What is "montjoie"

Montjoie may refer to:

Montjoie (; Old French Munjoie) is a historical battle cry that was reportedly used under Charlemagne and later within the medieval Kingdom of France. Around the 12th century, Louis VI of France (Louis the Fat) extended the cry to Montjoie Saint Denis in reference to the Oriflamme battle standard, which was originally kept in the Abbey of St. Denis north of Paris.

The etymology of the term is uncertain. It was first recorded in the Song of Roland (12th century) with one commonly cited suggestion connecting it to a term for marking stones or cairns set up on the roadside. In late Latin, mons Jovis from c. 1200 in French appears as monjoie; the name Mons Gaudii is also connected. This name was given by medieval pilgrims to Nabi Samwil, a point north-west of Jerusalem from the top of which approaching pilgrims would get their first glimpse of the city.

The name for the "Cairns" has also been given to be Mund Gawi from a Germanic source, which was supposedly used as a battle cry in the sense of "hold the line". Alternatively, the name may come from MmundGalgaa. Mund, meaning "protect", and gala–"cross" or "rood"–as pilgrims would often affix crucifixes to these stones. Other suggestions would derive the term from a Gaulish mant, "path," and gauda, "pile of stones." A Mons Jovis or Mons Gaudii is also associated with the martyrdom of Saint Denis (now Montmartre, i.e. "mount of the martyr," but reportedly from an earlier Mons Martis rather than Mons Jovis). Other proposed etymologies includeMeummGaudiumum (mon joie), suggesting that the connection between the CarolingianOriflammee and Saint Denis is entirely secondary Capaiann).