Biographical dossier
Francis of Assisi
Francis’s conversion, evangelical poverty, preaching and fraternity gave rise to a movement that required ecclesiastical recognition, written rules and institutional development. His own writings must remain distinct from later idealized portraits.
Chronology and historical sequence
The sequence includes conversion, the first companions, oral approval associated with Innocent III, the earlier and later Rules, the journey to the East, the stigmata tradition and death in 1226.
Primary witnesses
- Francis’s Testament, Admonitions and Rules are primary texts.
- Thomas of Celano provides the earliest commissioned lives.
- Papal documents trace recognition and juridical development.
Office, vocation and historical agency
Francis sought evangelical life within the Church. Later disputes over poverty and institutional form belong to the reception history of the movement and should not be projected unchanged into every early episode.
Geographic itinerary
Assisi, Rome, the Umbrian routes, La Verna and the eastern Mediterranean journey are principal anchors. Shrines mark reception as well as biography.
Source path
- Francis of Assisi, Testament, Rules and Admonitions
- Thomas of Celano, First and Second Lives
- Papal bulls concerning the early fraternity
Catalogue record and limits
- Research ID
- catholon:person:person:wd:Q676555
- Catalogue ID
- person:wd:Q676555
- Indexed life span
- 1182 to 1226
- Source index
- PANTHEON_2_2020
The catalogue dates and point anchors support identity and navigation. They do not replace the textual chronology, doctrinal judgement or critical biography above.