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The Master of the Knights Templar's great seal was double-sided and showed the picture of The Dome of the Rock (some opinions are that the picture represents a circular dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre) on one side and the Order's symbol of two knights on one horse on the other side. The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order The history of the Knights Templar incorporates about two centuries during the Middle Ages, from the Order's founding in the early 1100s to when it was disbanded The secrecy around the powerful medieval Order of the Knights Templar, and the speed with which they suddenly disappeared over the space of a few years has led to many Each man who held the position of Grand Master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon The history of the Knights Templar in England began when the French nobleman Hughes de Payens, the founder and Grand Master of the order This article is solely about the medieval Order in Scotland The Modern Order is discussed in Scottish Knights Templar. This is a list of some members of the Knights Templar, a powerful Christian military order during the time of the Crusades. With their military mission and extensive financial resources the Knights Templar funded a large number of building projects around Europe and the Holy The Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (SMOTJ is the United States affiliated Grand Priory of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH which The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon (Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Solomonici commonly known as the Knights Templar or the Order The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos There was also a smaller, single-sided seal, which showed the Dome of the Rock (or the circular dome of the Holy Sepulchre). The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos Every Grand Master seal shares distinctive characteristics. In order to avoid misuse, special measures were taken regarding the seals. They were kept in a locked compartment which required three keys to open. The Grand Master himself kept one of these keys, and two of his high officials held the others. The forgery of the seals was a very difficult process because each seal was unique and hand made.
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Background
The officials of religious orders had their own seals to validate documents approved by the order. A seal can mean a wax seal bearing an impressed figure or an embossed figure in paper with the purpose of authenticating a document but the term can also mean any device for The seal was the equivalent of a modern day signature. A signature (from Latin signare, " Sign " is a handwritten (and sometimes stylized depiction of someone's name nickname or even a simple Furthermore, in a time when the majority of people were illiterate, the seal was an acknowledgment of a document's authenticity. A seal was a declaration that the person or group whose seal was affixed validated the content of the document, even if they couldn't sign their names. The Templars, like any other individual or group, would have needed a seal whose imagery expressed something positive and fundamental about their organization.
Zonal Distribution of seals of the Knights Templar
According to a papal bull issued by Innocent IV in 1251, it was customary for successive provincial masters to use the same seal. A Papal bull is a particular type of Letters patent or charter issued by a Pope. Pope Innocent IV, born Sinibaldo Fieschi was Pope from June 28, 1243 to December 7, 1254. When the province of Provence and certain parts of Spain were divided into two some changes were made. Provence ( Provençal Occitan: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm is a region of southeastern France The master of Provence continued to use an Agnus Dei seal, but the seal of the Aragonese master William of Cardona, although round (29 mm. Agnus Dei is a Latin term meaning Lamb of God, and was originally used to refer to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial in diameter) and of black or dark-green wax, depicted a knight on horseback, carrying a lance and shield, on which was a cross bearing the legend: S. MINISTRI TEMPLI 1 ARAGON 7 CATALON ("Seal of the minister of the Temple in Aragon and Catalonia") . Aragon ( Spanish: "Aragón") is an autonomous community of Spain. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. This form of seal was also used by later Aragonese provincial masters. Sigilum Xpisti ("Seal of Christ")
Templars Seal Themes
Dome of the Rock and Al Aksa
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Evrard de Barres SEAL. The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit Al-Aqsa Mosque ( Arabic:المسجد الاقصى /æl'mæsdʒɪd æl'ɑqsˁɑ/ {{Audio|ArAqsaMosque gif
