Miscellaneous > The Sallyport

Templar cross

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Sir Douglas:
Basically, anyone who fought at the behest of the Catholic Church against "heretics" was considered a crusader, regardless of whose colors they wore. The Templars, Hospitallers, etc. were religious-military orders. If you joined an order, you usually sacrificed your own heraldry and wore that of your order. Think Balian in Kingdom of Heaven versus Arn in...well, Arn.
Both were crusaders, but Balian was not a member of an order and thus retained his own heraldry, whereas Arn was a member of the Templars and had to wear the Templar cross in place of his own arms (the "Azure, a lion rampant Or", or whatever it was).

Usually, however, a crusader would wear a cross somewhere on his person to signify that he was indeed a crusader. Like this fellow from the Westminster Psalter: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Westminster_Knight.jpg

At least that's how I understand it.

Aiden of Oreland:
What made you able to identify a templar and tell the difference between a normal crusader? Or did the white plain with the red cross always show that you are a templar?

Timothy:
Hello,

This is from the Knights Templar vault.

 http://knightstemplarvault.com/templar-cross/

It helps a little.

Timothy

Sir Douglas:

--- Quote from: Sir Aiden on 2013-10-21, 01:44:06 ---What made you able to identify a templar and tell the difference between a normal crusader? Or did the white plain with the red cross always show that you are a templar?

--- End quote ---

Right, the red cross on a white surcoat almost always meant, "Hey, I'm a Templar." White was reserved for only the knights, though (I imagine it would be a pain to keep clean ;) ). Templar sergeants and squires would have worn a red cross on a black or brown mantle. Most of the monastic crusading orders actually had pretty strict rules regarding dress. Actually, they had pretty strict rules regarding everything. This is from the Latin Rule.


--- Quote ---On the Brothers' Dress

17. We command that all the brothers' habits should always be of one colour, that is white or black or brown. And we grant to all knight brothers in winter and in summer if possible, white cloaks; and no-one who does not belong to the aforementioned Knights of Christ is allowed to have a white cloak, so that those who have abandoned the life of darkness will recognise each other as being reconciled to their creator by the sign of the white habits: which signifies purity and complete chastity. Chastity is certitude of heart and healthiness of body. For if any brother does not take the vow of chastity he cannot come to eternal rest nor see God, by the promise of the apostle who said: Pacem sectamini cum omnibus et castimoniam sine qua nemo Deum videbit. That is to say: 'Strive to bring peace to all, keep chaste, without which no-one can see God.
--- End quote ---

Aiden of Oreland:
Now that clears up a lot. Haha and I guess they all had "chastity belts" also lol. But What marked you as a crusader?

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