[41] See Plate II, fig. 10 and p. 31. [42] The chroniclers adopt no technical terms for the flags, but use _vexillum_ or _signum_ indiscriminately, the former word being no longer restricted to hanging flags, and being occasionally used for a standard or even for a cross. [43] Thus Albert of Aix; Tudebode substitutes Theodore for Mercurius, and Robert the Monk, Maurice. [44] _Ogier l'Ardenois_, _v._ 1744: A trois claus d'or son gonfanon lacié. _Ibid._ _v._ 9910: A cinq claus d'or. [45] _Itin. Regis Ricardi_: regium cum leone vexillum. [46] Plate I, fig. 4. Vexillum balzanum, so named from "balzan," a piebald horse; the word was subsequently corrupted to "beauseant." [47] Known as the Maltese Cross--Malta having been handed over to the Knights after their ejection from Rhodes by the Turks in 1522. [48] Baluzius, _Epistolarum Innocentii III Pontificis lib. undecim._ 1682: Praetendit autem non sine mysterio crucem et claves; quia beatus Petrus Apostolus et crucem in Christo sustinuit et claves a Christo suscepit. Repraesentat itaque signum crucis, etc. [49] Laurentius Veronensis, _De Bello majoricano_. [50] The plural form _vexilla_ seems to have been necessitated by the scansion of the verse. [51] Michael de Vico in his _Breviarium Pisanae Historiae_, written in 1371, says this was red (_vexillum vermileum_) and that thereafter the Pisans always flew a red flag. [52] Reproduced in colour in the _Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Scriptores_, vol. 18. The MS. itself has also been reproduced in photographic facsimile. [53] The tarid at this date was shorter and broader than the galley, and therefore able to carry a heavier burden, but it was on this account less mobile, and therefore defensive rather than offensive in action. These tarids were fitted out with fighting castles (_hediffitia_ (aedificia) _mirabilia ad proelium_) to increase their defensive qualities. [54] Depictae colore albo cum crucibus per totum, dimisso tunc glauco colore quo depingi solebant. [55] Chief Magistrate or "President" of the Republic. [56] The term "Protentinus" was adopted from the Normans then ruling in Sicily, who had acquired it from the Byzantines. As in Sicily, the Protentinus appears to have been primarily the chief magistrate of one of the districts (compagnae) into which the state territory was divided for administrative purposes, the "comitus" being one of his subordinate officers. Thus the fleet was organised on a territorial basis. The term "comitus" was afterwards applied to the officer occupying the position of boatswain in a galley, but it has not that meaning at this date. [57] A medal of Doge Pietro Candiano, 887 A.D., has on the reverse a war vessel with a flag at the mast, too small to show any distinctive marks. [58] LXVI: furent drecies les banieres et li gonfanon es chastiaus des nés, et les houces ostées des escuz et portendu li bort des nés.