Templar seals - insights into identity, spirituality, and evolution

The Knights Templar of the Middle Ages were not only warriors but also deeply spiritual figures. A study of more than 500 seals used by the Templars and other Orders provides a fascinating exploration of how the Templars used seals as both legal tools and spiritual symbols. In what way were these seals more than just marks of authentication, and did they reflect the beliefs, hierarchy, and mission of the order?

Like other monastic orders, the Templars relied on seals to validate official documents. As a primary means of communication in medieval society, seals played a crucial role in establishing authority and identity. All dignitaries may have possessed a seal as part of their function.  

Published information on a vast collection of over 500 seals from various military orders, including 100 used by the Templars, has been analysed. The design of the seals often included intricate iconography, demonstrating both the legal power and religious devotion of the order. 

The findings reveal that the Templars favored certain religious symbols. The cult of the Mother of God is common to all the military orders that place themselves under her tutelage. The widespread growth of Marian devotion since the 12th century, under the influence, in particular, of Bernard of Clairvaux was the main cause. This led to the transformation of the image of Mary, spokesperson for Christians, into a supreme queen whose brothers of the military orders pose as vassals.

The military orders invoke Christ less often than his Mother and if so, only symbolically. The cross, without a fixed design, is at the heart of the Christocentrism of the military orders but it is far from occupying the first place on the seals of the military orders (13%). The Agnus Dei (Lamb of God), representing Christ, was another important emblem. It reinforced the Knights' mission as Christ’s warriors. It can be found in about 15% of the investigated Templar seals. This symbol emphasized the sacrificial nature of the Templars' mission as protectors of the Holy Land. 

One of the most iconic though not dominating Templar images, symbolizing poverty, brotherhood, and the dual role of the order as monks and warriors, was the emblem of the two Knights on one Horse. 

The investigated corpus highlights the devotion of the military orders to three of the apostles: John the Evangelist, his brother James, and Thomas. John the Evangelist, often depicted as an eagle, seems to have been particularly venerated by the Temple and the Hospital. With the exception of the Virgin, the place given to female saints on the seals of military orders is limited. Thus, Mary Magdalene, Barbara, or Ursula are totally absent.

Finally there were architectural and liturgical References on the seals. Some depicted elements of the Holy Sepulchre, reinforcing the connection to Jerusalem and the sacred mission the Knights undertook.

The Templar seals evolved over time, reflecting changes in the order’s structure and circumstances. Early Seals (12th Century) were relatively simple, often featuring a cross or a knight on horseback. Mid-Period Seals (13th Century) show more intricate designs, incorporating elements of ecclesiastical and Christological imagery. Late Period Seals (14th Century, before the dissolution in 1314) showed a shift towards more individualized seals, often bearing the names of specific commanders or provinces, suggesting an increasing emphasis on administrative identity.

This illustrates that, beyond their practical function, Templar seals were deeply symbolic. The presence of religious imagery served to reinforce the order’s divine justification for war. The Templars were not merely soldiers; they were warrior-monks who believed their mission was sanctified by God. By using seals adorned with Christological symbols, they constantly reaffirmed this identity.

Finally, the iconography of the seals of military orders is not only marked by their spirituality. The dignitaries maintained links with the aristocratic environment from which they came. Having become religious, they do not forget their roots. There are many who want to demonstrate education through their matrices speaking or set with profane intaglios.

This blog is based on Arnaud Baudin. Le sceau, miroir de la spiritualité des ordres militaires. in: Damien Carraz; Esther
Dehoux. Images et ornements autour des ordres militaires au Moyen Âge. Culture visuelle et culte des saints (France, Espagne du Nord, Italie), Presses universitaires du Midi, pp.69-82, 2016, Tempus, 978-2-8107-0447-7. hal-03703353, consulted 27 February 2025 on academia.edu. The illustration shows the lesser known reverse side of the the lead seal of Brother Bertrand de Blancafort, master of the Temple, from a charter of 27 April 1168, showing the cupola of the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the front side showing two knights on one horse (Staatsarchiv Amberg, Kloster Waldsassen U 7/1; © Staatsarchiv Amberg), source Fair Use intended.

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