Medieval and Modern Philologies

The Franciscan Literary Culture of the Marche: Elements for an Interpretation

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Abstract

This article offers a new interpretation of the Actus beati Francisci et sociorum eius as a product of the Franciscan literary culture that flourished in the Marche region between the late thirteenth and the fourteenth centuries. By comparing the Actus with the Legenda trium sociorum, the chronicles of Angelo Clareno, and other texts from the Marche, the article identifies a coherent narrative tradition centered on the memory of Francis’s companions, the historical interpretation of the Order’s origins, and the relationship between Franciscanism and the cultural landscape of the Marche.


open access | peer reviewed

Submitted: July 30, 2026 | Accepted: Sept. 16, 2026 | Published Nov. 11, 2026 | Language: it

Keywords Marche • Sarnano • Angelo Clareno • Medieval historiography • Actus beati Francisci et sociorum eius • Franciscanism


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