Cross of the Templars Meaning: Templar Cross

There are several forms of crosses that have become Christian symbols. The Red Cross of the Knights Templar is one of them. What does it represent? What is its history? Here you will find the answers to these questions and more!

The Templars, also called the Poor Knights of Christ or the Military Order, were warriors of God. Their main mission was to protect the Christians who came to participate in the pilgrimage to the tomb of Jesus. They followed a strict and cardinal rule that prevented them from abandoning.

The topics covered in this article are:

• The meaning of the Templar Cross

• The Cross of the Templars: Faith, Strength, Wisdom and Valor

• The History of the Templars

• Paying homage to the Cross of the Templars

Let’s start the article without further delay!

If you want to keep a precious object of the Templar cross with you, discover our collection offering several pieces of jewelry engraved with the red Templar cross.

1) Cross of the Templars Meaning

A. Meaning of the Red Cross of the Templars

Anyone familiar with the history of Christianity knows that the symbol of the cross has been used in a variety of ways. Even before the time of the Crusades, crosses were said to miraculously appear on the clothing of particularly worthy individuals. There was nothing more appropriate for crusading armies than to use crosses as a visual distinction. Abbot Guibert in his History of Jerusalem (1.5) says that Pope Urban II instituted this sign both as an indicator of military distinction, and as a symbol that would help Christian knights fight more courageously for the cause of God . 🙏 The abbot specifies that the pope ordered that the figure of the cross be cut out of any material and sewn onto the tunics and cloaks of the members of the expedition.

In 1128, Pope Honorius II granted the knights of the military order the right to use white cloaks for distinction and as a symbol of innocence, but without any cross. Only Eugene III (1145-1153) instituted that the Templars should wear red crosses as a sign of martyrdom. Over time, this symbol took on another meaning : the red cross became synonymous with the order itself . It is known that the Templars were very proud of their organization and their uniform.

The Knights Templar were a large organization of devout Christians in medieval times who served an important mission: to protect European travelers visiting sites in the Holy Land while conducting military operations. Their beautiful Templar banner with the red cross was sacred to them and they always placed a guard of ten soldiers on it. When it was unfurled before a battle, it inspired fear in their enemies. The Templars would not leave the battlefield while their cross flag was flying above them.

B. Templar Cross in Christianity

From a purely Christian perspective, the cross was the most important and significant symbol of Jesus' suffering and death . The Templars aligned themselves with Christianity and the protection of the Holy Land, and the people visiting that land.

If we take the symbol of the cross out of the context of Christianity and go back 2000 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, we can find many facts that prove that the sign of the cross was used in some ancient alphabets, including the Hebrew alphabet. In this alphabet, the cross denoted the letter tav, the most complex and last letter of the alphabet. This letter symbolizes completion. It could mean the end of all things combined.

If we delve deeper into the symbolic meaning of the letter tav, we can conclude that the letter consists of two parts, two separate letters: daleth and nun. These two letters mean Din and Dan: judgment. Considering these two meanings ( completion and judgment), we can conclude that the sign of the cross signifies an inevitable judgment after death .

C. Cross of the Templars: Distinction of the Rival Crosses

The Maltese Cross is visually very similar to the flared cross of the Knights Templar . It is possible that the Templars did not feel that this cross was not so different at all. It is important to remember, however, that the Maltese Cross as we are used to seeing it was not firmly established as the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller until the 16th century (for more information on the Maltese Cross, please read our article on the Meaning of the Maltese Cross).

The main reason why it is advisable to use the second symbol of the Templars (i.e. the Templar cross itself, the cross pattée) is that the Maltese cross is too recognizable and has a history as a distinct symbol of the Knights Hospitaller. It is more important to use the red color which symbolizes the idea of ​​martyrdom . It is precisely because of their red cross that if you had met a Templar in the 13th century, you would have recognized him by the color of the cross , rather than by its shape.

D. Cross & Crown of the Templars

Within the order of the Templars, you can notice that the cross and the crown of the Templars are always combined. Also, outside of Freemasonry, the cross crosses the crown. Its interpretation is considered an allusion to the heavenly reward that awaits people who live their lives and are ready for judgment after death. The crown also means that the end is not final . That we are always ready and that we can win and achieve success with honor. Often, the symbol of the cross and crown is accompanied by the phrase: In Hoc Signo Vinces. If we translate it from Latin, it means: By this sign, you will conquer. 👑🗡️

E. the Knights Templar

SOLDIERS OF THE HOLY LAND

During the medieval era, the Knights Templar were a large and well-known organization of devout Christians. Their main task was to protect European travelers who visited the sites of the Holy Land . In addition, the Knights Templar also carried out many military operations. Power, military prowess, financial acumen, and their attitude in the name of Christianity during the Crusades (the wars between the Islamic armies and the Knights Templar). All this is about the Knights Templar and their importance to society.

