As Americans commemorate Veteran’s Day, an important time to be grateful for the military, the sacrifices they make, the protection they provide and the freedom they secure, we cannot neglect the critical role of the man whose Feast Day coincides with this commemoration. St. Martin of Tours (France), the 4th Century Bishop and patron saint of soldiers is celebrated around the world on November 11th, the same day as Armistice Day, that was declared in 1918 to mark the end of World War I and in 1954 became Veterans Day in the U.S.
St. Martin was well known throughout Europe and venerated by soldiers especially in France by its warrior kings. Martin’s impact and those who sought his help in time of violent warfare impacted history and saved western Christendom.
Born in modern-day Hungary and coming from a military family, Martin joined the armed forces at the age of 15 and worked in elite service. Giving his pay to the poor, his generosity was demonstrated when after seeing a beggar in the freezing cold, used his sword to cut his cloak in two and gave half to the man. That same night, Martin saw Jesus in a vision.
He then gave his life entirely to serving God. He resigned from the military at 23 and refused to fight telling his commander: “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ…I am a soldier for Christ.”
As a student of Bishop Hilary of Poitiers, Martin settled in Tours and his ministry thrived, battling the Arian and Priscillianism heresies, feeding the poor and casting out demons. He founded the first monastery in France (then Gaul) Ligugé Abbey. In 371 he was made Bishop and founded another monastery.
Martin became for the French what Patrick was to the Irish — a rural priest miracle worker who trained learned missionary monks. A sanctuary built in his honor became a focal point of French Christianity, a symbol of religious devotion according to historian H.W. Crocker. If the monasteries of the Irish “saved civilization,” the monasteries in France saved Christendom.
Clovis I, a warrior chieftain of the Salian Franks defended the kingdom in 486 AD as Arian barbarians continued to ravage its territories. Pope Felix I and his Christian people faced persecution from all sides as Arian Kings ruled Rome, Africa, Persia, Spain and southern Gaul.
Fittingly, Clovis converted to the Catholic faith on the battlefield in 496 and the Almanni tribe of barbarians began to flee. On Christmas Day in 508, Clovis and all 3,000 men under his command received the sacrament of baptism which led to the entire conversion of the continent.
Clovis was intent on consolidating a Christian kingdom in France resisting attempts by some bishops to ally with Arian King Alaric II.
On his way to the Battle of Vouille in 507, Clovis sent messengers to the Catholic shrine of Saint Martin at Tours in hopes of seeking God’s blessing on the battle. His request was: “Lord God, if you are on my side…deign to show me a propitious sign as these men enter the church, so that I may know that you will support your servant Clovis.” As the messengers entered the church, Psalm 18:39 was being chanted “For thou hast girded me with strength unto battle, thou hast subdued under me those who rose up against me.”
Clovis was the first, but there were many devout Christian kings who took on the mantle to protect the papacy and protect the faith.
In the 8th Century, Arab Muslims who for more than twenty years had conquered parts of Europe starting with Spain began to invade Western Europe. During the previous century they had rampaged through the Middle East and North Africa and were headed North, many believed to raid the rich Abbey of Saint Martin of Tours, the most prestigious and holiest shrine in Western Europe at the time.
“It looked as though it [Mohammedan] were going to conquer all our civilization” wrote author and historian Hilaire Belloc in The Great Heresies.
The Muslim army with its huge force of Arab horsemen and Berber light cavalry, known as Saracens, was considered the most powerful military force in the world with an estimated 70,000 and 80,000 men.
Charles “the Hammer” Martel (686-741), believed he was called to build a military force capable of stopping the Muslims from controlling the continent.
Utilizing unique strategic tactics, Martel chose the battlefield in a high wooded plain near the city of Tours, the invaders were caught off guard and forced to rush uphill into the trees and against the grade of the woods which completely diminished the advantage of their cavalry. Martel waited them out and within days they fled.
“The great victory won by Charles Martel ... gave a decisive check to the career of Arab conquest in Western Europe, rescued Christendom from Islam, [and] preserved the relics of ancient and the gems of modern civilization,” wrote military historian Sir Edward Creasy about the Battle of Poitiers.
As protectors of the church, not only was France considered the eldest daughter of the church, the Pope addressed its Kings as “the most Christian king.”
In 774, Charles, the great, (Charlemagne) facing the savage Lombards who were invading French territory burning churches, slaying bishops, robbing monasteries and raping nuns on their march to take the Eternal City.
During his reign, Charles, a daily mass communicant, would wage more than fifty military campaigns using strategic and cunning tactics he learned from his predecessors against nations, tribes, barbarians, huns and warriors.
In May 800, he traveled to the great shrine of St. Martin of Tours finding refuge and in deep prayer at this Holy place, the foundation of the faith in France. On Christmas Day, 800, in the great splendor of St. Peter’s, Charlemagne, was crowned “Holy Roman Emperor.”
According to historian Warren H. Carroll, “It was holy, and Roman, and an empire — a Christian empire, since all men who hold power hold it from God and must answer to Him.”
Without St. Martin and France’s warrior kings who followed, the Christian faith may not have survived. For Americans who disregard the French as weak and losing their spiritual identity, we must always be grateful for the life of this one, solitary soldier.
Diana L. Banister is a political and communications strategist and an executive consultant with Sovereign Global Solutions who holds a master’s in theological studies.
