zur deutschen Version, Flagge klicken oder tippen
by Volker Preuss and Ronald Preuss
Probably no other order of knights raises the question of its flag to such an extent. The order is very well known and very popular, and its history and knights play a major role in literature and film. The desire to own a flag of the Knights Templar is understandable. But what did the flag or banner look like? What role does the red Templar cross play?
As is so often the case, the sources are very scarce and there are very different motifs or variants in often idealised depictions. There was no standardisation at that time, no service regulations or paragraphs governing such matters. Not even the rules of the Templars describe a flag, at least not in the first version of the rules from 1129, which only mentions a "two-coloured banner" several times. But which two colours? The motif of the seal, which was also not always uniform, was not transferred to the flags. It did not show a coat of arms, but usually two knights on a horse, which was supposed to symbolise the "poor knights of Christ", not all of whom – as the seal would have us believe – even had their own horse, although in reality the order was very wealthy.
Even this seal differed from commandery to commandery, and some used other seal images. Of course, there were no central production facilities, not for seals, not for shields, not for flags or banners. According to the rules, the knights received their clothing and, in some cases, their equipment from the Order, and a certain degree of uniformity was certainly ensured. For knights, the white tunic with the red Order cross on the front and back and the white cloak with the cross on the left shoulder was prescribed (from 1147). For serving brothers, a black surcoat with the red order cross on the front and back and a brown cloak were prescribed. Even this was not always possible in practice, so that serving brothers wore what was most readily available, namely brown.
The shields were also not uniform; each had its own model, depending on its purpose, as a shield for a horseman or a foot soldier, depending on the preferences of the time, the length of the opponents' swords, or depending on the optimisation of one's own weapons or fighting technique. Another contributing factor was the region of Europe and the craftsman who made the shield. In feudalism, after the emergence of heraldry, it was customary for the image of the knight's or feudal lord's coat of arms to be displayed on the shield. However, when the Order was founded (1118), heraldry did not yet exist; it only emerged in the second half of the 12th century. Furthermore, upon joining the Order, personal matters and affairs no longer played a role. According to the rules, it was even forbidden to decorate shields and lances with decorative covers; any decoration was prohibited. How were the shields designed? And what did the Order's coat of arms look like?
In feudalism, after the development of heraldry, it was customary for knights to receive their coats of arms from the king, or at least from their feudal lord, i.e. the person whose fief they had taken and whose vassal they had become. In very rare cases did he himself have any influence on this. This was done by experts, often heralds, if such an office existed. The coat of arms was thus established and its symbolism was also transferred to seals if necessary. Which feudal lord is said to have granted the Order a coat of arms? The Order was a voluntary association of knights and their serving brothers and was subject only to the Pope, but not as an enfeoffed body. In certain cases, the popes of that time liked to hand over banners to show the blessing of the Pope to some dignitaries of their time. For example, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, had also received a banner from the Pope for the conquest of England and the establishment of his kingdom. During the Crusades, the Pope's banners were also carried, which had been awarded to the respective armies or contingents. However, this was not the main focus for the Knights Templar and their symbolism. It was not created "from above" and brought into being with great fanfare, but was founded in 1118 and had to fight for its status step by step until the clergy and ultimately the Pope accepted the Order. It was not until 1139 that the Order was placed directly under the Pope and developed a strong autonomy. But it never had a coat of arms. Even the founder of the Order – Hugo de Payns – did not have a coat of arms, not even in his function as Grand Master (1119–1136); in his time, personal coats of arms did not yet exist.
Let's summarise the questions that arise from the facts and try to find a solution:
• What did the seal of the Order look like?
• What did the coat of arms of the Order look like?
• What did the shields of the Order look like?
• What role does the red Templar cross play?
• What did the flag or banner of the Order look like?
What did the Order's seal look like?
In the Middle Ages, only a few people could read. Therefore, every institution needed a unique seal to authenticate documents. The Templar seal is one of the most famous symbols of the Middle Ages; it was the official identity of the Order – comparable to a modern company logo. It served as a "signature" and features different motifs depending on the era. The most important Templar seals – used from the mid-12th century onwards – were: 1.) The famous double horseman seal, showing two knights on one horse and the inscription: SIGILLUM MILITUM CHRISTI ("Seal of the Soldiers of Christ"). It was intended to symbolise the poverty and brotherhood of the Order (two knights sharing one horse) and was a reference to the Order's original name, "Poor Knights of Christ". This seal is only reliably documented after the time of Hugo de Payns, so it does not date from the founding period of the Order. 2.) The Agnus Dei seal (Lamb of God), showing the Lamb of God with a cross banner, symbolising Christ as the sacrificial lamb, was often used for spiritual or liturgical documents. 3.) Regional and functional variants, as the Order possessed numerous seals, including: seals of individual commanderies, seals of provincial masters, seals for financial transactions, seals for court documents. Many show variations of the cross or architectural motifs. No personal seal of Hugo de Payns has survived; the earliest known Templar seals date from after his death and were always used as collective seals, never representing an individual.