The Order was supported by the Catholic Church , which is why the number of Templars grew considerably and rapidly in power. The support of the Templars dissipated after the loss of the Holy Land .

THE POWER OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

The Knights Templar rose to fame and fortune in the medieval era and lived by the highest principles of the Middle Ages: bravery and chivalry. These warrior knights possessed an appetite for knowledge that ranged from pagan to magic to a wide range of religions. 🙇

The Knights Templar were disciplined, intelligent, and efficient warriors . They were known for their armor of white cloaks (representing purity) with red crosses . As the Order was supported by the Catholic Church, the Templars were highly regarded and their numbers and power quickly grew throughout Europe. They acquired impressive estates and served as advisors to the powerful and wealthy. The Templars built many castles and fought and often won . Their fearless fighting style became a model for other military orders.

BIRTH OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

After Christian armies captured Jerusalem from the Muslims in 1099 during the Crusades, groups of pilgrims from all over Western Europe began visiting the Holy Land. However, many of them were robbed and killed. Around 1118, a French knight named Hugues de Payens created a military order with eight relatives and acquaintances calling it the Poor Companions of Christ and the Building of Solomon. Later known simply as the Knights Templar . With the support of Baldwin II (the ruler of Jerusalem), they established their headquarters on that city's sacred Temple Mount. The source of their now iconic name, and pledged to protect Christian visitors to Jerusalem.

The Knights Templar, founded around 1119 CE and recognized by the Pope in 1129, were a medieval Catholic military order . They combined martial prowess with monastic life to defend Christian holy sites and pilgrims in the Middle East and elsewhere. The knights, headquartered in Jerusalem and later Acre, were an important elite element of the Crusader armies . They came to control both castles and lands in the Levant and throughout Europe.

F. Uniforms & Clothing: The Protective Cross

The Knights Templar wore a white overcoat and cape over their armour . They wore a red cross on their left breast . The red cross was also featured on the livery of their horses and on the pennant of the order. This distinguished them from the Knights Hospitaller (who wore a white cross on a black background) and the Teutonic Knights (who wore a black cross on a white background). They also had shields which were usually white with a centred red cross . Sergeants wore a brown or black cloak or cape. Another characteristic of the Templars was that they all had beards and short hair (by medieval standards).

The fact that the red cross was granted to a religious order of knights is quite remarkable. On their flags and shields, the Templars' two-tiered cross would have consisted simply of two horizontal bars of equal length running from one end to the other .

Worldly pleasures were not permitted, including the quintessential knightly pastimes of hunting and peddling. Nor was wearing the clothing and weapons for which knights were renowned. If one of the order's regulations, known as the Rule, was broken, members were punished. This could range from withdrawal of privileges to flogging and even life in prison.

G. The Templars & The Red Cross in the Modern Era

In the 18th century, some groups, notably the Freemasons, revived many of the symbols, rituals, and traditions of the medieval knights. Today, there are several international organizations named after the Knights Templar that the public can join. These groups have representatives all over the world and aim to uphold the values ​​and traditions of the original medieval order. Over the years, various tales have surfaced about the mysterious work of the knights. More recently, stories about the legendary Templars with their cross have appeared in popular books and films .

Although most of these speculations are considered fictional, there is no doubt that the Templars have generated intrigue and fascination and will likely continue to do so for years to come!

2) Templar Cross: Faith, Strength, Wisdom and Valor

Here is a short video presenting the sacred cross of the Knights Templar . This cross carries within it: the faith to believe that they will win, the strength to overcome all obstacles, wisdom and valor. They stand presenting their red crosses and fight until their flags and swords fall to the ground!

3) History of the Templars

A. Origin of the Templar Cross: Symbol of Cain

The Cross of the Templars originally comes from the Mark of Cain . This symbol was created more than 5,000 years ago in the summer season and was used by the disciples of the one God of the Lord. This was until they arrived, guided by Moses, in Palestine from Egypt. The Mark of Cain is symbolized by a red cross surrounded by a circle .

