GUGLIELMITI. – Heretical sect that arose in Milan and took its name from Guglielma or Guglielmina, a Bohemian woman reputed to be the daughter of King Ottocaro I and his second wife Costanza, who died in Milan on 24 August 1282. Her followers initially buried her in the cemetery of S. Pietro all’Orto, and the following October in the Cistercian abbey of Chiaravalle, near Milan, celebrating her as a saint.
The sect became known only after her death; its two leaders were a certain Andrea Samarita, a layman, and Manfreda da Pirovano, a nun of the Order of the Humiliati. According to them, Guglielmina was the incarnation of the Holy Spirit and was to rise from the tomb and ascend into heaven. Manfreda was to be her vicar on earth, as Peter was Christ’s, and consequently the papacy was to pass to women. Four new Gospels were to be written by four learned men. As emerges from the inquisitorial trials (1300–1302), the sectarians kept precious garments ready for Guglielmina’s expected resurrection; at Chiaravalle, with the cooperation of monks, they celebrated two solemn feasts, one on 24 August and the other in October, on the day of the translation. A third feast was held at Pentecost, probably in Milan. The preachers then exalted Guglielmina’s virtues. Manfreda placed hosts on the tomb and then distributed them as Holy Communions. Dressed as a priest, she even celebrated Mass in the conventicles, assisted by a deacon and subdeacon. The trial of 1300–1302 appears to have eradicated the heresy. Andrea Saramita and Manfreda were condemned to the stake, and Guglielmina’s body was exhumed and burned. The other culprits escaped with lesser penalties.