A royal banner, mentioned in the "Chanson de Roland" (11th century), which legend claims was given to Charlemagne by the pope, though there is no historical evidence of this. As Eudes, who became king, 888, was Abbot of Saint Martin, the azure banner strewn with gold fleur-de-lis, of the church of Saint Martin of Tours, was the earliest military standard of the Frankish monarchy, remaining the symbol of royalty until the 14th century when the white standard of Joan of Arc was adopted. From the time of Louis VI, however, the oriflamme of the Abbey of Saint Denis, supposedly depicting flames and gold stars on a fiery background, replaced the oriflamme of Saint Martin as ensign of war. Oriflammes having little similarity succeeded one another through the centuries. At the battles of Poitiers, 1356, and Agincourt, 1415, the oriflamme fell into the hands of the English; after the Hundred Years' War it was no longer borne on the battlefield.
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