36 St.Ursula

How old?: 1325-1400

Finding place: Dordrecht, Groningen, Westenschouwen, Slums, Gdańsk (Poland)

Place of provenance?:  Koln (Germany)

Details: h.:37mm w.30mm

Meaning: pilgrim’s badge from Koln. Over 10 different patterns of this badge were found. (most of them dating for the second half of XIV century) There islittle knownabout Ursula for sure. There is a tale about her and 11.000 virgins. Due to it she was  daughter of Bretonnian king. As she was Christian she vowed purity and by this refused to marry king of Hunns (Huns(?) Eterius. This became cause of war. Ursula together with 11.000 of her companions, also virgins Got on boats to escape her enemies. Unfortunately, near to the delta of Ren they met Hunn warriors and were all murdered. When Hunns left Ursula and her companions were buried with honour in Koln. Number of virgins is effect of mistake when reading the phrase on tomb. It says” XI M V” what means “Eleven Martyr Virgins”, because the phrase was damaged “M” had been interpreted as thousand. St.Ursula is patron of young women and good death. This pattern is replica of finding from Gdańsk.   

Available made of pewter and brass.