Cross pattée

The form appears very early in medieval art, for example in a metalwork treasure binding given to Monza Cathedral by Lombard queen Theodelinda (died 628), and the 8th-century lower cover of the Lindau Gospels in the Morgan Library.

An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper (i.e. about 1200) is found in the arms of Baron Berkeley.

Planché provides a dubious suggestion that the term comes from the Latin verb pateo, to lie open, be spread.

[2] Several variants exist as follows: Many crowns worn by monarchs have jewelled crosses pattées mounted atop the band.

A stylized version of the Iron Cross is used to date by the German army (Bundeswehr) as its symbol of nationality, and is found on vehicles, aircraft and publications.

The Arms of Canada, numerous provincial coat of arms and the badges of the Canadian Forces feature St Edward's Crown; that displays four cross pattée and four fleur-de-lys, supporting two dipped arches topped by a monde and another cross pattée.

The Montenegrin cross-flag (Krstaš-barjak) has been used in Montenegro since medieval times to represent the state, and lately its military divisions.

[9][better source needed] During the 1990s, it was used as a symbol of Montenegrin independence movement, most notably by the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro.

[10] Although it was not used for decorations before, in the modern-day Russian Federation, the cross alisée was adopted for the Order of Courage,[11] as well as for other emblems such as the logo of the Wagner Group.

The cross pattée is also placed before the name of the bishop who issues a Catholic imprimatur, and is occasionally found as a map symbol indicating the location of a Christian site.