the scholarship and have been repeated recently in this forum by F.H. Thomas.
1. The Order of Apostles had a quite peaceful beginning in the city of Parma c. 1260 under Gerard Segarelli. He preached a message of poverty and penance that appealed to many, both men and women, as a means to free themselves from what they believed was an increasingly corrupt and materialistic world. Under Segarelli, the Order was very much a "communistic" group, as they collectively shared everything from clothes to food to shelter. All of this information can be found in the _Cronica_ of the Franciscan, Salimbene of Parma, who was a contemporary and bitter rival of Segarelli.
2. The Order (it was referred to as such by papal bulls) spread peacefully from Parma to northern Italy, and then beyond to France, Spain and Germany. Adherents, men and women, preached in a variety of locations, from roadsides, to piazzas, and even in episcopal cathedrals (which implies official sanction and acceptance).
3. After the second Council of Lyon in 1274, the Church tried to restrict the number of mendicant movements, including the Apostolici, by encouraging their memebrs to join established orders (such as the Franciscans and Dominicans). The Apostolici, among others, refused to disband, but no official action was taken, even after a later pope (Nicolaus IV) reissued the order to disband. However, the group was NOT considered heretical, nor did they break any laws. And they most definitely did NOT massacre the rich. They preached their message, lived off of the charity of others (including the bishop of Parma) and pressed on with their apostolic lifestyle.
3. Segarelli himself was imprisoned in the bishop's palace in Parma in the 1290's (apparently at the suggestion of the podesta' of Bologna, whose brother had been evicted from the Order for being too worldly). It was not until 1300, almost a half-century AFTER their foundation, that Segarelli was tried by the Domincan-led inquisition and burned as a heretic (for refusing to obey the papal directives). However, membership in the group was not an automatic stigma of heresy because many laypersons continued to leave donations for the Apostolici in their wills.
4. Around 1300, Fra Dolcino took over leadership of the group. But this did NOT result in immediate violence. Dolcino's message was similar to that of Segarelli, but heavily infused with apocalyptic imagery and prophecies. It is true that Dolcino predicted that their enemies would fall to the sword and be wiped from the face of the earth. HOWEVER, a careful reading of his prophecy reveals that Dolcino did NOT advocate violence for his followers. Instead, he expected the German Emperor to come to their aid and fight FOR them against the papal forces. Indeed, Dolcino undertook a peaceful, clandestine preaching campaign throughout northern Italy trying to gather more followers. There is no evidence that he went on a killing spree.
5. Regarding the statement that Dolcino and his followers killed "around 20,000" in the name of equality, this false idea comes from the biased source "History of the Heresiarch Fra Dolcino". This concept has been uncritically repeated by numerous authors from Beneventus da Imola to Umberto Eco's "Name of the Rose" (in fact, Eco's popular book has almost an entire chapter on the heresy of Dolcino, which is practically a verbatim recitation of the information in the "History"; and this falsehood was again repeated in the film-version of the novel where Sean Connery's character states that the Dolcinites roamed the countryside murdering the rich in order to make everyone equal. However, simply repeating the information does not make it accurate.)
6. Dolcino and his followers retreated to the mountains above Biella, Italy where no less than 4 papal crusades were launched against them. Contrary to the "murderous" characterization of the Dolcinites, the local populace of farmers and artisans actually supported their rebellion. Dolcino and his followers did not raid the countryside and slaughter the inhabitants. In fact, the region near Biella was known for its frequent peasant rebellions against the clerical control (and taxes) of the bishop of Vercelli. It was these very same peasants (and many local lords) who assisted the Apostolici against what they all believed was the unlawful incursion of papal authority. Popular support was so strong that the pope had to issue a special admonition directed towards the inhabitants of the Valsesia region. So many people were aiding the Apostolici (with food, clothing, etc) that the pope threatened excommunication for all those who defied papal authority by assisting the heretics. This outpouring of popular support, from wealthy land owners as well, directly contradicts the image of ravenous, murderous heretics scouring the countryside and killing all those in their path. This new view of the Apostolici as far less violent and receiving much more popular support has been put forth by a number of Italian scholars, including Gustavo Buratti and Corrado Mornese.
So, in conclusion, though the author of the original post might have a point about communism and violence, there is no way that using Fra Dolcino and the Apostolici can help prove that point. They didn't kill 20,000 Italians (in fact, even the number of Dolcino's followers killed [5000] has been found to be far too high). Thus by putting these sources for Dolcino in their historical context (i.e. by recognizing that they were penned by inquisitorial opponents who often stigmatized and demonized their subjects) we can hopefully put to rest the false notion that the Apostolici were bloodthirsty proto-communists.
by Jerry Pierce on October 15, 2003 at 8:06 PM