As the story goes, Maximian was Emperor of the Roman Empire with Diocletian as his colleague. An uprising of the Gauls known as "Bagaude" forced Maximian to march against them with a massive army. One of the units of this army was the Thebian Legion composed of 6600 men. This unit had been recruited from upper (southern) Egypt and consisted entirely of Egyptian Coptic Christians.

After the revolt was quelled the Emperor Maximian issued an order that the army engage in the killing of prisoners and civilians, including Christian Gauls. St. Maurice and his Thebian Legion, Christians themselves, refused to comply with the orders.

A furious Maximian is said to have ordered the entire Thebian legion hunted down and killed for disobeying his orders. It was in this manner that Maurice and 6600 of his fellow soldiers are said to have died at the hands of the Emperor Maximian (285-305 AD) for their mercy towards early fellow Christians.

Worshipped as early as 460AD, St. Maurice has had numerous artworks, locations, structures - even a castle - dedicated to him. The existence of nearly 300 major images of the black St. Maurice have been catalogued, and even today his worship is seen within numerous cathedrals in eastern Germany.

St. Maurice's name itself translates to, "like a Moor".

According to Coptic Egyptian writings:

"Saint Maurice has always been one of the most popular saints in Western Europe, with over 650 foundations in his name in France alone. Five cathedrals, innumerable churches, chapels and altars are consecrated in his name all over Europe. Aguanum (Saint Maurice en Valais) has always remained the main focus of veneration of the Thebans and a significant pilgrimage resort. In the monastery that bears his name there, the monks perform a special devotion to the saints every day, and celebrate their feast on September 22 of each year. An all night vigil on the night before the feast is attended by nearly1000 people. On the feast day, they carry in procession the relics of the martyrs in the ancient silver caskets. Over seventy towns bear the name of Saint Maurice".

For More Information: Analysis of the Blackamoor in European Heraldry by Mario de Valdes y Cocom http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/secret/famous/ssecretum.html