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Regnaud de Vichier SEAL. Everard des Barres (died 1174 was the third Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1147 to 1151 gif
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 MILITIE TEMPLI SALMO Artistic representation |
The reverse of Bertrand de Blancafort's seal, Master of the Temple 1168 in Staatsarchiv Amberg
The reverse of Grand Master William de Chartres seal from 1214 also depicts the Dome of the Rock. Renaud de Vichiers was the 19th Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1250 to 1256 Amberg is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in the Upper Palatinate (Germ Guillaume de Chartres (Guillielmus de Carnoto Willemus de Carnoto Prince of the Cistercian Principality of Seborga was a grand master of the Knights Templar 1210 &ndash
Agnus Dei
In heraldry, a Lamb of God (or paschal lamb, or agnus Dei) is a lamb passant proper, with a halo or charged with a cross gules, and the dexter forelimb reflexed over a cross staff from which a pennon of St. George (Argent a cross gules) is flotant. Agnus Dei is a Latin term meaning Lamb of God, and was originally used to refer to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial Lamb of God ( Latin: Agnus Dei) is one of the titles given to Jesus in the New Testament and consequently in the Christian In Heraldry and Vexillology, a charge is an image occupying the field on an escutcheon (or shield A halo (ἅλως also known as a nimbus, Aureole, glory, or gloriole) is a ring of light that surrounds a person in art In Heraldry, gules (pronounced with a hard 'g' is the tincture with the colour Red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours" The St George's Cross (or the Cross of St George is a centred red cross on a white background The seals of the Masters of the Temple in England: of Aimery de St Maur, 1200, Robert of Sandford, 1241, Richard of Hastings, 1160-85, and William de la More, 1304, showed the agnus Dei.
SIGILLVM TEMPLI The obverse of a seal used by William de la More, master, 1304, resembles the above text . The reverse, a small oval counter-seal, with beaded borders, shows on the right a couped bust of a bearded man wearing a cap. and have the legend:— TESTIS SVM AGNI ("I am a witness to the Lamb") William de la More, styled frater Willelmus de la More miliciae. The seal is called commune sigillum capituli. The seal symbolic of their vow of poverty, showing two knights riding on one horse appears only to have been used by the order in France; there is no example of its use in England.
Some of the seals of the English Templars were a semi-typical Pascal lamb bearing sometimes, not the flag of St George (or the cross), but the Beauseant, the battle banner of the order. The motto accompanying the seal reads TESTIS SUM AGNI, (not Agnus as is correct), being the lamb of God. The translation of the Latin word AGNI raises several areas of contention, however a similar word AGNITIO translates to "of the nature of the mind or wisdom".
 Seal of Robert of Sandford,the Master of the Temple in 1241 in the British Library |
 L'Agnus Dei, seal used by Roncelin de Foz. Second part of the XIII th century. Departmental Archives of Marseilles -Bouches du Rhône. Bouches-du-Rhône ( Occitan: Bocas de Ròse, lit "Mouths of the Rhône River" is a department in the south of France named after the |
Other seals: Durham Cathedral Muniments, Medieval Seal G&B reference number: 3388 Knights of the Temple 1304 Description: Round. The Holy Lamb with banner.
The Two Riders
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Pierre de Montaigu Seal. gif
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Bertrant de Blancquefort SEAL. Pedro de Montaigu was Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1218 to 1232. gif
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The symbol
The Templar Seal showing two knights (perhaps Hugues de Payens and Godfrey de Saint-Omer) on one horse. Bertrand de Blanchefort or Blanquefort was the sixth Grand Master of the Knights Templar, from 1156 until his death in 1169 Hugues de Payens, also Hughes de Payns Hughes de Pagan (English Hugh of Payens or ""Hugh Pagan"" (c Godfrey of Saint-Omer (also known as Gaufred Godefroi or Godfrey de St Omer Saint Omer was a Flemish Knight, one of the founding members of the Knights Templar There are many interpretations of the symbolism of this seal.
- Contemporary legend held that the symbol represented the initial poverty of the order; that they could afford only a single horse for every two men. Still, the Rule of the Order from the outset permitted three horses and no more for each knight, as well as no Templars sharing the same horse.
- Several masters adopted this seal from the beginning of the order until at least 1298. It is known to have been in use since 1167. The Rule forbids two riders on the same beast.
