Perspectives on Martyrdom among Medieval Franciscans in Asia
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The paper analyzes perspectives on martyrdom in Franciscan letters and accounts regarding
Christian missions in Asia during the 13th and 14th centuries. The accounts include,
among others, those of William of Rubruck, John of Plano Carpini, John of Montecorvino,
Andrew of Perugia, and Pascal of Vittoria. The aim of this analysis is to explore the authors’
views on the martyrdom of their fellow friars but also on martyrdom as a potential
and/or desirable part of their own mission. The paper points out a variety of attitudes to
martyrdom, ranging from an explicit desire to silent rejection, and considers the discourses
of memories of martyr death around medieval Asia, outside the regions under direct
Muslim rule.
Christian missions to Asia; martyrdom; Franciscans; Christian-Muslim encounter; Mongolian empire
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