John of Capistrano
Franciscan friar and Catholic priest from Italy
Years: 1386 - 1456
Saint John of Capistrano (Italian: Giovanni da Capistrano, Hungarian: Kapisztrán János, Polish: Jan Kapistran, Croatian: Ivan Kapistran, Serbian: Jovan Kapistran) (June 24, 1386 – October 23, 1456) was a Franciscan friar and Catholic priest from Italy.
Famous as a preacher, theologian, and inquisitor, he earns himself the nickname 'the Soldier Saint' when in 1456 at age 70 he leads a crusade against the invading Ottoman Empire at the siege of Belgrade with the Hungarian military commander John Hunyadi.
He is also known for his fanatical preaching directed against Jews and Judaism.
Elevated to sainthood, he is the patron saint of jurists and military chaplains, as well as the namesake of the Franciscan missions San Juan Capistrano in Southern California and San Juan Capistrano in San Antonio, Texas.
