Templar Insignia

The items of militaria shown below can be viewed in our on-line shop complete with full descriptions, photographs and prices.

14th Century Great Helm This style of helmet superseded KTB126 in the fourteenth century. It would have been worn right at the end of the Templar period. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Banner of the Knights Hospitaller Apart from the Piebald Banner of the Knights Templar (cf. KTB113), the Benedictine monks of St. Albans, Matthew Paris, also illustrated the banner of the Knights Hospitaller. This was granted to the Hospitallers circa 1130, probably by Pope Innocent II. Although the Hospitallers wore black robes emblazoned with a white cross, the banner of the Order was red, which symbolized the blood of Christ; and it bore a white cross. In battle, if Templars became separated from their comrades or if they lost sight of their own banner, they were supposed to rally around the banner of the Hospitallers. We have handcrafted this badge from pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

Banner of the Livonian Teutonic Knights In the year 1236, the Brethren of the Sword (cf. KTB123) suffered a catastrophic defeat at the battle of the Saule River. The Grand Master and approximately half the brethren perished; and in order to ensure the survival of Crusader-held Livonia (modern Latvia); to defending which, the Sword-Brethren were committed; it became necessary to merge the Sword-Brothers with the Teutonic Knights. This happened between the years 1237-1239; at which time, the Teutonic Knights were still actively engaged in the Holy Land; which is where their headquarters was based. They had also recently opened up a second front in pagan Prussia, and they were building a network of fortresses to help secure their newly conquered territories. Another branch of the Teutonic Knights was based in the heartland of Germany. Due, however, to the remoteness of Livonia from the rest of the Teutonic Knights' possessions, the former Sword-Brothers effectively became another branch of the Order. This same remoteness also meant that the Livonian branch was able to exercise a significant amount of autonomy. For example, the Brothers embarked upon the Novgorod Crusade of 1242 pretty much on their own initiative; and in the run-up to the Tannenburg campaign of 1410, the Livonian branch negotiated their own treaty with the Teutonic Knights' Lithuanian enemies. Though this treaty conflicted with the policy then being adopted by the Teutonic Grand Master towards Lithuania, the Livonian Brothers did supply a contingent to fight at the battle of Tannenberg. However, this contingent did not fight under the black and white great-banner of the Teutonic Order. Instead, they brought along their own tricolour banner; which we have reproduced here. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 42 mm overall.

Banquo's Ghost 'Macbeth' is a play by William Shakespeare which is set in 11th century Scotland. Macbeth is confronted by three witches as he returns home from a battle with the invading Norwegians. They tell him that he will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. When messengers arrive with the news that the reigning king, Duncan, has conferred the Thanedom of Cawdor upon Macbeth for defeating the Norwegians, Macbeth begins to plot with his wife to murder his way to the throne. However, once crowned, Macbeth finds that he has to commit more murders in order to feel secure. Ironically, it is this that leads to his downfall. In the play, Banquo is initially Macbeth's friend and lieutenant. The three witches also tell Banquo that his sons will in time to come be kings of Scotland. This seals his fate, and Macbeth has him murdered to try and ensure that the crown will stay in his family instead of passing to Banquo's descendants. That night, Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth to accuse him from beyond the grave of his murder. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 55mm overall.

Baphomet Pendant During the trials of the Knights Templar, they were accused of not only worshipping a demonic head-idol, but of wearing pendants bearing its image. This idol is usually referred to by historians as the Baphomet; though in modern demonology, this term has other connotations. Though the Templars were tortured and their properties were thoroughly searched, no evidence of idolatry was found. In truth, however, the Knights did inscribe some of their seals with a man's head. They were not unique in doing so: their rivals, the Knights Hospitaller employed a similar device. We can thus be confident in identifying this disembodied head as belonging to Saint John the Baptist, whom both Orders especially venerated. The few Templar confessions that mention the head-idol give differing descriptions. It is certain that under torture, the Knights were just telling their interrogators whatever they wanted to hear. Having said that, the heads that adorn the Templars' seals are all crude and ugly, to judge from surviving examples. It is thus not hard to see how they could be mistaken for the head of a demon. Indeed, these seals bear a remarkable similarity to some Islamic coins of the period. In the West, there was a great deal of ignorance about Islamic culture and religion. It was thought, even by learned men, that the Saracens worshipped a whole host of pagan gods. In fact the word Baphomet, or Baphometic (it was actually an adjective in the middle ages) referred to something of Islamic origin. It is thus not difficult to see how some of the Templars' seals gave rise to the myth that they had adopted idol worship from the supposedly pagan Saracens. One Templar who was interrogated even went so far as to suggest that the practice was introduced into the Order by one of the Grand Masters who had been captured by the Saracens in battle (he probably had Bertrand de Blanquefort in mind, who was Master from 1156, and taken prisoner the following year. He was released in 1159, and died in 1169). This pendant has been inspired by the Templars' fanciful confessions. It has been based on two main sources: the aforementioned seals, and the painting of a head which is associated with the Templars, and which was discovered in a property in Templecombe in Devon. I have designed it to appear esoteric and arcane: as though it belongs to an ancient cult, which the Templars have secretly revived. It looks extremely effective when it is worn over re-enactment armour, as an alternative to other types of pendant. When worn in this way, it is a real point of interest. This pendant is hand-crafted in pewter. It is ready to wear, and is supplied suspended from a length of leather thong. It is also attractively boxed, and is approx 58mm, or 2 1/4 inches overall.

