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In
778, the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne, tired of the stubborn resistance
of the Saracen Lord Mirat who occupied the citadel of Mirambel (today’s
citadel of Lourdes in southern France), was preparing to lift the siege
when one of his companions, the bishop of Le Puy-en-Velay, a city in
region of Auvergne, had a sudden inspiration and obtained permission to
go parley with the besieging army.
The
bishop asked Mirat to surrender, not to the Frankish sovereign but to
the Queen of Heaven. The idea was acceptable to the Moorish leader, who
agreed to lay down his arms at the feet of the Black Virgin of Le Puy,
and received baptism. On the day of his baptism, Mirat took the name of
Lorus, which was later passed on to the city that was called Lourdes.
The
written act of the surrender states that "Mirat recognizes no mortal
above him and prefers death to the shame of surrender. Therefore he
surrenders to the servant of Our Lady, and is ready to receive baptism,
provided that his county will never belong, either for him or his
descendants, to any other than her alone." Charlemagne signed the
agreement.
On February 11, 1858, Our Lady appeared to Saint Bernadette and asked to be venerated in Lourdes.
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