Saint Maurice

Saint Maurice was the leader of the Theban Legion. Around AD 300 all of them were massacred at Agaunum by order of Maximian Herculius.

The legent relates ,that the legion, entirely composed of Christians, had been called from Africa to go to Gaul. They were ordered to suppress a revolt by the Bagandae (Bagaudae ?).

The Christian soldiers were ordered to sacrifice to the gods, but they refused. Every tenth soldiers was killed. More orders followed,they still refused. They were then all massacred.

St. Maurice is depicted in full armour , in Italy with a red cross. In the Magdeburg and other eastern German depictions he is often shows as a Moor.

In 929 Henry I the Fowler held a royal court gathering (Reichsversammlung) at Magdeburg. At the same time the Mauritius Kloster in honor of St. Maurice was founded.