St. Maurice and Modern Chivalry. earlylight Saint Maurice. His Day is celebrated in Switzerland and some other countries either on or around September Twenty-Second. And, in recent years, he is often …More
St. Maurice and Modern Chivalry.
earlylight Saint Maurice. His Day is celebrated in Switzerland and some other countries either on or around September Twenty-Second. And, in recent years, he is often thought of as the patron Saint of Soldiers and Veterans. Born in 250 A.D., Maurice ultimately became a soldier in the Army of the Roman Empire. He was gradually promoted until he was commander of the crack Theban legion. Accordingly, Maurice ended up leading a thousand revered men. He was an acknowledged Christian at a time when early Christianity was considered to be a threat to Rome. Yet, he moved easily within the society of his day. The elite Theban legion, entirely composed of Christians, had been called from Thebes in Egypt to Gaul to assist Emperor Maximian in defeating a revolt by the bagaudae. Allegedly, with the holy SPEAR of Destiny in hand, Maurice and his Theban Legion were dispatched with orders to clear the Great Saint Bernard Pass across the Alps. However, before going into battle, they were instructed to pay homage to the emperor and offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. Maurice formally pledged both himself and his men's MILITARY allegiance to Rome, but stated that service to God superseded all else. Consequently, upon inevitable success in battle, the Theban legion stopped just short of spilling unnecessary blood; claiming that to engage in wanton slaughter was inconceivable to Christian soldiers. Hence, for their refusal to go the extra steps and senselessly kill already defeated Enemies who also happened to be Christians, Emperor Maximian successively ordered that all of the immovable members of the Theban legion, including Maurice himself who inspired them, be executed. Thus, it was this Act of Dedication and Faith that was thought to have started the Code of Military Chivalry to THIS very modern day.
earlylight Saint Maurice. His Day is celebrated in Switzerland and some other countries either on or around September Twenty-Second. And, in recent years, he is often thought of as the patron Saint of Soldiers and Veterans. Born in 250 A.D., Maurice ultimately became a soldier in the Army of the Roman Empire. He was gradually promoted until he was commander of the crack Theban legion. Accordingly, Maurice ended up leading a thousand revered men. He was an acknowledged Christian at a time when early Christianity was considered to be a threat to Rome. Yet, he moved easily within the society of his day. The elite Theban legion, entirely composed of Christians, had been called from Thebes in Egypt to Gaul to assist Emperor Maximian in defeating a revolt by the bagaudae. Allegedly, with the holy SPEAR of Destiny in hand, Maurice and his Theban Legion were dispatched with orders to clear the Great Saint Bernard Pass across the Alps. However, before going into battle, they were instructed to pay homage to the emperor and offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. Maurice formally pledged both himself and his men's MILITARY allegiance to Rome, but stated that service to God superseded all else. Consequently, upon inevitable success in battle, the Theban legion stopped just short of spilling unnecessary blood; claiming that to engage in wanton slaughter was inconceivable to Christian soldiers. Hence, for their refusal to go the extra steps and senselessly kill already defeated Enemies who also happened to be Christians, Emperor Maximian successively ordered that all of the immovable members of the Theban legion, including Maurice himself who inspired them, be executed. Thus, it was this Act of Dedication and Faith that was thought to have started the Code of Military Chivalry to THIS very modern day.