The Heretic — Menocchio

: He was vocal about the Church’s wealth and its use of Latin in courts, which he felt was a tool to keep the poor in the dark. The Trials

: The 2018 movie Menocchio the Heretic focuses on his refusal to betray his principles. Menocchio the Heretic

In 1599, despite his age and the pleas of his family, Menocchio was sentenced to death. He was executed by being burned at the stake. His trial records were preserved due to interest from high-ranking officials, allowing his "lost" worldview to be rediscovered by modern historians. In Popular Culture You can find his story adapted into various media: : He was vocal about the Church’s wealth

: He argued that God gave the Holy Spirit to everyone—Christians, Jews, Turks, and heretics alike—and that all could be saved regardless of their specific faith. He was executed by being burned at the stake

: After years of living under house arrest and being forced to wear a yellow cross of shame, Menocchio was arrested again. He had continued to spread his ideas, and this time, the Inquisition declared him a "relapsed heretic" and a "heresiarch". The Execution

Despite his humble station, Menocchio was literate and read widely—from the Bible to Boccaccio’s Decameron and Mandeville’s Travels . He developed a unique, almost sci-fi theory about creation that he shared openly with his neighbors: