Guebwiller - Eglise Saint-Léger

The construction of the church Saint-Léger (= Leodegar, Ludger) in Guebwiller started in 1182 and took about 100 years. The building, built from red local sandstone, is pretty huge and the style is between late romanesque and early gothic. An interesting point I found is, that the architects of this church obviously spent a lot of time in Rosheim, studying the church Saints-Pierre-et-Paul, that is only about 30 years older.

The tympanum depicts three persons.

Jesus in the middle, having a large cross-nimbus, holding the bible in his left hand, while his right hand forms the blessing gesture.

Exactly this liturgical gesture was introduced by Pope Innocent III (1198-1216). The thumb and the stretched middlefinger and forefinger stand for the Trinity, while the two bent fingers symbolize the divine and human natures of Christ.

The person to the right has a plain nimbus. If this would be St. Leodegar, he would probably hold a sword, as he is a martyr, but the person holds a script roll (?) and probably is one of the four evangelists.

The person sitting to the right has no nimbus - but a crown. He holds in his hands a flower, that obviously is the fleur-de-lys, symbol of all french kings.

The construction of the church started 1182 and took about 100 years. Considering, that the liturgical gesture came from Pope Innocence ( 1216) and it took some time to travel to Guebwiller, I think this is

either:
Philip II of France (aka "Philippe Auguste") ruled 1180 - 1223. He was one of the most important medieval kings. He battled the House of Plantagenet (Richard Lionheart, John Lackland). By beating Otto IV (Battle of Bouvines 1214) he paved the way for Frederick II, from the House of Hohenstaufen.

or:
Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis"), ruled 1226-1270: He was grandson of Philip II and as well one of the very important french kings. He went on two cruisade, made peace with the House of Plantagenet - and was known for his pious life. He was canonized 1297.

It is interesting to see, that the fleur-de-lys here is shown by a french king, while only some decades earlier in Rosheim (90kms north) this symbol forms the end of a dragon´s tail. A dragon coming straight from hell.

www.flickr.com/photos/martin-m-miles/5803279737/

Capetian influence here - influence of the House of Welf there.