The Lance of Longinus, according to [[Medieval]] legend, was a lance owned by a Roman soldier named Longinus who used it to pierce the side of [[Jesus]] during the [[Crucifixion]]. After this it turned up again during the reign of the Emperor [[Constantine]], and again during the time of [[Charlemagne]]. It eventually passed into the hands of the Habsburg dynasty, who eventually became rulers of Austria. The legend stated that whoever owned the lance would rule Europe and/or the world, and when [[Adolf Hitler]] annexed Austria in 1938 he had the lance transferred to a vault in [[Munich]]. After the war it was returned to Austria and is still on display in the [[Hofburg]], the museum of the former imperial family of Austria. | The Lance of Longinus, according to [[Medieval]] legend, was a lance owned by a Roman soldier named Longinus who used it to pierce the side of [[Jesus]] during the [[Crucifixion]]. After this it turned up again during the reign of the Emperor [[Constantine]], and again during the time of [[Charlemagne]]. It eventually passed into the hands of the Habsburg dynasty, who eventually became rulers of Austria. The legend stated that whoever owned the lance would rule Europe and/or the world, and when [[Adolf Hitler]] annexed Austria in 1938 he had the lance transferred to a vault in [[Munich]]. After the war it was returned to Austria and is still on display in the [[Hofburg]], the museum of the former imperial family of Austria. |