Oriflamme

The Royal military banner of France, derived from the banner of Saint Denis near Paris. The banner was made of Crimson silk with a saltire wavy, the banner was kept above the altar at Saint Denis until the King called it forward. Carrying the Oriflamme was a high honor; the banner was carried at the Battle of Crècy and again at Poitiers , where it was carried by Geoffrey de Charnay, the predomme French knight who was slain defending it during that battle in 1356. The banner was to remain furled until dire circumstance required the army to retreat and regroup--Charnay died with the banner unfurled as the English crushed the army.