The image of two knights on the horse was widely used:
- Matthew Paris in Chronica Majora ca 1250
- An English monk and chronicler from St. Matthew Paris (c 1200 &ndash 1259 was a Benedictine monk English chronicler, artist in Illuminated manuscripts and Cartographer The Chronica Majora is an important medieval Illuminated manuscript Chronicle by Matthew Paris, one of a number of redactions of his work on English history Albans in Historia Anglorum
- At least as early as 1158 as the seal of the Grand Master of the Temple, Bertrand de Blanchefort. Bertrand de Blanchefort or Blanquefort was the sixth Grand Master of the Knights Templar, from 1156 until his death in 1169 This is the earliest known seal for the Grand Master of the Temple forty years after the Order was formed.
- Use of this symbol continued under subsequent Grand Masters for as long as the Order survived, however the seal went through more than one incarnation. The Reynaut de Vichiers, who was Master of the Temple from 1255-1259 depict same images, but it is obviously not the same seal. Renaud de Vichiers was the 19th Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1250 to 1256
BUT A MUCH MORE PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION and an actually recorded event, can he found in studying the “surprise” tactics of Richard Lionheart against Saladin during the 3rd. Crusade in 1192. In “The Life of Saladin (1137-1193)” a translation published in Delhi, India, 1988, Saladin’s chronicler Baha ed-Din Ibn Shaddad (1145-1234) records:
On June 7, 1192, the Crusader army marched to attack the Holy City, (then occupied by Saladin). Richard’s spies reported a long-awaited supply train coming from Egypt to relieve Saladin’s army. “. . . when Richard received information that the caravan was close at hand. . . a thousand horsemen set out, each of whom took a foot soldier (on his horse] in front of him. . . at daybreak, he took the caravan unawares. . . Islam had suffered a serious disaster. The spoils were three thousand camels, three thousand horses, five hundred prisoners, and a mountain of military supplies. Never was Saladin more grieved, or more anxious”.
The Legend
Regarding the text of the seal differences can be clearly seen between the seals of the Grand Masters:
- Blanchefort's seal: SIGILLUM MILITUM obverse; CHRISTI DE TEMPLO reverse
- Vichiers' seal: SIGILLUM MILITUM XPISTI. Although the phrase is written using the Latin alphabet, the first two letters of Christ's name are the Greek XP (Chi Rho) rather than the Latin CHR. The XP symbol's origin lies in the early roots of Christianity, but came into popular use after the Emperor Constantine had a vision of it and, according to legend, converted to Christianity in the early fourth century. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine The Labarum (☧ was a military standard that displayed the first two Greek letters of the word " Christ " ( Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ or Χριστός From the time of Constantine, it became one of the most significant symbols of Christianity, surpassed only by the cross itself. The Christian cross is the best-known Religious symbol of Christianity. Its early associations with the military make it the more apt of the two symbols for the Templars. In fact the Chi Rho can also be seen on the shields of the knights on de Vichiers' seal.
The Eagle
Bertram von Esbeck, Master of the Temple in Germany, 1296 depicts an eagle with two six-pointed stars. The Eagle is used in Heraldry as a charge, as a Supporter, and as a crest. The star (★ as an Ideograph, most commonly represents the astronomical Star for which it is named
 Double Headed Eagle |
The eagle is an heraldic bird of the first order symbolising courage, determination, soaring toward great heights, power, grandeur. It is one of the most common charges on medieval heraldic shields, often denoting imperial sovereignty. An empire (from the Latin " Imperium " denoting military Command within the ancient Roman government) is a State that The eagle is generally borne displayed; that is, upright, breast to the front, and legs, tail and wings expanded (commonly called a "spread eagle"). It signifies one eager or hot in the pursuit of an object much desired.
A Double Eagle and Eagle signifies a man of action, ever more occupied in high and weighty affairs, and one of lofty spirit, ingenious, speedy in apprehension and judicious in matters of ambiguity.
