The Conflict Between Heresy and Orthodoxy

The struggle between the Church's official doctrine and various heretical movements, as seen in the Dolcinians and Fraticelli.

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The Dolcinian Revolt

A Violent Heresy Fra Dolcino's Preaching Fra Dolcino leads a rebellion of the poor against the Church and nobility. He preaches violence and communal living. His followers are known as the Apostolic Brethren. The Crusade The Church launches a crusade against the Dolcinians. After a long siege, Dolcino is captured and executed horribly. The rebellion is crushed. The Survivors Remigio and Salvatore are among the survivors. They hide their past but are eventually discovered. Their heresy is used to discredit the Franciscan poverty movement.

The Inquisition's Response

Bernard Gui's Methods The Trial Bernard Gui interrogates Remigio, using torture and threats. He extracts a confession that links the Dolcinians to the Franciscan Spirituals. The Political Use of Heresy Gui uses the trial to discredit the Franciscan position on poverty. He argues that the same ideas lead to violence. The meeting of legations is undermined. The Victory of Orthodoxy The Inquisition triumphs. Remigio and Salvatore are condemned. The Franciscans are weakened. The Church's authority is reaffirmed, but at a great cost.

1305-1307

Fifth day