In Ancient Summers, those who bore the Mark of Cain showed that they were protected by the Lord from the wrath of Jehovah. It symbolized that they had left the spiritual path of life of taking from others and had embraced the path of giving to others. This symbol is found in many cultures and in many places around the world. From the pink cross of the Rosicrucians to the sacred circle of the American Indians, from the Celtic cross to the symbol of certain tribes in Burkina Faso and Ghana in West Africa.

In the early 12th century, the first Knights Templar discovered the truths of Jesus in the Ark of the Covenant. There they found a wealth of spiritual information and techniques, including Light Body activations and the True Cross of Christianity . It is not surprising, then, that the Knights Templar were given the Mark of Cain by Pope Eugene III in 1146 as the symbol of their knightly order . On the Red Cross symbol of the Knights Templar , the circle was dropped and the design stylized to display the "cross pattée" which contains many geometric properties and esoteric secrets.

B. Foundation of the Order of the Knights Templar

The Knights Templar was founded around 1119 CE when seven knights led by a French nobleman from Champagne, Hugues de Payns , swore to defend Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. They thus created a brotherhood that took monastic vows and lived together in a closed community.

In 1120 CE, Baldwin II, King of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (r. 1118–1131), gave the Knights his palace, the ancient Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, to use as their headquarters. The building was commonly referred to as: the Building of Solomon . The brotherhood thus quickly became known as the "Order of the Knights of the Temple of Solomon" or simply " the Templars ". Officially recognized as an order by Pope Honorius II at the Council of Troyes in January 1129 CE. The Templars were first considered a branch of the Cistercians. In 1145, the knights of the order were granted permission to wear the white hooded cloak that the Cistercian monks had made themselves.

The knights soon adopted their distinctive white coat and began to use the insignia of a red cross on a white background . There was nothing to prevent them from fighting on the grounds of religious doctrine. Provided the cause was just and the order therefore received the official support of the Church. The Crusades and the defense of the Holy Land being one of them!

C. The Crusades: Holy Land

THE INVISIBLE INVISIBLE FORCE OF THE KNIGHTS

Although their primary purpose was to protect pilgrims from danger, the Templars gradually expanded their functions. They became the defenders of the Crusader states in the Holy Land and were known as courageous and highly skilled warriors . The group gained a reputation as fierce fighters during the Crusades. Driven by religious fervor and forbidden to retreat unless greatly outnumbered.

Skilled with lance, sword and crossbow, and well armed, the Templars were the best trained and equipped of all the members of a Crusader army . For this reason, they were often deployed to protect the flanks, vanguard and rear of an army in the field. The Templars were particularly renowned for their disciplined group cavalry charges where, in close formation, they would blast through enemy lines and cause havoc ! This could then be exploited by allied troops following their advance.

They were also highly disciplined in battle and in camp , with severe penalties imposed on knights who did not follow orders. Including expulsion from the order for losing one's sword or horse through carelessness.

VICTORY & DEFEAT OF THE TEMPLARS

Although they were involved in many successes such as the siege of Acre in 1189-91, Damietta in 1218-19 and Constantinople in 1204 CE, there were some major defeats along the way. And such was their martial reputation. They could usually expect to be executed if ever captured. At the Battle of La Forbie in Gaza in October 1144, an Ayyubid army defeated a large Latin army and 300 Knights Templar were killed. 230 captured Knights Templar were beheaded after the Battle of Hattin in 1187, won by the army of Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria (r. 1174-1193 CE).

The Templar castle in Gaza had to be abandoned to secure the release of the captured master after the same battle. Another heavy defeat occurred in 1250, at the Battle of Mansourah in Egypt, during the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254).

D. Land of the Templars

They also participated in the crusades against the pagans in the Baltic, owned domains from England to Bohemia by the 13th century , and had become a truly international military order with enormous resources: men, weapons, equipment, and a large naval fleet. The Templars had set a model that would be copied by other military orders such as the Knights Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights. But there was one area in which the Templars truly excelled: banking. 🏦

E. Wealth of the Templars

THE POWER OF THE TEMPLARS

Rumor has it that their rapid rise to wealth was achieved through powerful and mystical relics. This led to suspicions that the Templars were involved in black magic and idol worship to gain wealth and power . The Templars also invested their money in income-producing properties, so that the order would become owners of farms, vineyards, mills, churches, townships, or anything else they considered a good investment. The spoils and new lands acquired from successful campaigns also helped to replenish the order's coffers. 💰

Money may have flowed in from all corners of Europe, but it came at a high cost. The upkeep of knights, their squires, horses (knights often had four each), armour and other equipment were a heavy burden on the Templars' finances . There were taxes to pay to the state, donations to the papacy, and sometimes tithes to the church. As well as allowances to pay to local dignitaries. While masses and other services also came at a significant cost.

