Heraldry

"Heraldry is a broad term, encompassing the design, display, and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank, and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch of heraldry, concerns the design and transmission of the heraldic achievement. The achievement, or armorial bearings usually includes a coat of arms on a shield, helmet, and crest, together with any accompanying devices, such as supporters, badges, heraldic banners, and mottoes." (Source: Wikipedia)

This page isn't intended to be exhaustive of all the heraldry of the Knights Templar, but to feature a few things that the modern Order implements and uses.

Photos from

Grand Prior Derek's

Templar Room

Deus Vult

Latin for: "God wills it."

In Hoc Signo Vinces

Latin for: "In This Sign Conquers"

The Seal of the Knights Templar

This famous image of two knights on a single horse is a symbol of their early poverty.

Sigillum Militum Xpisti is Greek and Latin for: "The Seal of the Soldiers of Christ"

The Templar Cross

The red patté cross is the main symbol of our order.

It represents the sacrificial blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Nōn nōbīs, Domine, nōn nōbīs,

sed nōminī tuō dā glōriam.

Latin for: "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give the glory."

-Psalm 115

(frequently abbreviated as nnDnn)

The Templar Flag

Often referred to as the Beaucant or known in various spellings as beauseant, beauceant, beaucant; from Old French bauceant or baucent. Below is a tutorial on how to properly fold and store our flag.

Folding The Templar Flag

The red cross should be folded inward. Representing the blood of Christ, it is tucked inward as the heart is protected inside our chest.

Next, the white banner is folded inward. The white field represents the holiness, purity and peace which Christ Jesus manifested in His life.

Finally, our flag is folded such that the black banner remains outward - protecting the white field during storage. The black field symbolizes the sin of the world; that which Christ overcame through His death on the cross.

The Beauceant is flown with the black field upward and while the Beauceant remained flying during battle, knights were not allowed to retreat or stop fighting.