The Oriflamme was the sacred banner of the Abbey of St. Denis, a monastery near Paris. The banner was red or orange-red and flown from a lance. The oriflamme later became the royal standard of the King of France, and it was carried at the head of the king's forces whenever they met another army in battle. The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Kings ruled in France from the Middle Ages to 1848. ...
Originally Latin, aurea flamma, it translates to "where gold flares."
As Eudes, who became king in 888, was Abbot of St. Martin, the banner of the church of St. Martin of Tours was the earliest military standard of the Frankish monarchy.
But from the time of Louis VI (1108-37) the banner of St. Martin was replaced as ensign of war by the oriflamme of the Abbey of St. Denis, which floated about the tomb of St. Denis and was said to have been given to the abbey by Dagobert.
At the battle of Poitiers (1356) and Agincourt (1415) the oriflamme fell into the hands of the English; it would seem that after the Hundred Years' War it was no longer borne on the battlefield.
Feeds |
Contact