Which saint is famous for cutting his cloak in half to share with a beggar?

Which saint is famous for cutting his cloak in half to share with a beggar? Martin of Tours is the canonical answer.

According to the account recorded by Sulpicius Severus, Martin was a Roman soldier stationed near Amiens in Gaul. During winter, he encountered a poorly clothed beggar at the city gate and cut his military cloak in two with his sword, giving half to the man. That night, Martin reportedly saw Christ in a vision wearing the donated portion.

The story helped define Martin’s reputation for practical charity and remains his most recognizable artistic attribute: a mounted soldier dividing a cloak with a beggar. Martin later left military service, became a disciple of Hilary of Poitiers, and was consecrated bishop of Tours in 371.

A common mix-up is with Saint Francis of Assisi, who is also strongly associated with serving the poor and renouncing wealth. Francis did not originate the cloak-sharing episode. Martin’s feast day is 11 November, and the supposed remaining part of his cloak later gave rise to the word “chapel.”