The bachelor thesis presents a biographical profile of the second Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor Elias of Cortona. In chronological order it recounts his life since joining the Franciscan Brotherhood to his death in 1253. The main emphasis is laid on the reflection of his tenure as a high official of the Order on the background of the overall development of the Franciscan movement in the first decades of the 13th century. A special chapter is a review of Elias' role in the construction of the basilica in Assisi and a description of his involvement in imperial service, which led to his excommunication. The aim of this bachelor thesis is to provide a comprehensive biographical profile and through comparison and criticism of various sources, gain such a depiction of Elias' life, that would be as close as possible to historical facts. For the elaboration of the topic both sources of external provenance and of franciscan provenance were used. Where possible, the selection of the sources is focused on the chronological proximity of the origin of the individual testimony to the described events
