In 2020, the Regional Directorate of Culture (DRAC) in France’s northernmost region, Hauts-de-France, asked the country’s Center for National Monuments (CMN) to begin renovating a royal castle historically located in the commune of Villers-Cotterêts in the province of Aisne. While searching a room in the north wing of the royal residence earlier this year, archaeologists discovered a rare St George’s seal, representing one of the most important finds after the war. their discovery. According to the official press release of France’s Inrap, this 15th-century St George seal belongs to a type known as a seal matrix, which is an engraved metal object (in this case bronze) that would be used to place an identifying wax seal. on important documents.
Side view of the rare St George seal found in a medieval castle in France. (© Serge le Maho / Inrap )
The renovation of the castle in France resulted in the St George Seal
The historic royal castle in the commune of Villers-Cotterêts was built in 1528 by King Francis I, who is famous for his 1539 order requiring the use of French rather than Latin on all official government documents. government.
As part of the ongoing Villers-Cotterêts renovation project, archaeologists from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap) and the Aisne Archaeological Service have carried out excavations throughout the castle grounds. station. They are attempting to locate and remove any artifacts that may have been damaged or lost during construction and reconstruction-related activities.
In the Middle Ages, wax seals were added to verify the authenticity of such documents. Each seal matrix will contain a unique signature, which can be an image, letter or both, which will serve as a unique identifier for the organization, agency or individual to which it belongs. The seal matrix can be used by a government official working in some bureaucratic or administrative role. It can also be used by private agencies or individuals who want to authenticate documents issued by their company or organization.
Seals like these were once used exclusively in Europe by kings and representatives of their courts. But starting around the 10th century, religious authorities began stamping their documents, and by the 13th century, wax seals were regularly added to documents by many royal institutions. , religious, secular and bureaucratic.
Close-up of the “positive side” of the St George seal, in which you can easily see the knight George and his steed above the dragon. (© Serge le Maho / Inrap )
Receive Saint George’s seal of approval
The 500-year-old Villers-Cotterêts St George seal matrix was found in the remains of a fireplace, encased inside a pile of old burned-out coals. It may have accidentally fallen into a fire or been thrown there by someone who was no longer using it and tried to melt it.
The seal matrix is made from copper and includes a metal extension with a hanging loop that allows a person to wear it on a necklace or strap so that it can be worn around the neck. Its engraved face is quite small, only 0.86 inches wide and 0.67 inches high (or 22 mm x 17 mm).
Despite its small size, a close examination of the matrix’s face reveals a clear and rather distinctive image of Saint George, a Christian martyr widely honored in the Middle Ages. In this image, Saint George is seated on the back of a horse and is riding right on top of a dragon that seems to be preparing to crush it. Equestrian armor was of the type commonly used in the 15th century, which is what archaeologists rely on to date up to that time.
On the perimeter of the engraving there is a Gothic inscription written as follows: IP PRI/EUR / DEVILLERS / LESM / OINE. Currently, the meaning of these letters is unknown.
Based on its unique iconography, archaeologists Inrap and Aisne said the wax seal belonged to the abbey of Saint-Georges in Villes-les-Moines, which was linked to the abbey of la-Chaise-Dieu in Auvergne. The monastery is located a little more than half a mile or one kilometer northeast of Villers-Cotterêts castle, about 70 kilometers (44 miles) northeast of Paris.
Unfortunately, very little is known about this monastery, other than the fact that it existed. It was converted into a Benedictine monastery called Saint-Rémy-Saint-Georges in the 17th century, as the famous Saint George remained its patron saint throughout its existence.
A mosaic depicts Saint George on horseback slaying a dragon. (VIS Fine Arts / Adobe Stock)
Who is Saint George?
According to historians, Saint George (George of Lydda) was a Cappadocian Greek Christian who was a member of the Roman Praetorian Guard during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (285 to 305). At some point, he was asked to renounce his religious faith and when he refused, he was sentenced to death in 303 AD.
After his canonization, Saint George became one of the most famous and admired Christian martyrs in medieval Europe. Monasteries are named after him, villages and countries choose him as their patron and protector, and legends celebrate his courage and dedication to the faith and help help people in difficulty.
The most famous of these legends is called Saint George and the Dragon, and it is this story that is mentioned on the newly recovered seal matrix.
In this story, George is said to have saved a Libyan princess from an evil dragon who had been terrorizing a village for years and demanding human sacrifice. In early versions of the story, this heroic feat was assigned to other saints, but around the 11th or 12th century the very famous St George was given the role of hero.
St. George’s connection to the legend of slaying the evil dragon helped inspire him even more admiration, cementing his reputation as one of the bravest of all Christian saints. Catholicism. In medieval Europe, he was considered the embodiment of unshakable religious faith and humanitarian commitment.
The project restores France’s medieval Villers-Cotterêts castle, where the St George seal was found, about 70 kilometers or 44 miles northeast of Paris. (French Ministry of Culture)
A remarkable artifact by any measure
The discovery of the matrix at the castle at Villers-Cotterêts was remarkable because the object was so unusual. Most medieval seal matrices were melted down or thrown away after being used for a few years, and thus these objects are only occasionally found in archaeological excavations.
The fact that this particular matrix includes the image of St. George, in the context of the most famous legend associated with his name, only adds to its remarkable nature and
