Founded in 1118, and endorsed by the Church in 1129, the Knights Templar quickly grew in wealth and respect throughout Europe. They were a refuge for knights who wished to serve their God in a capacity for which they had a talent. They came to an end very suddenly in 1307 when the King of France accused them of heretical practices. The Order had to be dissolved.

Very little is left to us of the Templars. After their sudden dissolution, they continued to exist only in a few manuscripts and in people's imaginations. Though many of the images they used are left, the reasoning behind many of the choices is gone. In its place is mystery, legend, and guesswork. Few scholars have taken on the task of solving these mysteries, and many of them likely have dead ends.

Seals were one historical way of expressing identity, like the modern signature. they could never be perfectly forged, and identified the author of a document. The owner of a seal chose an emblem he wished to represent him--with which he wanted people to associate him. People would also associate him and his seal with the contents of the documents to which he applied it. His reputation could be affected by the things he chose to endorse.

The seal of the Grand Master of the Temple is one of the biggest mysteries, and is likely to remain so. Theories on the meaning of the horse with two riders run from homosexuality to spirituality. The best symbols have many layers of meaning, and it is likely that de Blanchefort meant his to have more than one. While some of the theories may be what he intended, others are obviously absurd. The most likely meaning is that it represented the duality and the unity of the Order, being made up of both knights and clergy, at once both and neither.

Templars also used the Chi Rho, an early Christian monogram for the name of Christ. When Christianity became the official religion, the symbol was adopted by the Emperor Constantine for the shields and banners of his army. In the medieval period, the Chi Rho was as well known as the cross. Its early associations with the military, and its easy recognisability in a predominantly illiterate culture and Order, made it a very apt symbol for the Templars.

The use of the temple on the reverse of de Blanchefort's seal was perhaps less apt. It is not clear what building is begin depicted. It may be the Dome of the Rock--known to contemporary Christians as the Lord's Temple--or it may have been the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the first home of the Order, according to some legends. The Holy Sepulchre would make more sense, due its possible Templar associations, but it was never known as a "temple", whereas the mosque was. The building it too stylised to be certain.

Some of the masters and commanders of the smaller temples simply copied the motif of the Grand Master's seal to show their ties to the Order. Most, however, developed their own seals. This was to express their individuality, as they used the opportunity to produce seals which represented the characteristics and virtues they wished people to associate with them. What were the most important virtues could differ from house to house, from region to region, or from generation to generation. Some seals did not change their emblem through the command of many masters.

Some commanders used animals to express the virtues and characteristics they found important. These were most often fierce creatures which had connotations of honour and bravery in the face of danger. Common among these were the lion, the eagle and the griffon.

Other commanders used religious icons. Some used the face of Christ, while others used the more subtle Agnus Dei--also an animal emblem--which represented Christ and his role as sacrificial lamb. The Templars wished to be seen in this role--emulators of Christ, with a willingness to suffer and die for their cause. He is the Church's sacrificial lamb, and is proud to be so. This symbol was especially popular with the masters in England.

The Templar's white habit is, fortunately, one of the few symbols that is explained by contemporary texts. Its white represents purity, and its roots are in the habit of the Cistercian Order, with which the Templars had close ties. The habit caused the Templars to stand out as people who had taken vows, and were removed from everyday society.

The red cross--the symbol of St George--was added to the habit later. The red of blood against the purity of the white habit was a mark of martyrdom. On the one hand, St George was everything the Templars aspired to: warrior, martyr and saint. Bearing his mark meant that they had volunteered themselves as martyrs. It also caused them to stand out of the battle field; perfect and willing targets for the Muslim archers.

Their hair shows that they understood a little about the enemy they were fighting. The hair on their heads was clipped short, partly so that it would not become a source of sinful pride, but mostly so that it would not get into their eyes when they fought. They grew their beards long, though, because their enemies associated facial hair with masculinity. They would not have been frightened of an army of effeminate-looking boys. The beards gave the Templars a psychological advantage, which earned them respect from their enemies. It also made them more visible in the clean-shaven west.

Also important the the image of the Templars were the arms they carried in battle. The coat of arms told contemporaries who a man was, even when his face was obscured by a helmet. They brought recognition to individuals. a Templar's arms identified him as a member of a group, not as an individual. This was to discourage personal pride, and the seeking of glory. Templars fought their battles for the good of the Order and of Christendom.

The Templars did not generally sport St George's cross on their shields and banners. They instead use the Beauseant, and simple black and white emblem, which is at time said to incorporate a red or black cross. While there is no agreed-upon version of the Beauseant, each one would have been easily recognisable, even at a distance, to the men who knew it, and that, after all, was the point.

Through their seal in official practice, and their dress in daily life and on the field of battle, the Knights Templar distinguished themselves in 12th and 13th century Europe. Though some of the meanings of these symbols are now lost to us, so that we can only guess at them, others live on and inspire thoughts in our minds of who the Templars were. They call to mind a time, a place and a group unique in history, but their history has become so clouded that the true meanings of their symbols have become obfuscated, and it takes resolve to find them.

Back to Main Page

©2005 Mary Adelle Leinart