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from https://theconversation.com/2-knights-1-horse-how-a-legendary-knights-templar-symbol-has-puzzled-and-fascinated-since-the-middle-ages-227849

2 knights, 1 horse − how a legendary Knights Templar symbol has puzzled
and fascinated since the Middle Ages
Published: May 28, 2024 8:13am EDT
Author
Andrew Latham
Professor of Political Science, Macalester College

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Circular, red seal depicting two knights sitting on one horse
Did this seal symbolize the order’s poverty, homosexuality or
companionship with Christ?

The Knights Templar, a legendary monastic military order forged in the
fires of the Crusades, continue to enthrall 21st-century audiences.

From the time of their founding in 1119 C.E. to their dissolution in
1312 C.E., the Templars’ mission was to defend Christian kingdoms in the
Holy Land against the various Muslim powers that sought to return the
region to Islamic rule. In service of this mission, the order fused two defining institutions of the early Middle Ages: the mounted knight and
the pious monk.

At the time, this made the Templars something of a puzzle. How could
someone be both a pious monk and a ferocious warrior? The Templars
themselves tried to address this question in their symbology, which
proved as puzzling as the order itself.

Illustration of knight on a horse with a cross heraldry, another person
holding the steed
The Knights Templar were a military order of monks. From the archive of
the British Library via Flickr, CC BY
One of the Templars’ more enigmatic symbols was their wax seal – two knights riding a single horse. In the Middle Ages, people used seals to
protect important communications from forgery, acting like a signature. Everyone from individuals to organizations had their own unique seal.

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While the images on seals could be relatively simple and
straightforward, they sometimes conveyed more subtle messages. The
message of the Templars’ seal has always been open to interpretation.

Interpreting the Templar seal
While researching medieval geopolitics and the Third Crusade, I came
across several interpretations of the Templar seal.

The most popular ties the shared steed to the Templars’ vow of poverty.
While the Order was not literally financially constrained, the symbol
likely was meant to demonstrate that the Templars took the vow seriously.

Another draws a connection to the Gospel of Matthew, where one figure represents a knight and the other Jesus Christ. This interpretation
stems from a Bible passage where Christ says, “For where two or three
are gathered in my name, there am I with them.” The idea is that the two knights on a single horse embody the ever-present companionship of
Christ with the Templars who had gathered in his name.

As part of a campaign to discredit the Templars, some suggested the two
knights symbolized the homosexuality said to be rampant within the order.

Some propose that the two knights represent a duality within the order
itself. The single horse could signify the unification of their
seemingly contrasting roles as warrior-monk.

The seal’s inscription adds another layer of intrigue. Originally, the inscription read “Sigillum Militum Christi” – Latin for “Seal of the Soldiers of Christ.” In the mid-13th century, the order’s 19th grand
master changed the inscription to “Sigillum Militum Xpisti,” replacing
the Latin word for Christ with the Greek. Some scholars argue that using
the Greek letters “XP” instead of the Latin “CHR” was intended to invoke
Emperor Constantine’s vision at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312
C.E. His victory allowed him to end the official persecution of
Christians in the Roman Empire.

Painting of various knights, women, and deities, with angels carrying a
red cross in the sky
Constantine is said to have had a divine vision while preparing for
battle. School of Raphael/Wikimedia Commons
Multiple meanings
While the exact meaning of the seal remains a riddle, there is little
doubt it served as a powerful symbol of the knights’ commitment to their ideals.

The seal’s many interpretations resonate with different audiences. For
some, it represents Christian soldiery and unwavering brotherhood. For
others, it evokes the enigmatic nature of the Templars. And for others,
it suggests corruption and sexual misconduct.

The seal serves as a window into the Knights Templar’s identity and
impact on medieval Christian history. It is a symbol likely to continue
to spark curiosity for centuries to come.


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Senior Religion + Ethics Editor
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