 He belonged to the noble family of Miliani and from his earliest years made penance the predominating element of his life.He entered the Order of Friars Minor at Ascoli together with his townsman and lifelong friend, Girolamo d'Ascoli, afterwards minister general, and later pope under the title of Nicholas IV.Later together they went to the cloister in Assisi to complete their training in the religious life and then to Perugia for continue their education.