Seal of the Order of the Templars
What did the coat of arms of the Knights Templar look like?
The Knights Templar never had an official coat of arms in the heraldic sense, but some symbols were used so consistently that they are considered the coat of arms of the order, or, from the second half of the 12th century onwards, were added as heraldic pieces (Templar cross) to the family coats of arms of nobles who had become members of the order. These were: 1.) The red Templar cross on white, also worn on clothing from 1147 onwards – probably the most famous symbol of the Order – was certainly painted on one or other shield. As a result, this symbolism was perceived and used as a coat of arms, but certainly not at the time of the Order itself, but in the centuries that followed. 2.) The seal of the Order. It usually showed two knights on a horse, symbolising poverty and brotherly unity. 3.) The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), a lamb with a cross flag, was also used as a seal.
However, there is and always has been a connection between coats of arms and shields, which must have gradually developed into heraldic principles. Strictly speaking, as soon as a symbol such as an order cross is painted on a shield, it becomes a coat of arms. The term "symbol" does not refer to a personal emblem. Such symbols have existed since shields first appeared. A coat of arms must be a symbol of a lasting nature that transcends a single person. Presumably, this was already understood at the time when the order cross was painted on the shield, in the early days of heraldry.
What did the Order's shields look like?
From the second half of the 12th century onwards, the image of the feudal lord's or knight's coat of arms was usually transferred to his shield, so that it was not only a means of protection but also a kind of "identity Card" and symbol of feudal power in the assigned fiefdom. As we now know, the Knights Templar did not have a coat of arms, but they did have the Order's cross from 1147 onwards. If you look at illustrations in manuscripts from this period, you will always see different paintings on the shields, or they were unpainted and showed iron struts radiating from the centre of the shield. This is very close to the truth. As we know, any decoration was expressly forbidden on lances and shields, at least as a decorative covering. It is also clear that the rules of the Order were not always adhered to uniformly. In this respect, painting may have occurred. What can often be seen as painted shields in old illustrations are white shields with the upper third (shield head) painted black. More rarely, the Order's cross can be seen on white. The question is whether the painting was uniform, but it can certainly be assumed that this was sometimes the aim. One must imagine that knights from a wide variety of commanderies and Templar provinces (balleies, preceptories), sometimes far apart, were called together for military action, and it is conceivable that the uniformity that may have been sought in each commandery or province must have represented diversity in the overall picture of the military unit, not only in terms of nationality and language and culture, but also in the shields, details of clothing, armament, helmets and even the shape of the Order's cross. When looking at the big picture, it is important not to be misled by depictions that have found their way into literary sources or websites due to the great interest in the subject, even if they are historical illustrations or descriptions. The Order was dissolved as early as 1312. Every historical epoch has taken up the subject of the Templars and filled it with stories and images, so that, for example, the Order's cross was subject to taste and zeitgeist orientations, depending on when the picture was painted or the text written. This also applies, for example, to magnificently executed coats of arms that can be found bearing clear traces of the 18th century, particularly due to the Templars' entry into Freemasonry. Such things never existed; they were artistically crafted and subsequently attributed to the Templars.
Source: muculmanoeportugues.blogspot.com
Chronica Matthäus Paris, London, Brit. Context.Scope.Library MS Royal 14 C VII fol 42v
What role did the red Templar cross play, and what did it actually look like?
