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This article contains quotes from primary sources that mention banners. It is not complete and additional quotes will be added as discovered.

==Capitulary of Charles the Bald, 843-877AD==

*

:“Let our envoys (missi nostril) see that the troops of every bishop, abbot, and abbess, march forth properly equipped, and with their '''Gonfalonier''' (cum Guntfannonario).” [HEWITT ~~1885~~1855: p.166]

==Annals of St-Bertin c.882AD ==

* 865

:"The Northman on the Loire made their way on foot to Poitiers without meeting any resistance, burned the civitas and returned to their ships unscathed. But Robert slew more than 500 of these Northman based on the Loire, without losing any of his own men, and sent to Charles the '''standards ''' and weapons captured from the Northmen." [NELSON 1991:p.127]

* 876

:"On the 7th October the emperor, having already given his squadrons their orders, got up during the night, and raising the '''standards''', tried to launch a surprise attack on his nephew and those with him,..." [NELSON 1991:p.196]

==Annals of Fulda c.900AD ==

* 844

:Pippin's duces defeated Charles's army on June 7. In this battle fell Hugh the Abbot, Charles material uncle, Abbot Rihboto, Hrabanus the '''standard-bearer''', with many others of the nobility.[REUTER 1992:p.22]

* 891

:"The shouts of the Christians rose to heaven, and the pagans after their fashion shouted no less; terrible '''battle-standards ''' moved through the camps. Swords were drawn on both sides, and the armies clashed like iron on stone." [REUTER 1992:p.122]

:"In that battle two of their kings were killed, that is Sigifrid and Godafrid, and '''sixteen royal standards ''' were carried off and were sent to Bavaria as a witness." [REUTER 1992:p.123]

* 894

:"As dawn came the King heard mass and then ranged his army around to storm the town. He himself remained at the top of the hill with his '''battle-standard ''' to give assistance to those attacking the wall." [REUTER 1992:p.126]==The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle B, C, D, E (970-1116AD)==*AD 878 :“And in the winter of this same year the brother of Ingwar and Healfden landed in Wessex, in Devonshire, with three and twenty ships, and there was he slain, and eight hundred men with him, and forty of his army. There also was taken the war-flag, which they called the RAVEN.” [INGRAM 1912] Swanton’s translation [SWANTON 2000:p.77] of Anglo-Saxon Chronicle E “.. and there the banner which they called ‘Raven', was taken.” It's also mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle's B, C and D (B was written in the second half of the C10th, probably in the 970's) but it is not mentioned in the oldest surviving copy of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, A (written from c.890AD to 1070AD).==Asser's The Life of Alfred (1000AD)==:"...and there they gained a very large booty, and amongst other things the standard called '''Raven'''; for they say that the three sisters of Hingwar and Hubba, daughters of Lodobroch, wove that flag and got it ready in one day. They say, moreover, that in every battle, wherever that flag went before them, if they were to gain the victory a '''live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag''' ; but if they were doomed to be defeated it would hang down motionless, and this was often proved to be so. " [GILES 1848:p62]A major doubt exists regarding the authenticity of this chapter in Asser's Life of Alfred. It has been fairly well proved that Bishop Parker added this chapter directly from The Annals of St Neots in his 1574AD published version of Asser's Life of Alfred. [STEVENSON 1904] The original sole surviving Anglo-Saxon manuscript, Cotton MS Otho A xii, was lost in the Cotton Library fire of 1731AD. The two remaining transcripts have both been affected to varying degrees by Bishop Parkers interpolations.

==Beowulf, c.1000AD==

*

:"High o'er his head they hoist the '''standard''',

:a gold-wove banner; let billows take him,

:gave him to ocean." [GUMMERE 1910]

==The Song of Roland, 1040-~~115AD~~1115AD==*Verse 4 8

:"And Geoffrey of Anjou, the bearer of the King's '''gonfalon'''" [BACON 1914]

*Verse 33 69

:"Through Cerdagne, and through the valleys and the mountains they marched on,

:Until of the French army they saw the '''gonfalon'''.

:King Marsile will not tarry till he have joined the fray" [BACON 1914]

*Verse 3980

:"They held Valentian lances, and shield on shoulder wore.

:'''White and blue and vermilion were the gonfalons they bore'''." [BACON 1914]

*Verse 5982:"And from their gold wrought helmets a blazing light did dance on shield and broidered hauberk, on '''pennant''' and on lance." [BACON 1914] *Verse 92:"With all his armor on him that became him well indeed.:He bore the good spear in his hand with the point unto the height. :Upon the summit of the spear was laced a '''pennant white'''." [BACON 1914] *Verse 95:"Therewith the shield he shattered, and the hauberk all to-broke. :Through the side the '''pennant-fringes''' were driven at the stroke." [BACON 1914] *Verse 110:"What store of spears were shattered and drenched in the blood! How many '''gonfalons and flags''' were tattered in the fray." [BACON 1914] *Verse 113:"Blazing were all their helmets with precious stones and gold. :'''Pennants''' and spears and bucklers and broidered coats had they and seven thousand war-horns were bellowing for the fray." [BACON 1914] *Verse 114a

:"Then '''an embroidered banner''' he gave unto Grandoign

:To lead his men against the Franks that battle they might join.

