Born at Capistrano, in the Diocese of Sulmona, Italy, 1385; died
23 October, 1456. His father had come to Naples in the train of
Louis of Anjou, hence is supposed to have been of French blood,
though some say he was of German origin. His father dying early,
John owed his education to his mother. She had him at first
instructed at home and then sent him to study law at Perugia,
where he achieved great success under the eminent legist, Pietro
de Ubaldis. In 1412 he was appointed governor of Perugia by
Ladislaus, King of Naples, who then held that city of the Holy
See. As governor he set himself against civic corruption and
bribery. War broke out in 1416 between Perugia and the
Malatesta. John was sent as ambassador to propose peace to the
Malatesta, who however cast him into prison. It was during this
imprisonment that he began to think more seriously about his
soul. He decided eventually to give up the world and become a
Franciscan Friar, owing to a dream he had in which he saw St.
Francis and was warned by th