The Medieval Avengers

Everyone needs a group of superheroes...even the people of the Middle Ages. I present to you the 14 Holy Helpers AKA the Medieval Avengers.

The Fourteen Holy Helpers with the Virgin Mary and Christ, Germany 1509 (1)

Who Were the Fourteen Holy Helpers?

In the middle of the 14th century, Europe went face-to-face with the plague, also named "The Black Death"  which killed over half of the population. Since the Medieval people lacked modern medicine to combat the plague they turned to their faith...and this is how the Fourteen Holy Helpers came to be. The devotion to these 14 saints originally started in Germany, and they were called "Nothelfer," which translates to "helpers in need."As time went on and the plague spread, their devotion spread to other countries. Pope Nicholas V officially declared them by a feast in 1483, sometimes celebrated on August 8th (2). In short, these saints were prayed to by Medieval men and women to aid with numerous health ailments and misfortunes. Each saint had their specific forms of protection (1). 

Although the group members vary, they commonly include: Saints George, Blaise, Erasmus, Pantaleon, Vitus, Christopher, Denis, Cyriacus, Acacius, Eustace, Giles, Margaret, Barbara, and Catherine (2). 

A Closer Look at Some of the Heroes 

Saint George in the manuscript Legenda Aurea killing 
the dragon with the princess kneeling beside him (3)

Saint George

If you have ever seen the flag of England, you have probably seen Saint George and his emblem without even recognizing it. Saint George is England's patron saint and was a fourth-century martyr under emperor Diocletian. He was a soldier in Diocletian's army and refused to sacrifice and arrest Christians as payment to the Roman gods. Diocletian tried to bribe Saint George to no avail, and Saint George was eventually tortured and executed for his rebellious acts (2). On a totally fantastical account of his life in the 13th century, Saint George was renowned for his bravery in defeating a dragon to save a princess from being sacrificed (3). Due to his popularity and his past as a soldier, I would probably deem him the Captain America of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. 

Saint Barbara is depicted by her tower with the 3
windows symbolizing her belief in the Trinity (4)

Saint Barbara

Saint Barbara, thought to be born around the third century, was sadly kept cast away in a tower for most of her life by her rich and jealous father. When her father found out she converted to Christianity, he turned her in to local authorities who then tortured and beheaded her (2). Legend says that her own father did the beheading, however, karma, or herself, quickly took revenge in the form of a strike of lightning killing him shortly after (4). She is the patron saint of fires, lightning storms, fever, and sudden death (3&4). Although a little predictable I would say she most compares to Thor due to her association with lightning. 

Saint Christopher

Saint Christopher as seen in a manuscript done by William Vrelant
in the 1460s (5)

Originally called Reprobus, Saint Christopher was born in the 3rd century and originally devoted his life to a pagan king and Satan. Eventually, he converted to Christianity under a new king's rule. He became most known for carrying people across a violent stream when there was no bridge due to his strength and height. His most famous encounter was when he carried a child who claimed he was Christ, and the child declared he would be named 'Christopher' aka 'Christ-bearer' (2). After this encounter, Christopher was empowered and went home to convert 48,000 men to Christianity. Due to this, he was strapped into an iron chair in the middle of a fire, which he survived, and then endured a storm of arrows being shot at him, which he also survived. He eventually died from a beheading (5). He is prayed to for the bubonic plague, sudden death, danger while traveling, toothaches, hurricanes, and hail (2&5). His strength obviously dubs him as the Hulk of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. 

Saint Margaret

Saint Margaret coming out of the dragon from
the Book of Hours (4)

Saint Margaret was yet another 4th-century martyr executed by emperor Diocletian. She converted to Christianity under the care of her nurse which angered her father and caused him to disown her (at least he didn't behead her like Saint Barbara's story). Later in life, Margaret was tending a flock of sheep when a Roman saw her and wanted her as a wife. When she denied him, he became angry and took her to court where she was ordered to denounce her faith or die. She, of course, refused and was decreed to be boiled and burned alive, but she survived both. Sadly, she could not evade her beheading (2). Based on Medieval legend, Margaret was believed to be swallowed by Satan in dragon form, but she escapes alive bursting out of the dragon's belly after performing the Sign of the Cross (4). She is prayed to for pregnant women, and those suffering from kidney diseases and invoked against devils (4&5). Safe to say Margaret was pretty badass, and for that I will deem her as the Scarlet Witch of the Medieval Avengers. 

The Medieval Avengers vs. Modern-Day Avengers

There is no denying that the Fourteen Holy Helpers and the Avengers have a lot in common. To society, they are groups of heroes that people can embody and look up to, fictional or not. They both enforce on their audiences a way to act and behave. They represent what it is to be brave, chivalric, and kind. In the Medieval Ages, society needed hope that they would survive the plague and so they relied on heroes from Christianity. Now, society needs an escape from its fears of dictatorship, terrorist groups, and advancing technology. Both groups were formed based on the idea of a world that needs saving, and sometimes humans need the dependence of superheroes even if these heroes live in a reality different from their own.

If you are interested here are some Marvel comic books inspired by the Medieval Ages! 

Resources

1. Drieshen, Clarck. "The Holy Helpers." Medieval Manuscripts Blog, British Library, 20 April 2020, https://blogs.bl.uk/digitisedmanuscripts/2020/04/the-holy-helpers.html .

2. Farrow, Mary. "The Fourteen Holy Helpers: Plague Saints for a Time of Coronavirus." The Diocese of Harrisburg, Catholic News Agency, 14 January 2021, https://www.hbgdiocese.org/the-fourteen-holy-helpers-plague-saints-for-a-time-of-coronavirus/.

3. Videen, Hanna. "Soldier Saints (Medieval Avengers #5)." beoshewulf, WordPress, 5 May 2016, https://beoshewulf.wordpress.com/2016/05/05/soldier-saints/.

4. Videen, Hanna. "Wonderwomen (Medieval Avengers #2)." beoshewulf, WordPress, 13 December 2015, https://beoshewulf.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/wonderwomen/.

5. Videen, Hanna. "Don't Lose Your Head (Medieval Avengers #4)." beoshewulf, WordPress, 1 March 2016, https://beoshewulf.wordpress.com/2016/03/01/dont-lose-your-head/.