Gerard Segarelli


Segarelli, Gerard

 

Born in Alseno, near the city of Piacenza (date of birth unknown); died July 18, 1300, in Parma. Peasant; founder of the Apostolici sect in Italy.

In the mid-13th century Segarelli preached that property should be held equally and denounced the Catholic clergy for its idleness and greed. He gathered together a great number of adherents in northern Italy. After the popes’ condemnation of the Apostolici, he was arrested in 1294 in Parma. On orders from Pope Boniface VIII, Segarelli was burned at the stake.