Flagellants

Flagellants whipped themselves to demonstrate repentance and seek forgiveness.

Flagellants took repentance further by travelling in groups and publicly whipping themselves. They hoped that suffering would demonstrate their sorrow for sin and persuade God to end the plague.

Some people, known as flagellants, went further by publicly whipping themselves. They believed that showing repentance and punishing themselves would remove the need for further punishment from God.