Blessed Antony Primaldi
Blessed Antony Primaldi and the 813 Martyrs of Otranto (died August 14, 1480 AD in Otranto, Apulia, Italy) were a group of approximately 813 inhabitants of Otranto who were beheaded by Ottoman Turkish forces under Gedik Ahmed Pasha when they refused to convert to Islam. Antony Primaldi, a tailor, is venerated as the leader and spokesman of the martyrs — the man who first proclaimed their collective refusal to apostatize. The group was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 5, 1980, in Otranto, and then canonized by Pope Francis on May 12, 2013. They are the largest single group to have been canonized by the Catholic Church. Though listed in the CSV as "Blessed Antony Primaldi" (their pre-canonization title), they have been fully canonized saints since 2013. Their feast day is August 14.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Antony Primaldi
| Blessed Antony Primaldi | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | August 14 |
| Profession | Antony Primaldi was a tailor; the 813 martyrs included men of all trades and professions — farmers, fishermen, merchants, craftsmen, soldiers, servants; they were the ordinary male population of a 15th-century Italian port city; their martyrdom was that of ordinary laypeople, not clergy or religious |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Italian Catholic Church; Diocese of Otranto; Apulian Catholic tradition; Marian tradition (vigil of the Assumption); 15th-century Italian Christendom |
| Patronage | Otranto; Apulia; Italy; those who face coerced apostasy; the laity who witness to the faith; those threatened by unjust death for their beliefs; the city of Otranto |
| Attributes | The 813 (represented by a sword or multiple heads); an Islamic crescent moon and a cross (the choice they faced); the city of Otranto on the Adriatic; a tailor's needle (Antony Primaldi's trade); the bones displayed in the Cathedral of Otranto; the palm of martyrdom |
| Birthplace | Otranto, Apulia, Italy |
| Death Place | Otranto, Apulia, Italy (Hill of Minerva, outside the city) |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; beheaded August 14, 1480, on the Hill of Minerva outside Otranto, by Ottoman Turkish forces under Gedik Ahmed Pasha; the Ottomans had invaded the Italian mainland and captured Otranto (a key port on the heel of Italy) in July 1480, massacring most of the population (approximately 12,000 total killed in the city's fall); the surviving male inhabitants — approximately 813 men — were given the choice by the Ottoman commander to convert to Islam or die; they refused, led by the tailor Antony Primaldi, who reportedly said: "We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God, and for Him we are ready to die a thousand times"; all 813 were beheaded on August 14, 1480 — the vigil of the Assumption of the Virgin; Antony Primaldi was reportedly the first to be beheaded, and witnesses reported that his body stood upright after decapitation until the last martyr had been killed; the Ottomans withdrew from Otranto in 1481 after the death of Sultan Mehmed II; the bodies of the martyrs were discovered with their bones still intact |
| Primary Shrine | Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata, Otranto, Apulia, Italy — the chapel of the Martyrs with their skulls and bones; August 14 feast; major Italian pilgrimage destination; UNESCO-recognized cathedral mosaic floor |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman calendar as of 2025; August 14 feast in Italy and in dioceses with particular devotion; vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar |
Biography
On July 28, 1480, an Ottoman Turkish fleet under Gedik Ahmed Pasha — sent by Sultan Mehmed II, conqueror of Constantinople — landed at Otranto, the easternmost city of Italy. After an 18-day siege, the city fell on August 11, 1480. The Ottomans massacred approximately 12,000 of the inhabitants.
The surviving men — approximately 813 in number — were assembled and given a choice by the Ottoman commander: convert to Islam or die. Their spokesman was Antony Primaldi, a local tailor, who reportedly answered: "We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God, and for Him we are ready to die a thousand times."
All 813 men were taken to the Hill of Minerva outside the city and beheaded on August 14, 1480 — the vigil of the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin. By tradition, Antony Primaldi was the first to be beheaded, and his body reportedly stood upright without falling until all 813 had been martyred.
The Ottomans withdrew from Otranto in 1481 following the death of Sultan Mehmed II. The bones of the martyrs were gathered and preserved; today they are displayed in the Chapel of the Martyrs in the Cathedral of Otranto.
The martyrs were beatified by Pope John Paul II in Otranto on May 5, 1980. They were canonized by Pope Francis on May 12, 2013 — the first canonization of Pope Francis's pontificate, and the largest single group canonization in the history of the Catholic Church.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Otranto, Apulia, Italy
Death location: Otranto, Apulia, Italy (Hill of Minerva, outside the city)
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Known shrines
- Cathedral of Santa Maria Annunziata, Otranto, Apulia, Italy — Chapel of the Martyrs; the skulls and bones of the 813 martyrs are displayed here; major pilgrimage destination; feast August 14.
- Sanctuary of the Martyrs, Hill of Minerva (Colle della Minerva), Otranto — the site of their execution; small shrine marks the place.
Feast day
August 14 (vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Veneration
Antony Primaldi and the 813 Martyrs of Otranto (died August 14, 1480) were the male inhabitants of Otranto, Italy, who were beheaded on the vigil of the Assumption by Ottoman Turkish forces for refusing to apostatize from the Catholic faith. The largest single group in Church history to be canonized as saints. Beatified John Paul II, Otranto, 1980; canonized Francis, Rome, May 12, 2013. Feast August 14.
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