:And therewithal was given to Grandoign the whole command." [BACON 1914]

*Verse ~~125~~114b:"Down he rode through the valley as swiftly as might be. :His '''gonfalon''' was fastened with three fair nails of gold" [BACON 1914] *Verse 117:"He shattered all the buckler, :through the hauberk did he shear. :He thrust into the body the '''pennant''' of the spear." [BACON 1914] *Verse 120:"He thrust into the body his '''azure battle-flag'''. :And dead he struck Count Gerin beside a mighty crag." [BACON 1914] *Verse 126:"To rally men in battle the Dragon aye he bore." [BACON 1914] *Verse 138:"The Emperor his war-horns forthwith he let them peal. :From the steeds the Franks dismounted and girded on the steel. :The hauberks and the helmets and the great swords of gold, :and splendid shields and lances heavy and strong they hold, :with the '''vermilion gonfalons, and the azure and the white'''. :There mounted on the chargers of the army every knight." [BACON 1914] *Verse 139:"And all the armor of the host was flashing in the sun. :The hauberks and the helmets shone with a mighty glare, :and likewise the good bucklers with flowers painted fair, :and gleaming were the lances and the '''gonfalons of gold'''." [BACON 1914] *Verse 218:"They deem there will be a battle, if they come upon the foe. :Down over their bright helmets the '''gonfalons''' hang low." [BACON 1914] *Verse 223:"Aloft they bore the lances. Laced were the '''flags of war'''" [BACON 1914] **Verse 226

:"And onwards Geoffrey of Anjou bore the great '''Oriflame''' —

:Because it was Saint Peter's, it bore the Roman name." [BACON 1914]

:Note: Oriflame was the name of Charlemagne's banner

*Verse ~~137~~237:"Baligant the Amiral was a gallant man of might. He had his '''Dragon borne before, and Termagant's ensign'''" [BACON 1914] *Verse 239:"It was Amboire of Olifern who bore his '''gonfalon'''." [BACON 1914] *Verse 241:"But when the Emperor Charlemagne the Amiral surveyed, And the '''Dragon and the ensign and the standard''' there displayed." [BACON 1914] *Verse 244:"And shattered all the byrnie. And furthermore he ran his '''gonfalon''' right through the midst of the body of the man." [BACON 1914] *Verse 249

:"Right through the Prince's body his '''golden banner''' bore.

:He smote him dead seven hundred of his servitors before." [BACON 1914]

*Verse ~~142~~259

:"Ogier the Dane and Charlemagne well the great strokes laid on,

:And Neimes and Geoffrey of Anjou that bore the '''gonfalon'''.

==Bishop Guy of Amiens, The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio c.1067 ==

(Song of the Battle of Hastings)

:"On the highest point of the summit he planted his '''banner''', and ordered his '''other standards''' to be set up." [MORILLO1996:p.47] ~~ The Battle of Hastings: Sources and Interpretations edited by Stephen Morillo~~

==William of Jumièges, Gesta Normannorum Ducum c.1070AD==

(Deeds of the Dukes of the Normans)

~~ ~~

:"Ragnar Lothbroc saga: Ragnar Lothbroc got a magic shirt from his wife Aslaug and his daughters are said to have woven a magic raven banner" - GET SOURCE

[~~Anglo-Norman Studies VI: Proceedings of the Battle Conference 1983 edited by Reginald Allen Brown~~BROWN 1984: p.116]

==William of Poitiers, The Deeds of William, Duke of Normandy and King of England c.1071AD ==

(Gesta Willelmi ducis Normannorum et regis Anglorum)

:"The duke therefore sought the favour of this apostle for the project he had in hand, and gladly received from him the gift of a banner as a pledge of the support of St Peter whereby he might the more confidently and safely attack his enemy." [DOUGLAS ~~and~~ & GREENAWAY ~~1981~~1995: p.227]

:"He then advanced in good order with the papal banner which had been granted to him bourne aloft at the head of his troops." [DOUGLAS ~~and~~ & GREENAWAY ~~1981~~ 1995:p.233]

Apparently mentions the fighting man standard being sent to Rome. - GET SOURCE

==The Annals of St Neots (1120-1140AD)==

:""

