[ 07-21-2001: Message edited by: Rhys ]

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The traditional Roman methodology for executing Leionaries was a gladius in the gut. Under the information Dan posted, it seems the entire Legio was disciplined - there is no way they would execute them all, the tradition was "decimation", where in case of mutiny, cowardice, whatnot, one man in ten would be chosen by lot (3000 men would have 300 executed), and then would be gutted - possibly by their own comerades or officers, or if the case was disobedience outsiders. I believe the Romans made the malefactors dig their own graves prior to execution.

As to the cult center of St. Maurice, I am not sure, it may have been in the Alsace, as King Rene chose St. Maurice as the patron for the Order of the Crescent. This places it clost to Switzerland, and some of Alsace then is Switzerland now (just check out Grandson, which was most emphatically not Swiss prior to the Burgundian war. Berne was the powerhouse of the Confederation, was in an expansionistic mode into the early 16th centurey, and ended up dragging it's neighbors along with it. Enough of the politics leading up to the Swiss-Burgundian conflict!

I hope others can shed some more light on the subject of St. Maurice. I'd like to see if there are any surviving tokens for St. Frances.

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The Dictionary of Saints claims that "Maurice's patronage includes the countries of Piedmont, Savoy, and Sardina and the professions of soldiers (especially the papal Swiss Guards), weavers, and dyers... In art, he is usually represented as a Negro foot-soldier; eight ancient English churches are dedicated to him. Feast: 22 September"

I'll look through my French museum books and see if there are any pilgrim badges.