Crusader Great Helm This barrel-shaped helmet would have been worn by Templar Knights from circa 1250 onwards. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter. It is approximately 34mm overall.

Early Shield of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem Prior to the adoption of the white cross as the emblem of the Knights Hospitaller circa 1130, the shields used by the brethren during the early period were probably plain and unadorned. The Hospitallers would have acquired their equipment mainly by donation, and they would have just covered the original bright designs with a thick coat of black paint. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 39mm overall.

Framed Badge of Bernard de Tramelay Bernard de Tramelay became Grand Master of the Knights Templar in 1150. Even at this early date, the Order had begun to attract controversy; and de Tramelay's actions at the siege of Ascalon in 1153 attracted a great deal of criticism. When a section of the city walls crumbled, he led forty of his Templars in through the breach. However, once inside, they were surrounded and killed by the Saracen defenders. The narrative which complements this framed badge helps to explain these events. This framed badge measures 6 inches x 8 inches, and it can be displayed either free-standing or by hanging.

Framed Badge of Gerard de Ridefort This framed badge profiles Gerard de Ridefort, who was Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1184 until 1189. This was a critical period for the Crusaders; which culminated in the loss of Jerusalem to Saladin; and the near expulsion of the Crusaders from the Holy Land altogether. This framed badge details the events leading up to this disaster, and explains de Ridefort's role in them. The frame measures 6 inches x 8 inches, and can be displayed either free-standing or by hanging.

Framed Badge of Jakelin de Mailly Jakelin de Mailly was the Marshal of the Knights Templar. This meant that he was second-in-command in military matters to the Grand Master. He was killed at the battle of the Springs of Cresson in 1187, which was one of a series of events that led up to the disastrous battle of the Horns of Hattin; and ultimately, the loss of Jerusalem itself. The reason why de Mailly and a mere handfull of other Crusader knights charged headlong into a force of 7,000 Saracen cavalry at Cresson is explored in the narrative which accompanies this framed badge. This dark walnut frame measures 6 inches by 8 inches, and it can be displayed either free-standing, or by hanging.

Framed Badge of the Kingdom of Jerusalem As some collectors like to display our badges framed, we have decided to issue some of our designs ready framed with accompanying notes. In this example, we have combined the shield of the Kingdom of Jerusalem with a list of those kings and queens who sat upon its throne up until the fall of the Latin states in the Holy Land in 1291. This framed badge measures 6 inches x 8 inches and can be displayed either free-standing or by hanging.

Framed Print and Badge set of a Knight Templar from Cressac The Templar in this example is based upon the frescoes in the chapel at Cressac-sur-Charente in the South of France; and a sketch of a section of these frescoes is shown alongside the main figure in this collection of images. The Knights' equipment as represented at Cressac is pretty standardized: for example; they all wear a kind of domed helmet, such as that shown in the accompanying badge. However, one of the Knights carries a most unusual shield, which has been reproduced here both on the main figure and as one of the badges in this interesting and unusual collection. The comprehensive historical notes which are supplied with this framed set explain about the imagery involved here in much greater detail. This framed set measures 8 inches x 10 inches and can be displayed either free-standing or by hanging.

Framed Print and Badge set of a Knight Templar, circa 1187 This is the third figure in this series; and this time we are looking at a Knight Templar from the famous battle of the Springs of Cresson in 1187. He is equipped in the very latest armour for this date, and the shields which are displayed alongside him are those of the main personalities on the Crusader side who took part in this battle. This framed print and badge set measures 8 inches x 10 inches, and it is supplied with historical notes which explain about the subject matter in greater depth. It can be displayed either free-standing or by hanging.