Although written in the C12th, The Annals of St Neots was based in part on a now missing early version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. [SWANTON 2000]

==Henry of Huntingdon, Historia Anglorum c.1129-c.1154==

* AD 752 Battle of Burford

:“Ethelhun who led the West-Saxons, bearing the royal standard, a golden dragon, transfixed the standard-bearer of the enemy.” [BOHN 1853:p.130]

* AD 1016 Battle of Assandun

:“King Edmund distinguished himself for his valour. For perceiving that the Danes were fighting with more than ordinary vigour, he quitted his royal station which, as was wont, he had taken between the dragon and the ensign called the Standard,....” [BOHN 1853:p.194]

(Gesta Regum Anglorum)

*

:“The king himself on foot, stood with his brother, near the '''standard'''; in order that, while all shared equal danger, none might think of retreating. This '''standard''' William sent, after the victory, to the pope; it was '''sumptuously embroidered, with gold and precious stones, in the form of a man fighting'''.” [GILES 1847:p.276]

==Master Wace, The Chronicle of the Norman Conquest c.1174==

(Roman de Rou)

* CHAPTER XIV.HOW THE ENGLISH CONSULTED, AND WENT TO MEET THE NORMAN HOST; AND :“HAROLD AND GURTH WENT FORTH TO RECONNOITRE.

:So he would not be detained, but set out from London, leading his men forward armed for the fight, till he erected his '''standard and fixed his gonfanon ''' right where THE ABBEY OF THE BATTLE is now built. There he said he would defend himself against whoever should seek him. p.143

* CHAPTER XVII, WHO WAS CHOSEN TO BEAR THE DUKE's GONFANON IN THE BATTLE p.168

:“The duke called a serving man, and ordered him to bring forth the gonfanon which the pope had sent him; and he who bore it having unfolded it, the duke took it, reared it, and called to Raol de Conches; "Bear my '''gonfanon'''," said he, "for I would not but do you right; by right and by ancestry your line are '''standard bearers ''' of Normandy, and very good knights have they all been." "Many thanks to you," said Raol, "for acknowledging our right; but by my faith, the gonfanon shall not this day be borne by me. To-day I claim quittance of the service, for I would serve you in other guise. I will go with you into the battle, and will fight the English as long as life shall last, and know that my hand will be worth any twenty of such men."

:Then the duke turned another way, and called to him Galtier Giffart. "Do thou take this gonfanon," said he, "and bear it in the battle." But Galtier Giffart answered, "Sire, for God's mercy look at my white and bald head; my strength has fallen away, and my breath become shorter. The '''standard ''' should be borne by one who can endure long labour; I shall be in the battle, and you have not any man who will serve you more truly; I will strike with my sword till it shall be died in your enemies' blood."

:Then the duke said fiercely, "By the splendour of God, my lords, I think you mean to betray and fail me in this great need." "Sire," said Giffart, "not so! we have done no treason, nor do I refuse from any felony towards you; but I have to lead a great chivalry, both soldiers and the men of my fief. Never had I such good means of serving you as I now have; and if God please, I will serve you: if need be, I will die for you, and will give my own heart for yours."

* CHAPTER XVIII, HOW THE MEN OF ENGLAND MADE HEADY, AND WHO THEY WERE

:The right of the men of London is to guard the king's body, to place themselves around him, and to guard his '''standard'''; and they were accordingly placed by the '''standard''', to watch and defend it. :When Harold had made all ready, and given his orders, he came into the midst of the English, and dismounted by the side of the '''standard''', Leofwin and Gurth, his brothers, were with him; and around him he had barons enough, as he stood by his gonfanon, which was in truth a noble one, sparkling with gold and precious stones. After the victory William sent it to the apostle, to prove and commemorate his great conquest and glory” [TAYLOR 1837:p.177]

* CHAPTER XIX. HOW THE THREE NORMAN COMPANIES MOVED ON TO ATTACK THE ENGLISH.

:Then his brother Gurth drew near, and they placed themselves by the '''standard'''; each praying God to protect them. [TAYLOR 1837:p.184]

* CHAPTER XXIII. THE ROLL OF THE NORMAN LORDS CONTINUED.

:The Normans drew their swords and hewed down the barricades, and the English in great trouble fell back upon their '''standard''', where were collected the maimed and wounded. [TAYLOR 1837:p.235]

~~ ~~:Robert Fitz Erneis~~[55]~~ fixed his lance, took his~~[Pg 240]~~ shield, and galloping towards the '''standard ''' with his keen-edged sword, struck an Englishman who was in front, killed him, and then drawing back his sword, attacked many others, and pushed straight for the '''standard''', trying to beat it down; but the English surrounded it, and killed him with their bills. He was found on the spot, when they afterwards~~[Pg 241]~~ sought for him, dead, and lying at the '''standard's ''' foot.[TAYLOR 1837:p.240]

* CHAPTER XXIV. WHAT DEEDS OF ARMS DUKE WILLIAM DID; AND HOW HAROLD WAS SLAIN AND THE ENGLISH FLED.

