Seven Franciscans who went to preach in Morocco despite all who urged them not to, and were beheaded three weeks later.
Six friars minor of Tuscany obtained from Elias of Cortona, vicar-general of the order, permission to preach in the Maghreb; Daniel, minister provincial of Calabria, joined them in Spain and became their superior. They sailed in 1227 for Morocco, where a small Christian community lived around the merchants and mercenaries of Ceuta. They were not going there to serve it: they meant to preach to Muslims, which Francis's rule did not forbid but which the authorities on both sides feared alike. The Christian merchants of the town tried to hold them back, knowing what it would cost. Landed on 20 September, they entered Ceuta, preached in the square, were arrested, held a few days, ordered to abjure, and beheaded on 10 October. This is the second wave of Franciscan martyrs in the Maghreb after that of Marrakesh in 1220; Leo X canonised them in 1516.
Seven Franciscans in rough habits, palms and severed heads at their feet; sometimes a port city behind.