Le Saint-Mors or
The Sacred Bit

The symbol of Carpentras since 1260 that occurs on its coat of arms is a holy relic known as Le Saint-Mors or the Sacred Bit. Legend has it that the Empress Helen had nails excavated from the site of Christ's cross made into a horse bit for her son, Constantine. This was preserved in Contantinople until the Byzantine capital was sacked and looted by the forces of the Fourth Crusade in 1204 (even though the occupants of the city were also Christian!). By 1226, the relic had found its way into the possesion of Bishop Isnard of Carpentras, probably handed over by a local crusader. This was kept secret for a few years against the possibility of it being reclaimed by the rightful owners, a practice concerning relics that was not uncommon at that time.