Icon of Saint George, Christian-Byzantine Museum of Athens
Sant Jordi is the patron saint of several territories and nations, among which there is Alcoi, England, Aragon, Bulgaria, Cáceres, Catalonia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Portugal, Russia and Banyeres de Mariola, others.
According to the Catalan Customs of Joan Amades, the fact that Saint George is the patron saint of knights is due to the help that the saint gave to King Peter I of Aragon in the year 1096. As explained, the aforementioned king won the battle of Alcarás which involved the reconquest of Husca against the Saracens after the latter invoked the saint. To thank the deed, the king appointed him patron not only of the cavalry but also of the nobility of the Crown of Aragon.
