The Spear of Destiny (also known as the Holy Lance) is a name given to the spear used by a Roman soldier to pierce the side of Jesus of Nazareth several hours into crucifixion.
Raiders of the Lost Ark centers on Hitler’s predilection toward religious artifacts — but his obsession with this particular item isn’t fictional. Historical records show that Hitler obtained the Spear of Destiny after annexing Austria in 1938, and brought the spear to St. Katherine’s Church in Nuremberg for safe keeping. Stories circle around Hitler’s fascination with the Spear of Destiny, which he first viewed as a young, nineteen-year-old painter in the Weltliches Schatzkammer Museum.
Lore connects the spear to several rulers through the centuries, including Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, and Alaric, the King of the Visigoths who ransacked of Rome. Charlemagne carried the spear through 47 battles, with legend claiming he died immediately after dropping the relic. Napoleon also sought the spear, but never obtained the relic. The holders of the spear believed it gave them power to control the destiny of the world, but with one fatal caveat – the holder dies soon after the spear leaves their possession.
