Medieval friars debated whether provoking one’s own martyrdom was suicide

Evidence

A case only superficially different is that of Fr. Nicolas of Montecorvino (Gol. v, p. 73) who superfluously required a penitent Hungarian noble renegade to proclaim publicly his return to Christ, a penance which resulted in the foreseen and intended martyrdom of both priest and penitent. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 2141 (#expands, via linked claim)

Since his private intention was frankly to seek martyrdom this defence of provocation seems disingenuous; he also more openly argued that to tempt others to kill one was not suicide. In any case he followed his own recommendation, bursting into the Friday prayer in the presence of the sultan, and crying out in French against the mortiferam sectam: interpreters and renegades present alone understood what he said. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 689 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Some friars actively sought martyrdom through intransigence — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 2141; Franciscan friars repeatedly engineered their own martyrdom despite banishment — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1105; Critics saw Franciscan missions as suicidal martyrdom-seeking rather than preaching (+6 more)

Related

• Some friars actively sought martyrdom through intransigence (similarity 0.90)
• The urge to seek martyrdom through provoking Islam was widespread, not isolated (similarity 0.87)
• Franciscan friars in 1220s Morocco were frustrated when martyrdom was denied them (similarity 0.84)
• Christian friars debated whether provoking Muslim executioners to martyrdom was licit (similarity 0.84)
• A martyrdom-seeker argued that provoking others to kill him was not suicide (similarity 0.84)
• Medieval Franciscan missionaries deliberately provoked martyrdom by insulting Islam (similarity 0.83)
• Medieval martyrs deliberately provoked Muslim execution by insulting Muhammad (similarity 0.82)
• Franciscan friars repeatedly engineered their own martyrdom despite banishment (similarity 0.82)
• Martyrdom-seeking missionaries provoked Muslim judges into executing them by blaspheming Muhammad (similarity 0.81)
• Some Franciscan friars courted martyrdom by deliberately blaspheming Muhammad (similarity 0.81)
• Medieval friars already clashed over discreet conversion work versus provocative martyrdom (similarity 0.81)
• Franciscan missionaries deliberately provoked Muslim authorities to secure martyrdom (similarity 0.81)
• Franciscan martyrs deliberately provoked Muslims to obtain their own deaths (similarity 0.81)
• Missionaries sought martyrdom through provoking Muslim violence when war was unavailable (similarity 0.80)
• Thirteenth-century missionaries split between martyrdom-seeking Franciscans and debate-based Dominicans (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Some friars actively sought martyrdom through intransigence #expands (0.90) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 2141
• A martyrdom-seeker argued that provoking others to kill him was not suicide #exemplifies (0.90) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 689
• Franciscan friars could deliberately provoke Muslim rulers into martyring them by insulting Muhammad #exemplifies (0.90)
• Franciscan friars repeatedly engineered their own martyrdom despite banishment #exemplifies (0.85) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1105
• Deliberately provoked martyrdom persisted as a Christian aspiration well into the fourteenth century #expands (0.85) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 687
• Critics saw Franciscan missions as suicidal martyrdom-seeking rather than preaching #responds-to (0.80)
• Franciscan friars in 1220s Morocco were frustrated when martyrdom was denied them #exemplifies (0.80) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1173
• Medieval missionaries aimed at martyrdom rather than Muslim conversion #expands (0.80) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1465
• Thirteenth-century missionaries split between martyrdom-seeking Franciscans and debate-based Dominicans #expands (0.75) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 897