Framed Print and Badge set of a Knight Templar, circa 1291 This framed badge set depicts a fully-armed Knight Templar from the very end of the Crusader period. Surrounding the main figure are five of our badges which are contemporary with him. These are a selection of shields which are known to have been in use by the Templars during the thirteenth century; together with a great heaume of the same date; and an example of the Knights' famous Gonfanon Baucent, or Piebald Banner. This framed print and badge set measures 8 inches x 10 inches; it is accompanied by historical notes, and it can be displayed either free-standing or by hanging.

Framed Print and Badge set of a Series of Early Knights Templar When preparing my book, 'The Arms, Armour & Insignia of the Knights Templar', I completed a series of sketches to illustrate my text. In all, seven such sketches were produced; but not all of them made their way into the finished book. I have now selected four of these sketches for framing as main figures, and several others to act as subsidiary illustrations. These have been combined with some of my badges to present the collector with a series of images which represent the development of the appearance of the Knights Templar over the period 1120-1291. This is because, although a great deal has been written about the history of the Templars, very little original research has been done into the way that they looked. Indeed, most writers seem to dismiss the very early period with a brief comment about there being almost no information available on this particular aspect of their story. However, this is not necessarily so: and this framed set illustrates the appearance of the very earliest Knights Templar. Little uniformity would have been noticeable at this period; but all the brethren would have identified themselves by the use of a white mantle, or cloak. Also included here is the shield of Hughes de Payns, one of the two founder knights of the Temple; and the historical notes which are supplied with this framed set explain about the controversy surrounding the red cross of the Templars; and how this emblem was used decades before it is generally supposed to have been adopted. This framed set measures 8 inches x 10 inches and it can be displayed either free-standing, or by hanging.

Framed Print and Badge set of Thomas de Walkington The records of the trials of the Knights Templar in the early fourteenth century provide us with the greatest insight into the careers of individual Templars; which would otherwise be difficult to reconstruct. From the statements that the Templars gave to their interrogators we know where, when and by whom they were inducted into the Order. Using these same records, we have profiled the career of Thomas de Walkington, who was preceptor of Rothley in Leicestershire. A hotel now occupies the site of this preceptory, but the Knights' chapel has been preserved. This framed badge set measures 8 inches x 10 inches, and it can be displayed either free-standing or by hanging.

Gonfanon Baucent from San Bevignate, 13th Century The frescoes at Perugia may show a black cross upon the Knights' shields, but the Gonfanon Baucent bears a red one; such as we would expect. Having said that; this design differs again from that illustrated by Matthew Paris. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

Gonfanon Baucent, 13th Century Matthew Paris also illustrated for us the Templars' famous banner: the Gonfanon Baucent, or Piebald Banner. The Knights' rule-book includes numerous clauses which deal with the Baucent. It was never to be lowered so that it could be used as a lance; and any Templar who broke one of the Order's statutes would never be allowed to carry the banner again, even after his term of penance was over. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

Grand Master of the Knights Templar, circa 13th Century. Templar Grand Masters were distinguished by carrying a ceremonial staff, known variously as a Baculus or an Abacus. It is uncertain when the Grand Masters started using this staff; however, clause 47 of the Templar's earliest set of rules (circa 1129) refers to the Master carrying a rod and a staff. It goes on to explain that the staff is to sustain others, while the rod is to punish the vices of sinners. This clause, though, probably does not actually refer to the Baculus. More likely, the staff and the rod are metaphorical. Having said that, it was doubtless this clause that subsequently inspired the Templars to adopt the Baculus as a symbol of the Master's authority. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 97mm overall.

Graymalkin Graymalkin features in William Shakespeare's play, 'Macbeth'. According to folklore, every witch is meant to have an imp as a helper. This imp normally disguises itself as a harmless-looking animal; and is known as a Familiar. One of the three witches in 'Macbeth' has a cat as her Familiar, called Graymalkin. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 38mm overall.

