beating the monks

Flagellantism was a 13th and 14th centuries movement, consisting of radicals in the Catholic Church. It began as a militant Particularly following the example of the in the 11th century, flagellation became a form of The 11th-century zealot  repeated the entireenty times in one week, accompanying each  with a hundred lash-strokes to his back. The distinction of the Flagellants was to take thinto the cities and other public spaces as a demonstration of  As well as flagellation, the rituals were built around processions, hymns, distinct gestures, uniforms, and discipline. It was also said that when singing a hymn and upon reaching the part about the passion of the Christ, one must drop to the ground, no matter how dirty or painful the area may seem. Also one mustn't move if the ground has something on it that may cause an inconvenience.

over Europe in separate outbreaks. The first recorded incident was in in 1259, the year after severe crop damage and famine throughout Europe. It spread from there across   and thence into Austria. Other incidents are recorded in 1296, 1333-34 (the Doves), notably at the time of the(1349), and 1399. The nature of the movement grew from a popular interest in religion combined with dissatisfaction with the Church's control. The prime cause of the Perugia episode is unclear, but it followed an outbreak of an epidemic and chroniclers report how th spread throughout almost all the people of the city. Thousands of citizens gathered in great processions, singing and with crosses and banners, they marched throughout the city whipping themselves. It is reported that surprising acts and repentance accompanied the marchers. However, one chronicler noted that anyone who did not join in the flagellation was accused of being in league with. They also killed and priests who opposed them. links them to the Messianic preaching of . The movement spread across , up to 10,000 strong groups processing in although certain city authorities refused the Flagellant processions entry. However enthusiasm for the movement diminished as suddenly as it arose. When they preached that mere participation in their processions cleaned sins, the banned the movement in January 1261. As the movement lost momentum in Italy, it crossed into Austria and then Germany where the same pattern occurred. The peak of the activity was during the , then called the Great Death, which began around 1347. Spontaneously Flagellant groups arose across  in 1349, except in England. The German and Low Countries movement, the Brothers of the Cross, is particularly well documented - they wore white robes and marched across Germany in 33.5 day campaigns (each day referred to a year of earthly life) of , only stopping in any one place for no more than a day. They established their camps in fields near towns and held their rituals twice a day. The ritual began with the reading of a letter, claimed to have been delivered by an and justifying the Flagellants' activities. Next the followers would fall to their knees and scourge themselves, gesturing with their free hands to indicate their sin and striking themselves rhythmically to songs, known as , until blood flowed. Sometimes the blood was soaked up in rags and treated as a holy. Originally members were required to receive permission to join from their spouses and to prove that they could pay for their food. However, some towns began to notice that sometimes Flagellants brought plague to towns where it had not yet surfaced. Therefore later they were denied entry. They responded with increased physical penance.