Origins
The Oriflamme was mentioned in the eleventh century ballad the Chanson de Roland as a royal banner, first called Romaine and then Montjoie. According to legend, Charlemagne carried it to the Holy Land in response to a prophecy regarding a knight possessing a golden lance, from which flames would burn and drive out the Saracens. This suggests that the lance was originally the important object, with the banner simply a decoration, but this changed over time.
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Famous quotes containing the word origins:
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smiling carves dreams, bright cells
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