Piacenza, Italy — 1 March 1095
Blue luminous dove, a great cross
In the public square, in front of the church of Saint Maria di Campagna, there was a meeting of the most powerful figures of the century. It was March 1st, 1095, and the preparations for the first crusade were under discussion. According to the legend, during the assembly, just as Countess Matilde di Canossa began to speak, a blue, luminous dove descended from the sky. Later, when these powerful leaders officially announced the launch of the crusade, the clouds opened miraculously, the public square was bathed in 3 powerful light, and a great cross appeared in the sky, identical to that which appeared before Emperor Constantine, with the words “In hoc signo vinces” written upon it. Probably just a bit of Christian brand management at the time of the crusades…
Source: Aubrey Gwynn, ed., The Writings of Bishop Patrick 1074-1084 (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 1955), cited in Anchors in a three-decker world\ Miceal Ross, Folklore Annual 1998. Note that the term “Scots” here refers to the Irish. Case: W491