St Maurice of the Theban Legion
Patron Saint of the Infantry, Infantryman, Alpini and Swiss Guards.
Saint Maurice, commander of the all-christian Theban Legion is remembered as the patron saint of the infantry.
Saint Maurice is generally believed to have been a soldier, who lived near Thebes in Egypt in the third century AD. Legend tells us that Maurice was a Christian and a soldier in and later leader (Primicerius) of the Thebian Legion. The Legion was composed of some 6,600 Christians recruited in Egypt to fight for the Roman Empire in Gaul. The emperor they served was Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius, known in English as Maximian. The Legion was ordered decimated (every tenth man killed) for refusing to conduct punitive operations against fellow Christians in what is now present day Switzerland. Maurice, the Legion’s leader was put to death along with eventually all of his men in the year 287AD (dates also given as 297 or 303) in Agaunum, Switzerland (now Saint Maurice-en-Valais). Saint Maurice was one of the most well known of the “soldier saints” celebrated in the middle Ages. In 961 his remains and those of the men who perished with him were disinterred and reburied with honors at the Cathedral of Magdeburg where his relics remain to this day.
In all some 15 other members of the Theban Legion were elevated to saintly status but none are so well known as Maurice. His memory is maintained by several well know works pf art including Martyrdom of St. Maurice and His Legions by El Greco. There are two purported swords attributed to St. Maurice. One is kept in the Weltliche Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury) in Vienna, Austria, the other in the Armeria Reale (Royal Armory) in Turin, Italy. They both are classic knights’ swords and date from the middle ages and thus could not be Maurice's actual weapon. The Vienna sword however was used in the coronation of the Holy Roman Emperors from Otto IV in 1198 to that of Austrian Kaiser as late as Emperor Karl I in 1916.
Saint Maurice (also translated over time as Moritz, Morris, or Mauritius) is seen as the patron saint of armies as a whole, soldiers in general, the Swiss Guard, arms makers, swords smiths, and almost anyone who carries a weapon. More than a thousand namesake churches around the world have been founded in his honor. The Italian knightly Order of St Maurice was founded in 1434 by knights of the Duke of Savoy and was well versed in military operations in the high renaissance era, eventually merging with the Order of St Lazarus in 1573. Long since disbanded the knights cross of this order is still awarded by the House of Savoy in Italy. Since 1941 St Maurice has been the patron saint of the crack Italian Alpini Corps and they celebrate his feast day as a unit.
In the United States the Honorable Order of Saint Maurice is an honorary military society based on the legend of Saint Maurice and inducts both current and former members of the US Army’s Infantry branch into its ranks. Its membership is controlled by the U.S. National Infantry Association and it is awarded in five grades to those who have "served the Infantry community with distinction; must have demonstrated a significant contribution in support of the Infantry; and must represent the highest standards of integrity, moral character, professional competence, and dedication to duty"
Other military Saints include:
St George the Dragon Slayer, Patron Saint of the Cavalry (now armor)-
St Sebastian, Patron Saint of Soldiers and Archers
St Michael, Patron Saint of Paratroopers and Commandos.
St Theresa, Patron Saint of Aviators
St Brendan, Patron Saint of Navigators and Sailors
St Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of Servicewomen
St Leonard, Patron Saint of Prisoners of War.
St Barbara, Patron Saint of Artillery.
Sources
Butler, Alban, Dr. TheLives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints"
Monks of Ramsgate Book of Saints,
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume II. Published 1907. New York: Robert Appleton Company