Emblematical of fortitude and magnanimity of mind. The Romans used the figure of an eagle for their ensign, and their example has been often followed. It is the Device of the Russian Empire, the Austrian Empire, the German Reichs, the United States of America and the Emperors of the French. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya For the history of these states before 1804 see Holy Roman Empire, Habsburg Monarchy, and articles on each of the component countries. Deutsches Reich was the name for Germany from 1871 to 1945 in the German language. List of Queens and Empresses of France Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below In Blazon, when the talons, or claws and beak, are of a different tincture to the other part, it is said to be armed of such a colour. When the claws or talons are borne in arms, they should be turned towards the dexter side of the escutcheon, unless expressed to the contrary. An eagle displayed with two heads is commonly called a Spread Eagle, symbolical of the Eastern and Western Roman Empire. The double-headed eagle is a common symbol in Heraldry and Vexillology. An eagle's leg erased at the thigh is termed á la quise.
Paris Temple
Cross
Aragon;Tortosa; Late thirteenth century. Tortosa ( Latin: Dertusa or Dertosa, Arabic: طرطوشة Ṭurṭūšah) is the capital of the comarca Depicting a cross. Legend: SIGILLUM MILICIE TEMPLI IN DERTOSA Aragon; Alfambra; 1248. Alfambra is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. Brown wax, round, 30 mm. in diameter, depicting a cross. Legend:. . . . . . LUM CASTRI. . . .
Cross pattée
A cross having arms narrow at the inner center, and very broad at the other end. A cross pattée (also known as a "cross pattee" "cross patty" or "cross formy" or in German "Tatzenkreuz" is a type of
 Fra Arnaude de Banyuls seal; Aragon; Gardeny; Yellow wax, round, 27 mm. in diameter, depicting a cross, with stars in two angles and shields with crosses in the other two. Legend: S. AR. . . . . . . . . . GARDENNI. |
 Fra Bernard de Montlor 1248 seal |
 The Masters of Poitou used this seal. Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. It has been used from the middle of the 12th century to the end of the Order. |
Cross pattée and fleur-de-lis
A seal from Provence: the Templars from Roaix, Sérignan . The fleur-de-lys (or fleur-de-lis, plural fleurs-de-lis ˌfləː(rdəˈliː (ˌfləː(rdəˈlɪs in Quebec) translated from French as "lily Roaix is a commune of the Vaucluse département in southern France. Sérignan is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. . . This knight, Giraud de Chamaret, hoists the templar cross and the "fleur-de-lis". 1234.
 Brother Hugues de Rochefort (Hughs from "ROCAFORTI") 1204 seal. With a star and a "fleur-de-lis", this cross, hart bounded, was the Preceptor's Temple seal. |
 The seal of the preceptor of Poitou Legend = S PRECEPTORIS TEMPLI VALECE. Year: 1287. Appears on a charter from Saint Victor lès Valence. Seal can be found at the Archives of the City of Marseille and a moulding at the National Archives of Paris. |
 Brother Giraud de Chamaret 1234 |
Knight on the Horse
The seal of Brother Roustan de Comps, commander of the Order of the Temple at Richerenches, 1232, shows a single knight on horseback, bearing a shield with a cross: probably St. George. Richerenches is a commune of the Vaucluse département, in southern France. In Christian hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox
 Brother Roustan de Comps 1232 seal |
Head
Seals of Brother Widekind, Master of the Temple in Germany, 1271, and Brother Frederick Wildergrave, 1289, showed Christ's head (or John the Baptist's head by other opinions)
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Templars Seal John Head. Saint John the Baptist ( heb. Jochanan ben Sacharja, arab. يحيى Yaḥyā or يوحنا Yūḥanna, aram. gif
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Tower or Castle
The seal of Templar officials in Yorkshire c. 1300 shows a tower with a pointed roof.
