Editing Martin of Tours (section)

====Franco-Prussian War====
[[File:Tombeau de Saint-Martin de Tours.jpg|thumb|Tomb of Saint Martin]]
Martin's renewed popularity in France was related to his promotion as a [[military saint]] during the [[Franco-Prussian War]] of 1870–1871.  
During the military and political crisis of the Franco-Prussian war, [[Napoleon III]]'s [[Second French Empire|Second Empire]] collapsed. After the surrender of Napoleon to the Prussians after the [[Battle of Sedan]] in September 1870, a provisional government of national defense was established, and France's [[French Third Republic|Third Republic]] was proclaimed. Paris was evacuated due to the advancing enemy and for a brief time (September–December 1870), Tours became the effective capital of France.{{cn|date=May 2024}} During the French Third Republic, he was seen as a patron saint of France.{{sfn|Brennan|1997|p=}}

St Martin was promoted by the clerical right as the protector of the nation against the German threat. Conservatives associated the dramatic collapse of Napoleon III's regime as a sign of divine retribution on the irreligious emperor.  Priests interpreted it as punishment for a nation led astray due to years of [[anti-clericalism]].  They preached repentance and a return to religion for political stability.  The ruined towers of the old royal basilica of St. Martin at Tours came to symbolize the decline of traditional Catholic France.{{sfn|Brennan|1997|pp=489–491}}

With the government's relocation to Tours during the [[Franco-Prussian War]], 1870, numerous pilgrims were attracted to St. Martin's tomb. It was covered by a temporary chapel built by  [[Joseph-Hippolyte Guibert|archbishop Guibert]].  The popular devotion to St. Martin was also associated with the nationalistic devotion to the [[Sacred Heart]].  The flag of Sacre-Coeur, borne by [[Ultramontane]] Catholic [[Pontifical Zouaves]] who fought at Patay, had been placed overnight in St. Martin's tomb before being taken into battle on 9 October 1870.  The banner read "Heart of Jesus Save France" and on the reverse side [[Carmelite]] nuns of Tours embroidered "Saint Martin Protect France".{{sfn|Brennan|1997|p=499}}As the French army was victorious in Patay, many among the faithful took the victory to be the result of divine favor. Popular hymns of the 1870s developed the theme of national protection under the cover of Martin's cloak, the "first flag of France".{{sfn|Brennan|1997|pp=489–491}}

During the nineteenth-century Frenchmen, influenced by secularism, agnosticism, and [[anti-clericalism]], deserted the church in great numbers. As Martin was a man's saint, the devotion to him was an exception to this trend.  For men serving in the military, Martin of Tours was presented by the Catholic Right as the masculine model of principled behavior. He was a brave fighter, knew his obligation to the poor, shared his goods, performed his required military service, followed legitimate orders, and respected secular authority.{{sfn|Brennan|1997|pp=491–492}}