:Duke William pressed close upon the English with his lance; striving hard to reach the '''standard ''' with the great troop he led; and seeking earnestly for Harold, on whose acconnt the whole war was. [TAYLOR 1837:p.249]

:And now the Normans had pressed on so far, that at last they reached the '''standard'''. There Harold had remained, defending himself to the utmost; but he was sorely wounded in his eye by the arrow, and suffered grievous pain from the blow. An armed man came in the throng of the battle, and struck him on the ventaille of his helmet, and beat him to the ground; and as he sought to recover himself, a knight beat him down again, striking him on the thick of his thigh, down to the bone.[TAYLOR 1837:p.252]

~~And now the Normans had pressed on so far~~ :The '''standard''' was beaten down, ~~that at last they reached~~ the ~~standard[3]. There Harold had remained~~golden gonfanon was taken, ~~defending himself to~~ and Harold and the ~~utmost~~best of his friends were slain; but he there was ~~sorely wounded in his eye by the arrow~~so much eagerness, and ~~suffered grievous pain from the blow~~throng of so many around, seeking to kill him, that I know not who it was that slew him. ~~An armed man came~~ :The English were in great trouble at having lost their king, and at the ~~throng of~~ duke's having conquered and beat down the ~~battle~~'''standard'''; but they still fought on, and ~~struck him on the ventaille of his helmet~~defended themselves long, and ~~beat him~~ in fact till the day drew to a close. Then it clearly appeared to all that the ~~ground~~'''standard''' was lost, and the news had spread throughout the army that Harold, for certain,[Pg 255] was dead; and as all saw that there was no longer any hope, so they left the field, and those fled who could [TAYLOR 1837:p.254] :Then he ~~sought~~ returned thanks to ~~recover himself~~God, ~~a knight beat him down again, striking him~~ and in his pride ordered his gonfanon to be brought and set up on high, where the English '''standard''' had stood; and that was the ~~thick~~ signal of his ~~thigh~~having conquered, and beaten down the '''standard'''. And he ordered his tent to be raised on the ~~bone~~spot among the dead, and had his meat brought thither, and his supper prepared there.[TAYLOR 1837:p.~~252~~256]

The standard was beaten down, the golden gonfanon was taken, and Harold and the best of his friends were slain; but there was so much eagerness, and throng of so many around, seeking to kill him, that I know not who it was that slew him.

The English were in great trouble at having lost their king, and at the duke's having conquered and beat down the standard; but they still fought on, and defended themselves long, and in fact till the day drew to a close. Then it clearly appeared to all that the standard was lost, and the news had spread throughout the army that Harold, for certain,[Pg 255] was dead; and all saw that there was no longer any hope, so they left the field, and those fled who could p.254

Then he returned thanks to God, and in his pride ordered his gonfanon to be brought and set up on high, where the English standard had stood; and that was the signal of his having conquered, and beaten down the standard. And he ordered his tent to be raised on the spot among the dead, and had his meat brought thither, and his supper prepared there. p.256

:“L’apostoile li otreia, un gonfanon li enveia, un gonfanon et un anel, mult precios e riche e bel; si come it dit, desoz la pierre, aveit un des cheveuls Saint Pierre”[MICHEL 1836: p.147] Charlemagne: An Anglo-Norman Poem of the Twelfth Century edited by Francisque Michel 1836

==Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla c.1225AD==

(The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway)

* Magnus Erlingson's Saga

:* 10. EARL SIGURD'S CONDEMNATION

::The people of Viken were very friendly to Erling and King Magnus, principally from the popularity of the late King Inge Haraldson; for the Viken people had always served under hisbanner. [LAING 1907]

:* 13. OF EARL SIGURD'S BATTLE ARRAY

::We have a good battle-field. Let them cross the bridge; but as soon as the banner comes over it let us then rush down the hill upon them, and none desert hisneighbour." [LAING 1907]

:* 14. EARL SIGURD'S FALL

==References==

~~<nocite>~~

~~BACON1914~~

~~BROWN1983~~

~~DOUGLAS1981~~

~~GILES1847~~

~~GUMMERE1910~~

~~HEWITT1885~~

~~LAING1907~~

~~OAKESHOTT1960~~

~~MORILLO~~

~~NELSON1991~~

~~REUTER1992~~

~~SELLAR1907~~

~~SWANTON2000~~

~~TAYLOR1837~~

~~</nocite>~~

~~<biblio force=false>#[[Template:Bib]]</biblio>~~

[[Category:Literature]]

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