Oriflamme: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|BattleMedieval battle standard of the King of France in the Middle Ages}}

The '''Oriflamme''' (from Latin ''aurea flamma'', "golden flame"), a pointed, blood-red banner flown from a gilded lance, was the sacred [[battle standard]] of the [[King of France]] and a symbol of [[divine intervention]] on the [[battlefield]] from [[God]] and [[Denis of Paris|Saint Denis]] in the Middle Ages. The oriflamme originated as the sacred banner of the [[Abbey of St. Denis]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.xenophongroup.com/montjoie/orifl-fa.htm |title=Oriflamme Society |access-date=2005-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051028022144/http://www.xenophongroup.com/montjoie/orifl-fa.htm |archive-date=2005-10-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a monastery near Paris. When the oriflamme was raised in battle by the French royalty during the Middle Ages, most notably during the [[Hundred Years' War]], [[no quarter|no prisoners were to be taken]] until it was lowered. Through that tactic, they hoped to strike fear into the hearts of the enemy, especially the nobles, who could usually expect to be taken alive for ransom during such military encounters.<ref>Robert Southey (1841) '' Joan of Arc: a poem'', Longman et autres. [https://archive.org/details/JoanOfArc1841/page/n322 <!-- quote=oriflamme no quarter given. --> p. 280]</ref>

The Oriflamme was first used in 1124 by [[Louis VI of France|Louis VI]] in 1124 and was last flown in battle1415 at Agincourtthe in[[Battle 1415of Agincourt]],<ref>Richard W. Barber (1984) ''The Penguin guide to medieval Europe''. Penguin Books. [https://books.google.com/books?id=A9MYAAAAYAAJ&q=Oriflamme+Agincourt+no+quarter&dq=Oriflamme+Agincourt+no+quarter&pgis=1 p. 224]</ref> but a version of it remained in the Abbey of St. Denis until the 18th century.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Complete Book of Heraldry|author=Stephen Slater |year=2002 |publisher=Hermes House |isbn=1846819601 |page=30}}</ref>

Louis VI replaced the earlier banner of [[Martin of Tours|Saint Martin]] with 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 King [[Dagobert I|Dagobert]], [[King of the Franks]].

Until the 12th century, the standard-bearer was the [[Comte de Vexin]], who, as vowed to [[Saint Denis of Paris|St. Denis]], was the temporal defender of the abbey. Louis VI, having acquired Vexin, became standard-bearer. As soon as war began, he received [[Eucharist|Communion]] at St. Denis and took the standard from the tomb of the saint to carry it into combat.

Although the azure ground (from the blue [[Cope|cope]] of [[Martin of Tours|St. Martin of Tours]]) strewn with gold [[fleur-de-lis]] remained the symbol of royalty until the 15th century, the Oriflamme became the royal battle standard of the King of France, and it was carried at the head of the king's forces when they met another army in battle. It is recorded as having been carried at the following battles/campaigns:{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}

The Oriflamme was lost at least four times during its medieval history: Mons-en-Pévèle,<ref> Kelly DeVries (2006) : ''Infantry Warfare in the Early Fourteenth Century''. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press. p. 40.</ref> Crécy, <ref>{{cite book |title=Trial by Battle |author= Jonathon Sumption |year=1990|publisher= Faber & Faber|location=London |isbn=0-571-20095-8 |page=530}}</ref> Poitiers,<ref name=Green>{{cite book |author=David Green | title=The Battle of Poitiers 1356 | year=2004 | isbn=0-7524-2557-9|page=56| publisher=Tempus }}</ref> and during the campaigns of the [[Seventh Crusade]] under [[King Louis IX]].<ref>[https://books.google.co.ukcom/books?id=5ry8BQAAQBAJ&pg=PT47&lpg=PT47&dq=oriflamme+lost+at+crecy&sourcepg=bl&ots=pI5Vxrq898&sig=c1k1MERjD9ECAMD1WfoIvaA_Rb4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBWoVChMI493i9t6MxwIVAuFyCh1J-gGR#v=onepage&q=oriflamme%20lost%20at%20crecy&f=falsePT47 Edward Cowan (2012) '' The Wallace Book'', Birlinn]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-02/moa-15a.html|title= The Oriflamme|date= 2000|publisher= The Baronage Press|access-date= 2015-08-03|archive-date= 2020-08-04|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200804233115/http://www.baronage.co.uk/bphtm-02/moa-15a.html|url-status= dead}}</ref>

Although the ''Oriflamme'' has often been depicted as present at the battle of Agincourt, modern historians have disputed that. The banner was given to Guillaume de Martel by [[Charles VI of France|Charles VI]] on September 10, 1415 and carried by Martel from Paris to Rouen. <ref>Barker (2005).{{clarifyme|date=May 2022}}</ref> That was likely an attempt to raise French morale and to rally troops, but there is no evidence that the ''Oriflamme'' was then taken on campaign and unfurled at Agincourt.<ref>Anne Curry (2000). ‘’The Battle of Agincourt: Sources and Interpretations’’. p. 353.</ref> Modern historians agree that the Oriflamme was not carried by Guillaume de Martel at Agincourt, as the king was not present at the battle in person.<ref>Matthew Strickland{{clarifyme|date=May 2022}}, in A. Curry, M. Mercer (eds.). ‘’The Battle of Agincourt’’ (2015). p. 36–37.</ref><ref>Stephen Cooper (2014). ‘’Agincourt: Myth and Reality, 1915–2015’’. p. 37–38.</ref>

== On the battlefield ==

The bearer of the standard, the ''porte-oriflamme'', became an [[Great Officers of the Crown of France|office]], (like that of the [[Marshal of France|Marshal]] or [[Constable of France|Constable]]) and a great honour, as it was an important and very dangerous position to take charge of such a visible symbol in battle. If things went badly, the bearer was expected to diebe [[killed in action]], rather than relinquish his charge.