Giacomo Illirico was a Franciscan friar born in Zadar around 1400. After fleeing Turkish invaders in Croatia, he moved to Italy, where he eventually settled in Bitetto. He lived a humble life serving his order as a cook, gardener, and sacristan. Known for his intense devotion and frequent spiritual ecstasies, he was recognized for his piety and his service to those suffering from the plague in 1482. He died in Bitetto on April 27, 1496, and is remembered as a man of profound prayer and simple service.