When the Knights Templar were founded around 1119/1120, the knights did not have a red cross as their symbol. They wore their characteristic white cloaks, but without the red pattée cross that later became so famous. The red cross was not officially introduced until 1147 during the Second Crusade, when Pope Eugene III granted the order permission to wear a red cross on their white cloaks. This is confirmed in the Order's tradition and later chronicles. The cross was intended to symbolise martyrdom and sacrifice and to underline the military-religious mission. In ecclesiastical symbolism, the colour red is traditionally associated with the blood of Christ, martyrdom and sacrificial courage. This was very fitting for a military order that was prepared to die for its faith. Whoever came up with the idea of the red cross, whether it was the Order itself or Bernard of Clairvaux – a great supporter of the Order – was in any case inspired by the First Crusade (1096–1099), because the participants in the First Crusade already sewed a red cross onto their left shoulder. After all, it is said to have been Bernard of Clairvaux himself who persuaded Pope Eugene III in 1147 to allow the Templars to wear the red pattée cross permanently on their white cloaks. It is interesting to note that no single binding form was ever specified. It simply had to be red and clearly visible. The most common design was the paw cross. It is also called a pattee cross. This term comes from the French language and literally means "foot cross" (actually an animal's foot). The main feature is that the arms of the cross are narrow in the middle and usually spread out in a curved or straight line to a wide edge. This cross shape first appears in early medieval art, in a cathedral treasure from Monza Cathedral, which was donated by the Lombard queen Theodelinda (also known as Theudelinde, 570–627). In detail, the design of the shape can vary considerably due to regional, fashionable or contemporary influences, with straight or concave arms and also indentations at the ends. Similarly, but less frequently, the cross was depicted as a Latin cross with straight arms. The cross was understood exclusively as the sign of the religious vow. (Source: identifymedals.com)
The Cross of Theudelinde
Source: newliturgicalmovement.org
What did the flag or banner of the Order look like?
The banner of the Knights Templar – known as the "Beaucéant" – was divided into black and white (horizontally divided, black above, white below) and did not bear the red Templar cross. The red pattée cross of the Knights Templar was exclusively a symbol of the Order and coat decoration. It does not appear on any authentic medieval depictions of the banner. The reason for this is that the Templars regarded their banner as a command symbol on the battlefield and it had to be distinguished from the Order's cross, because the cross was to understood exclusively as a sign of the Order's vow and not as a symbol of a military unit. The colour black stood for severity, respect and fighting spirit, while white stood for purity, mercy and brotherly love. Several order rules and commentaries from the 13th century quote the following symbolic saying: "Black towards enemies, white towards friends". "Beaucéant" (also "Beauséant") was also the battle cry of the Order. Later sources show the banner with the inscription "Beauseant". This may have existed, but only from the 13th and 14th centuries onwards.
Source: herald.poore-house.com
Chronica Maiora, Parker MS 16 fol. 142r. 1250
Source: geopop.it
Source: Reconstruction based on a description
What might the flag of the Knights Templar look like today?
From the above, we can deduce a few things that bring us closer to the goal of a flag for the Knights Templar, as it would need to be used today.
1st Possibility
In its original form, as a field sign, the banner was a flag that was longer than it was wide, with two colours, black over white.
This could be converted into a modern format, 3:5, portrait, and be hoisted as is.
→
And now landscape format, as is common almost everywhere today.
But who would recognise this as the flag of the Knights Templar? It looks more like a signal flag! But what signal is it supposed to send?
All right, we'll adjust it so that it's recognisable as a colour flag.
But what do we see? People who are familiar with the subject will see the following:
• The flag/colours of Prussia (former German federal state),
• The flag/colours of East Prussia (former Prussian province),
• The flag/colours of the Duchy of Lauenburg (former Prussian duchy),
• The colours of the Canton of Fribourg (Freiburg) in Switzerland.
Without a doubt, a distinguishing feature would have to be added here. We decide on the Templar cross, and that's it:
2nd Possibility
We start again from the original form, as a field sign, the banner was a flag that was longer than it was wide, two colours, black over white.
This could be converted into a modern format, 3:5, portrait, and be hoisted as is.
Now just add the Templar cross and hoist it up.
And now landscape format, as is common almost everywhere today, and you're done:
3rd Possibility
We now know that the Knights Templar did not have a coat of arms. But in the age of heraldry, did coats of arms not take the form of a shield? Was the image of the coat of arms not transferred onto the shield? From historical contemporary documents, we know that one or two shields belonging to Knights Templar may have been painted. Narrow at the top in black, wide at the bottom in white. Let's use that as a template.
Now we need something Templar to go with it, the Order's cross!
This could be converted into a modern format, 3:5, portrait, and be hoisted as is.
And now landscape format, as is common almost everywhere today, and you're done:
4th Possibility
We start again from the painted shield, as we know it from historical and contemporary documents.
Now we need something Templar again, the Order's cross!
Now let us recall how a coat of arms banner was made in the early days of heraldry (see Valencia). At the top of the coat of arms, we push a flagpole through one or more fabric loops.
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Now turn it ...
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and the template for a flag is ready!
5th Possibility
We again assume the painted shield, as we know it from some historical and contemporary documents.
and the template for a flag is ready!
