Note 233 — BOOK V.

We here follow the version of Foulcher de Chartres, who makes use of the word vivit instead of vincit, which appears to have prevailed afterwards. The device Christus regnat, vincit, imperat, forms the legend of the reverse of all the gold coins struck in France from the time of John to that of Louis XVI., under the different names of Francs à pied et à cheval, of Agnelets, or Ecus d’or, or Louis. In the most ancient, the Francs, the verb vincit is the first: X. P. C. vincit; X. P. C. regnat; X. P. C. imperat; Christ conquers, Christ reigns, and Christ governs; which proves that this device or war-cry may be traced back to the time of the crusades.