Great Seal of the Knights Templar According to legend, the first two Templars, Hughes de Payns and Godefroi de Sainte-Adhemar, were so poor that they could afford only one horse between them. The seal of the Two Poor Knights of Christ seems to have been adopted during the time of Bertrand de Blanchefort (Grand Master 1156-1169); and only the highest officials of the Order, like the Grand Master or the Visitor, were allowed to use it. Curiously, the Templars' rule-book forbade the practice of riding a horse in this manner; and consequently many different interpretations have been put forward to try to explain the meaning of this symbol. Without doubt, however, the Two Poor Knights remain the most famous of the Templars' emblems; and this is our best-selling badge. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter. It is approximately 30mm in diameter.

Heater Shield with Central Boss The heater shield evolved in the thirteenth century, as body armour became more extensive. It is so-called because of its resemblance to the underside of a household flat-iron. Some Templar seal impressions show a shield of this type emblazoned with a cross, which appears to be voided in the centre. This is here interpreted as a shield boss; which is a domed piece of metal affixed to the front of the shield that acts as a hand-guard. Inbetween going on Crusade, polishing up our armour and looking after our destriers, we have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel at our Templar preceptory in Warwickshire. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Helm of King Richard the Lionheart When King Richard finally returned home to England after the Third Crusade, he ordered a second Great Seal to be made. On one side of this, he is depicted as a mounted knight, brandishing a sword. The chief point of interest about this portrait of the king, however, lies in his new helmet: a fully enclosed great helm with a fan crest fixed to the top. This is probably the earliest depiction of such a helm and crest in use. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 35mm overall.

Herne the Hunter Herne is an intriguing character from British folklore. His story dates back at least as far as Shakespeare's day; for he is mentioned in the play, 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'. He is supposed to be the ghost of a huntsman who killed himself in Windsor Great Park during the reign of King Richard II (1377-1399). After death, he returned to haunt the forest, crowned with a pair of antlers. Initially he sought revenge upon those who had wronged him in life; but later he assumed the role of the forest's spectral guardian. In Celtic mythology, however, there was a god called Cernunnos, who was also endowed with a pair of antlers: and it is certainly tempting to see a connection between Herne and Cernunnos because of this. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 55mm overall.

Jacques de Molay Jacques de Molay joined the Knights Templar in 1265, and after serving in the Holy land he began to rise up the ranks of the Templar administration. In 1293 he was elected as the last Grand Master of the Order; for it was during this time that some ugly rumours about the Knights began to circulate. Nobody took them seriously until they reached the ears of King Phillip IV of France. In a series of surprise raids he had all the Templars in France arrested on charges that they indulged in all manner of blasphemies and idol worship. Jacques was amongst those captured that October day in 1307, and he was one of the first to admit to the majority of the charges. This has puzzled historians; but the effects of torture were probably the root cause. However, Jacques had to languish in prison for another seven years before he was finally judged. When the sentence of life imprisonment was passed, he shocked everyone by denouncing his confession as a pack of lies made under duress. For this he was burned at the stake that very evening. Although Jacques remains the most famous of all the Templar Grand Masters as a result of all this, history has not been particularly kind to him. He has been criticized for his lack of leadership during this crisis, and he has been characterized as having, at best, mediocre intelect. I regard this as being rather unfair; and this sculpture tries to portray Jacques in a more human aspect as a prisoner of the French king, with his hands bound, helplessly. This scupture is approximately 95mm overall. It is carved in solid, highly polished pewter. It is supplied gift-boxed, and it also comes with a numbered certificate which explains more about the history of the subject.

Joan Cooper's Frog Joan Cooper was one of Matthew Hopkins' victims. At the Chelmsford Witch Trials of 1645 she confessed to having three imps, or Familiars: two mice, called Jack and Prickeare; and a frog, known simply as Frog. Joan's ultimate fate is uncertain, as the trial records were not properly kept at the time. Those of the Witchfinder's victims who were not executed or died in prison were often left to rot in gaol anyway. Even after an acquittal, fear of the recriminations in the communtiy would mean that an individual could remain in custody indefinitely. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 60mm overall.

Joan the Spinner Meribell Bedford was another of Matthew Hopkins' victims. She stood trial at Bury St. Edmunds in 1645. Again, the records do not indicate what happened to her; but during her trial she confessed to having a spider as her Familiar, known as Joan the Spinner. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 50mm overall.

