GUGLIELMITES. – A heretical sect that arose in Milan, taking its name from Guglielma or Guglielmina, a Bohemian woman, claimed to be the daughter of King Ottocar I and his second wife Constance, who died in Milan on 24 August 1282. Her followers first buried her in the cemetery of S. Pietro all'Orto, and in the following October in the Cistercian abbey of Chiaravalle near Milan, where they celebrated her as a saint.
The sect became known only after her death, its two leaders being a certain Andrea Saramita, a layman, and Manfreda da Pirovano, a nun of the Order of the Umiliati. According to them, Guglielmina was the incarnation of the Holy Spirit, destined to rise from the tomb and ascend to heaven. Manfreda was to be her earthly vicar, as Peter was of Christ, and with this the papacy was to pass to women. Four new Gospels were to be written by four wise men. As is evident from the inquisitorial trials (1300–1302), the sectarians kept precious vestments ready for the awaited resurrection of Guglielmina, and at Chiaravalle, with the cooperation of monks, they celebrated two solemn feasts, one on 24 August and another in October on the day of the translation. A third feast was held at Pentecost, probably in Milan. The preachers then extolled the virtues of Guglielmina. Manfreda placed hosts on the tomb and distributed them as Holy Communion. Dressed as a priest, she even celebrated Mass in secret gatherings, assisted by a deacon and subdeacon. The trial of 1300–1302 seems to have eradicated the heresy. Andrea Saramita and Manfreda were condemned to the stake, Guglielmina’s body was exhumed and burned, and the other guilty parties received lighter sentences.