La Licorne
How La Licorne relates to
As documented elsewhere the dynasties of both the de Montmorency and de Lévis Mirepoix possessed most of the Bokhoven territory in the
past. Reportedly founding fathers of those de
Montmorency and de Lévis have
been baptised together with
Apparently the Lévis claim one of their forefathers been baptized just after Clovis. But, the Montmorency’s are not settling for less with their version of the baptism. Supposedly one of their predecessors also took a dip into the baptismal after Clovis, thereby introducing the cri de coeur Dieu aide au premier baron chrétien.
We treasure these stories because
they underpin the historic weight of those Masters of Bokhoven. As for Clovis
himself the following citation may serve.
The
Conversion of Clovis to Christianity
[Clovis took to wife Clotilde, daughter of the king of the Burgundians. Now Clotilde was a Christian. When her first son was born] she wished to consecrate him by baptism, and begged her husband unceasingly, saying, I, The gods whom thou honorest are nothing they cannot help themselves nor others; for they are carved from stone, or from wood, or from some metal…..
"The
God who should be worshiped is he who by his word created from nothingness the
heavens and the earth, the sea and all that in them is; he who made the sun to
shine and adorned the sky with stars; who filled the waters with creeping
things, the land with animals, the air with winged creatures; by whose bounty
the earth is glad with crops, the trees with fruit, the vines with grapes; by
whose hand the human race was created; whose bounty has ordained that all
things should give homage and service to man, whom he created."
But
when the queen had said these things, the mind of Clovis was not stirred to
believe. He answered: "By the will of our gods all things are created and
produced. Evidently your god can do nothing, and it is not even proved that he
belongs to the race of gods."
Meantime-
the faithful queen presented her son for baptism. She had the church adorned
with tapestry, seeking to attract by this splendor him whom her exhortations
had not moved. But the child whom they called Ingomer, after having been born
again through baptism, died in his white baptismal robe. Then the king
reproached the queen bitterly. , If the child had been consecrated in the name
of my gods he would be alive still. But now, because he is baptized in the name
of your god, he cannot live."
After
this another son was born to him, and called in baptism Clodomir. He fell very
ill. Then the king said: "Because he, like his brother, was baptized in
the name of Christ he must soon die." But his mother prayed, and by God's
will the child recovered.
The
queen unceasingly urged the king to acknowledge the true God, and forsake
idols. But he could not in any wise be brought to believe until a war broke out
with the Alemanni. Then he was by necessity compelled to confess what he had
before willfully denied.
It
happened that the two armies were in battle and there was great slaughter.
Clovis' army was near to utter destruction. He saw the danger; his heart was
stirred; he was moved to tears, and he raised his eyes to heaven, saying:
"Jesus Christ, whom Clotilde declares to be the son of the living God, who
it is said givest aid to the oppressed and victory to those who put their hope
in thee, I beseech the glory of thy aid. If thou shalt grant me victory over
these enemies and I test that power which people consecrated to thy name say
they have proved concerning thee, I will believe in thee and be baptized in thy
name. For I have called upon my gods, but, as I have proved, they are far
removed from my aid. So I believe that they have no power, for they do not
succor those who serve them. Now I call upon thee, and I long to believe in
thee -all the more that may escape my enemies."
When he
had said these things, the Alemanni turned their backs and began to flee. When
they saw that their king was killed, they submitted to the sway of Clovis,
saying: "We wish that no more people should perish. Now we are
thine." When the king had forbidden further war, and praised his soldiers,
he told the queen how he had won the victory by calling on the name of Christ.
Then
the queen sent to the blessed Remigius, bishop of the city of Rheims, praying
him to bring to the king the gospel of salvation. The priest, little by little
and secretly, led him to believe in the true God, maker of heaven and earth,
and to forsake idols, which could not help him nor anybody else.
But
the king said: "Willingly will I hear thee, O father; but one thing is in
the way - that the people who follow me are not content to leave their gods. I
will go and speak to them according to thy word."
When
be came among them, the power of God went before him, and before he had spoken
all the people cried out together: "We cast off mortal gods, 0 righteous
king, and we are ready to follow the God whom Remigius tells us is
immortal."
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These
things were told to the bishop. He was filled with joy, and ordered the font
to be prepared. The streets were shaded with embroidered hangings; the
churches were adorned with white tapestries, the baptistery was set in order,
the odor of balsam spread around, candles gleamed, and all the temple of the
baptistery was filled with divine odor... Then the king confessed the God
omnipotent in the Trinity, and was baptized in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and was anointed with the sacred chrism with
the sign of the cross of Christ. Of his army there were baptized more than
three thousand. From
the accounts translated in J. H. Robinson, Readings in European History,
(Boston: Ginn, 1905), pp. 51-55 Detail
of stained glass window of |
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"Le baptême de
Clovis" de François Louis Dejuinne, 1839 |
Unknown origin |
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