King Arthur This design is based upon a very early fourteenth century illustration. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

King Richard III of England King Richard III remains the most controversial monarch ever to wear England's crown. He became king in 1483 after his nephew, Edward V, had been declared illegitimate and formally deposed. Two years later, Richard was killed defending his crown at the battle of Bosworth. This battle, to all intents and purposes, brought the period known as the Wars of the Roses to an end: and the victor, Henry Tudor embarked upon a campaign to blacken Richard's character. He was portrayed as a hell-spawned hunchback and a murderer; and this process culminated with the larger-than-life villain that Shakespeare depicted him as having been. Modern historians try to take a more balanced view: however, there are those whose passions are roused by the very suggestion that Richard was anything other than a model of medieval kingship. So: even after the passage of centuries, he has the power to excite and inspire. This sculpture is partly based upon a portrait that dates from the height of the Tudor smear campaign against Richard. It is known as the 'Broken Sword' portrait; and when I first encountered it, I found this to be such a refreshing change from the portraits that are normally reproduced, that I decided to include the motif of a broken sword in my sculpture. This pewter sculpture is approximately 108mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed, and with a numbered certificate which provides a more detailed history of the subject.

Knight Hospitaller, mid 12th Century. The foundation of the Knights Hospitaller actually predates that of the Templars; though they did not become a Military Order until later. This makes the history of the Hospitallers' uniforms a fascinating subject. As mentioned above, even before the First Crusade, a Christian hospital had been established in Jerusalem, close to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here sick and weary pilgrims could be tended by a group of dedicated and religiously minded lay-people. This Hospital of Saint John the Almoner was the beginnings of the Knights Hospitaller. When the Crusaders beseiged Jerusalem, the rector of this hospital, Gerard de Martigues, and his staff were ejected; although some say that the Saracens threw them into the dungeons. At any rate, when the city fell, they returned; and the Crusader leaders - such as Godfrey de Bouillon - began to support Gerard and his Hospitallers with grants of land and cash donations. This allowed him to expand his group's activities and establish more hospitals. When Gerard's successor first decided to take steps towards protecting the Order's hospitals and the pilgrims using these facilities, he just began arming some of the brethren with basic weapons, like spears and shields. Although the idea of armed monks may seem a contradiction to us; in the Middle Ages things were not so clear-cut, and the Church was at times very militant in its attitudes. Raymond's hospital staff were not actually clergy: they were more in the nature of lay brethren: which is to say that they had dedicated themselves to a religious way of life without actually taking the full vows of a monk or a nun (there were also female Hospitallers to look after women pilgrims). Though this made the bearing of arms less of an issue, it was still a far from satisfactory arrangement and the Pope on one occasion had to remind Raymond that his Order's primary vocation was the care of pilgrims. Thus full-time military personnel were admitted into the Order; but the black monkish robes worn by the original armed brethren provided the basis for these Hospitaller Knights' uniforms. However, the early soldiers of the Hospital are something of a mystery. It is unclear whether they were hired-in; or vassals holding land from the Hospitallers; or volunteers who had offered their services to them. It is likely that they comprised elements of all the aforementioned; but my feeling is that at the core was a band of dedicated volunteers. This particular Knight's equipment, which has not changed much from that worn at the battle of Hastings is pretty typical of the mid twelfth century. However, it would be more natural for the Hospitaller Knights to be equipped in older armour because at this stage the Order's function was still first and foremost charitable rather than military; so their gear would have been mostly older surplus stuff that had been donated to them. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 110mm overall.

Knight Templar from Cressac, 12th Century The Knights in the frescoes at Cressac-sur-Charente all wear rounded helmets, which are fitted with nasal bars. This helps us to date the paintings to 1160 - 1180. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 42mm overall.

Knight Templar from San Bevignate, circa 1250 This Templar may actually be a Sergeant-Brother, rather than a Knight of the Order. This is indicated by the fact that he is wearing a type of helmet known as a chapel de fer. The Templars' rule book describes this headgear as being issued primarily to Sergeants; though it was also sometimes worn by Knights in preference to the heavy great-helm. Again, the Templars' cross is shown as black instead of red. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 50mm overall.

Knight Templar, mid 13th Century A great many tombs of knights of the Crusader era to be found in churches throughout the British Isles are said to belong to Templars. The characteristic cross-legged pose of knights' effigies of this period is traditionally claimed to be a sign that the warrior so depicted 'took the cross', and went on Crusade. There is no actual evidence to support this claim; though it's a charming thought. Indeed, tombs that can be definitely identified as belonging to Templars are rare; nonetheless, this badge depicts a Knight Templar from around the time of King Louis IX of France's Crusade of 1248-1254, as he might have appeared on such a memorial. His armour is of chainmail, and covers him from head to foot. At his knees, plate reinforcements are to be seen; which were an innovation that appeared about this time. Under his mail hood, or coif, he would be wearing a padded arming cap. It is this that gives his coif a flattened appearance. This would help support his heavy great helm, which would have been like KTB126. His shield is decorated with the piebald design shown by the Benedictine monk, Matthew Paris. All in all, this is the classic image of a Knight Templar. A friend of mine wears one of these badges on the faux-fur collar of her coat; and the effect is quite stunning. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel in the workshops at our Templar Preceptory here in Warwickshire. It is approximately 100mm overall.

