Andrew of Perugia

He was initially sent to China in 1307 by Pope Clement V as a member of a group of seven Franciscan bishops (Andrew of Perugia, Andreuccio d'Assisi, Gerardo Albuini, Nicola da Banzia, Ulrico von Seyfriedsdorf, Peregrino da Castello, Guglielmo da Villanova)[1] who were to act as suffragans to consecrate John of Montecorvino Archbishop of Peking and summus archiepiscopus 'chief archbishop'.

The three suffragans consecrated John in 1308 and succeeded each other in the episcopal see of Zaiton, established by Montecorvino.

[2] A 1326 letter by Andrew to Friar Warden of the Convent of Perugia is known, mentioning the archbishop.

His tombstone has been discovered in 1946, and has been transferred to Beijing, with a copy left in the Quanzhou Maritime Museum.

........ (Jesus Christi) Apostolus........(in mense) .......M (cccxx)xii + 1332 Here is buried Andrew of Perugia devoted bishop of Quanzhou… Order of Friars Minor…Apostle..... of Jesus Christ in… month… M (cccxx)xii + 1332One of his successors to the see of Zaiton seems to have been James of Florence, who died in 1362.

Copy of the tombstone of Andrew of Perugia at the Quanzhou Museum of Maritime History (the original is in Beijing).