The practice became popular in 1260 thanks to the example of Blessed RanieroFasani of Perugia, a saintly hermit who began scourging himself publicly after
hermit, RanieroFasani, represented himself as sent by God to disclose mysterious visions, and to announce to the world terrible visitations. Fasani's pronouncements
wall is a fresco of flagellants, one of whom is believed to depict RanieroFasani (d. 1281), their leader. St. Bevignate was a local hermit, whose historical