Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: horseback

Pavia once was the last stronghold of the Ostrogoths, but was conquered by the Lombards (aka Longobards) after a three-years-siege in 572. From the 7th century on Pavia was the capital of the Lombard kingdom. A chapel, dedicated to Saint Michel, existed here as part of the palace, when the Lombards ruled from here. When Frankish troops invaded Northern Italy and defeated the Lombard armee in 773, Charlemagne laid siege to Pavia. After taking the fortified town, Charlemagne crowned himself King of the Lombards. The former palace-chapel burnt down in 1005, about a century after the Hungarians (= "Magyars") had looted Pavia. The church seen here was begun in the 11th century and was completed by 1155. In 900 the chapel had seen the coronation of Louis III (aka "Louis the Blind", as he was blinded in 905 by Berengar). In the current church Frederick I (aka "Frederick Barbarossa") received the Iron Crown and the title of King of Italy. The basilica´s facade was built from sandstone, what means most carvings are very weathered. This may have been a falconer on horseback. Falconry was a very prestigious sport in medieval times. Only high ranking nobles could afford it. www.sanmichelepavia.it/html/en_home.html

The small single-nave parish church of Le Heaulme (pop. 200) was erected within the 12th century, but got modified later. It got enlarged by the square apse, seen to the left. Here are details of that bricked up Romanesque side portal (previous upload). Depicted in the center of the tympanum is Saint George on horseback on his way, to kill the dragon. To the right are a Lamb of God and a bird further to the left in the sky a person holding a cross. These group is interpreted as the "Trinity". On the left side are two persons. One of them, standing on an object (?) holds a crozier.

A Benedictian monastery, with strong ties to Cluny, existed here in 958, after the Reconquista had reconquered the area about 50 years earlier. There are hints, that a convent may have been here already in Visigothic times. The monastery offered a "hopital" to the pilgrims already in 1054, when nearby Estrella was not even founded. The large church was erected in a Basilica-style within the 12th and 13th century on a the floorplan of a "Latin Cross". The Magi are approaching Bethlehem. Mary is seated on a throne to the right, holding the child and obviously waiting for the visitors. Next to her is the Star of Bethlehem.

Another former priory church, that now is a parish church. Built within the 12th century it burned down later, got poorly rebuilt and was near to collapse, when the "renovation process" started alrady within the 17th century. Not much more than pillars around the crossing of Saint Romain are left from the Romanesque structure. These still have capitals from the 12th century. Here is one side. While to the right are two heads/faces (one "framed"), on the left are two crowned persons. One riding on horseback, the other flanked by a very large bird. Probably this is the same person, but who is the King?