Saint Charlemagne, Patron of students and teachers, c.1910 (colour litho)

The Emperor Charlemagne (787-814) is the patron saint of schools and education; Pope Paschal III canonized Charlemagne in 1165 although the Catholic Church has never recognized this canonization since Paschal is considered an antipope; King Louis XI of France (1423-1483) instituted a holy day in Charlemagne's honour in 1479, known as 'La Saint-Charlemagne'; celebrated on 28 January with a day's holiday for schools accompanied with a feast; the illustration shows the oriflamme, a flag associated by legend with Charlemagne, and which later became the French royal standard;