The Wolf of Gubbio: How a Medieval Legend Shaped Christian Memory
An account of the legend of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Wolf of Gubbio and its lasting place in the historical memory of Christianity.
Francis of Assisi is one of the most influential figures in the history of Christianity, living in central Italy between AD 1181/1182 and 1226 during a period of profound social, economic, and religious change. Among the many stories associated with his life, the legend of his encounter with the Wolf of Gubbio stands out as one of the most enduring and widely transmitted. Though not recorded as a contemporary historical event in the same way as political or ecclesiastical acts, the story became notable in Christian history because it captured how later generations understood Francis’s role, values, and influence, and because it helped shape the collective memory of Christianity in the medieval world.