The Templars also had a charitable purpose and were expected to help the poor . A tenth of the bread produced, for example, was distributed to the needy as alms. Finally, military disasters resulted in enormous losses of life and property. The Templars owned a large fleet of ships, the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and served as a bank and loan institution for European monarchs and nobles.

MEDIEVAL BANKS

Considered a safe place by the locals, the military communities or convents of the national order became depositories of money, jewels and important documents . The order had its own cash reserves which were, from 1130, put to good use in the form of interest-bearing loans. The military of the national order even allowed people to deposit money in a convent. On condition that they could present a suitable letter to transfer and then withdraw equivalent money in another convent. In another primitive banking service, people could hold what would today be called a current account with the military of the national order. This was done by making regular deposits and having the Templars pay, on behalf of the account holder, fixed sums to the designated person.

By the 13th century CE, the Templars had become such skilled and reliable bankers that the kings of France and other nobles kept their treasures with the order. The Templars even lent money to rulers, and thus became an important part of the increasingly sophisticated financial structure of late medieval Europe.

F. The Fall of the Templars

THE FALL OF THE ESSENTIAL KNIGHTS TEMPLAR

In the late 12th century, Muslim armies recaptured Jerusalem and reversed the course of the Crusades , forcing the Templars to move several times. The fall of Acre in 1291 marked the destruction of the Crusaders' last refuge in the Holy Land. European support for military campaigns in the Holy Land began to erode over the next few decades. In addition, many secular and religious leaders became increasingly critical of the Templars' wealth and power. By 1303, the Templars had lost their foothold in the Muslim world and established a base of operations in Paris.

Accused of heresy, corruption, and forbidden practices, the order was attacked in France by King Philip IV (r. 1285–1314 CE) on Friday, October 13, 1307, and then officially dissolved by Pope Clement V (r. 1305–1314 CE) in 1312.

DEATH OF THE TEMPLARS: ARRESTS & EXECUTIONS

In 1187, Jerusalem was recaptured by the newly reunited Islamic forces. The Templar headquarters were pushed further into Europe as the Islamic armies advanced. As the Templars lost banking areas in the Holy Land , their wealth and power declined. In 1307, the French King Philip IV, who was heavily indebted to the Templars, used a series of rumors that had recently surfaced about the Templars' involvement in heresy to arrest the knights.

On Friday, October 13, 1307, many members of the French National Order were arrested, including the Grand Master of the Order, Jacques de Molay. Many Knights Templar were brutally tortured until they confessed to false accusations. These included heresy, homosexuality, financial corruption, devil worship, fraud, spitting on the cross, and more. A few years later, dozens of Templars were burned at the stake in Paris for their confessions.

Philip IV had many knights of the national order burned at the stake, and in 1310 the Pope dissolved the order and gave their property to another group. The property and monetary assets of the Templars were given to a rival order , the Knights Hospitaller. However, it is believed that King Philip and King Edward II of England seized most of the wealth of the military men of the national order.

4) In Homage to the Cross of the Knights Templar

Now you know what the Templar Cross means. It symbolizes courage and the will to defend the cause of God . The soldiers of the Christian Knighthood of the Middle Ages wore this typical Red Cross on their tunic as a sign of martyrdom. Obviously, it is strongly inspired by the Cross of Christ, the instrument on which the Son of God sacrificed his Life to save ours. Nowadays, we can pay tribute to this bravery that the Templars demonstrated by wearing jewelry representing the Red Cross. In addition to this article, we have an excellent article on the meaning of the Maltese cross .

In order to pay tribute to the knights of the military order and the red cross , we would like to present you with unique accessories in the image of the Templar cross which will put a point of honor to the one who will wear one of these jewels! You have the choice among all our Templar jewels. You will be able to find rings, a bracelet, a medal and Templar pendants. Each of these sacred pieces has been forged by hand to increase the quality of Templar jewels !