On the day of the crucifixion, as Jesus Christ hung on the Cross, a Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear. Variously called the Holy Lance, the Spear of Longinus, or the Spear of Destiny, this strange relic has been written about in novels and non-fiction books, in many languages, for nearly two thousand years. This spear subsequently passed through a multitude of hands, coming into the possession of many of Europe’s most important political and military leaders including Constantine, Charlemagne, Otto the Great and Adolf Hitler. Then there the lesser know claimants of the spear people like Julian the Apostate, Conrad II, Henry the Lion and Rudolf I of Habsburg who are not as well known but just as important – maybe more so. A legend grew around the lance that whoever possessed it would be able to conquer the world.