 Brother Arnau Despug 1308 seal |
Aragon; Monzón; Early fourteenth century. Monzón is a small town in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. Round, depicting a castle with three towers, with a griffin on each side. The griffin is a Legendary creature with the body of a Lion and the head and often wings of an Eagle. Legend: S. CASTELL. . . . . . . . ONI. Aragon; Huesca; Round, depicting a castle. Huesca (Uesca Latin: Osca; Greek:, Ptol ii 6 § 68 is a city in Aragon, Spain. Legend: S. DOM. TEMPLI DE OSCA Aragon; Barbará; Early fourteenth century. Yellow wax, round, 29 mm. in diameter, depicting a castle between two fishes. Legend: S. COMAND. . . . . BARBERA
Abraxas
The word Abraxas (or Abrasax or Abracax) was engraved on certain antique stones, called Abraxas stones, which were used as amulets or charms by Gnostic sects. The word Abraxas (or Abrasax or Abracax) was engraved on certain antique stones called on that account Abraxas stones, which were used Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Amulets and seals bearing the figure of Abraxas were popular in the second century, and were used also in the thirteenth century in some of the seals of the Knights Templar. By medieval times, Abraxas was relegated to the ranks of demons. The image most associated with Abraxas is that of a composite creature with the head of a rooster, the body of a man, and legs made of serpents or scorpions. In Greek mythology, the Chimera ( Greek (Chímaira Latin Chimaera) was a monstrous creature of Lycia in Asia Minor He carries a whip and shield, called wisdom and power. Occasionally Abraxas is depicted driving a chariot drawn by four horses, probably representing the elements.
- Tertullian, talking about of Basilides' description of Abraxas:
- "Afterwards broke out the heretic Basilides. Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus, Anglicised as Tertullian, (ca "Basilides" redirects here For the 17th century Ethiopian Emperor see Fasilides of Ethiopia. He affirms that there is a supreme Deity, by name Abraxas, by whom was created Mind, which in Greek he calls Nous; that thence sprang the Word; that of Him issued Providence, Virtue, and Wisdom; that out of these subsequently were made Principalities, powers, and Angels; that there ensued infinite issues and processions of angels; that by these angels 365 heavens were formed, and the world, in honour of Abraxas, whose name, if computed, has in itself this number. Now, among the last of the angels, those who made this world, he places the God of the Jews latest, that is, the God of the Law and of the Prophets, whom he denies to be a God, but affirms to be an angel. "
The Dove
 Used on the Seal of Etienne de Til-Chatel, lord of Pichanges, Preceptor of La Fontenotte. Pichanges is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France. Representation of a dove, facing backwards and grasping an olive branch within its beak. |
Sun and Moon
 Frater Robert from the land of Retz. Seal from English XIII century. This seal was discovered in the 19th century, in the city of St Père en Retz, at Biais, Loire Atlantique, on the site of a templar Commandery. Loire-Atlantique (formerly Loire-Inférieure) is a department on the west coast of France named after the Loire River and the Atlantic |
Lion
Seals of Brother Otto of Brunswich, commander of Supplingenburg, shows a lion; A seal of one Knight Templar, England, 1303 is showing the Lion of England and the cross pattée and the crescent moon of the Mother Goddess with stars. Süpplingenburg is a municipality of 700 inhabitants (2003 in the district of Helmstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany. For things named Crescent see Crescent (disambiguation. In art and symbolism a crescent is generally the shape produced when a Aragon; Miravet; 1278, 1287. Miravet is a municipality in the Comarca of Ribera d'Ebre in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain Depicting a lion
 A seal of one Knight Templar, England, 1303 is showing the Lion of England and the cross pattée and the crescent moon of the Mother Goddess with stars. Artistic Representation. |
Griffon
William, Master of the Temple in Hungary and Slovenia, 1297, depicts a winged griffon
Horse
Unusual uncertified early Templar insignia
 From Hugues de Payens period. Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Hugues de Payens, also Hughes de Payns Hughes de Pagan (English Hugh of Payens or ""Hugh Pagan"" (c Hand carved Grand Seal. Alike wax imprints were found on official documents addressed to Hugues de Payens. |
References
- Hopkins, M, Simmans, G. & Wallace-Murphy, T. , Rex Deus, Element, Shaftesbury, Dorset, 2000, 177
- F. de Sagarra, Sigillografía catalana, iii (Barcelona, 1932), 473
- R. de Huesca, Teatro histórico de las iglesias del reino de Aragón, vii (Pamplona, 1797), 121
- The Templars in the Corona de Aragón ,Alan John Forey [1]
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