Late 12th Century Templar Shield This is the classic form of Templar shield; and the one we immediately think of as being carried by the Knights. This form of cross, which is known as a cross patee fitchee at the base, can be seen upon some surviving seal impressions used by the Templars. This type of shield evolved from the tear-drop shaped kite shield, of which KTB100 is an example, during the twelfth century. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Longbow Arrowhead Although we associate the Longbow more readily with the Welsh archers of the Hundred Years' War period; we know the Templars also used these weapons, as they are mentioned in their rule-book. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter. It is approximately 40mm overall.

Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General At the height of the English Civil War, a lawyer's clerk from Essex, called Matthew Hopkins, embarked upon a reign of terror in and around East Anglia. He and his accomplices travelled from town to town and offered their services to the Puritan authorities that they found there; and for a considerable fee, they would clear the place of all suspected witches. Although torture was illegal in England, Hopkins and his cronies found ways around this to extract confessions from their victims: and the way that he managed to secure some of his convictions seems to us today quite ludicrous. He based his approach on the theory that every witch is allotted an imp by the devil. This imp, which is known as a Familiar, traditionally takes the form of an inconspicuous-looking animal. Thus a suspected witch was placed in an otherwise bare cell and was closely observed. Any animal, even a fly or a tiny spider that found its way into this cell during the period of scrutiny was deemed to be the witch's Familiar; and this was taken as proof of the accused's guilt. After 18 months, the self-styled Witchfinder General's methods were denounced and he was forced into retirement. Not long afterwards, Hopkins died in mysterious circumstances. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 45mm overall.

Mother Demdike, the Witch of Pendle The affair of the Pendle Witches took place in Lancashire, England in 1612. Mother Demdike and her family made a living by begging in the district of Pendle Forest; and because of their wild and dishevelled appearance, it was rumoured that they were witches. The family capitalized upon this reputation; and so their neighbours usually gave them what they wanted more out of fear than charity. However, over the years one or two people had turned them away with insults and abuse. Whenever any of these individuals suffered any misfortune later on, it simply strengthened everyone's conviction that Mother Demdike and her brood were indeed witches and that they had put a spell upon these people: and it is probable that the family believed it themselves. Matters eventually came to a head, and several members of the family were arrested and questioned after a pedlar who had crossed their path was taken ill. All of them readily admitted to being witches; and they recounted their activities to the magistrate with relish - not comprehending that they were putting nooses around their own necks. They also implicated another rival family of beggars from the neighbourhood, headed by a woman known as Old Chattox. In the end, eleven were convicted of witchcraft and were condemned to hang. Mother Demdike, who was 80 years old, cheated the gallows by dying in prison. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

Norman Kite Shield with Dragon Motif Dragons were popular emblems for the Normans to paint on their kite shields. The artists of the day seem to have enjoyed depicting these serpentine creatures, since they always went to the extent of imaginatively potraying them with their long tails coiled or playfully knotted. We have handcrafted this badge in polished pewter. It is approximately 35mm overall

Norman Kite Shield with Dragon Motif ii Some of the dragons that the Normans displayed upon their teardrop-shaped kite shields looked more like the mongrel offspring of a flying fox and a lizard. However, medieval naturalists classified many different types of dragon, and a beast such as the one on this shield should perhaps be more correctly termed a Wyvern. We have handcrafted this badge in polished pewter. It is approximately 35mm overall.

Norman Kite Shield with Stylized Cross The Norman knights who fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 protected themselves with a large shield, known as a kite shield. This covered a knight virtually from ankle to shoulder. This design of a stylized cross was one that was widely used by both sides at Hastings, however. We have handcrafted this badge in polished pewter. It is approximately 35mm overall.

Odin, Lord of Valhalla Odin was the chief of the pagan Viking gods. He was a god of war, and he gathered-up the best of those warriors slain in battle to serve him in Valhalla. Odin was also a patron of poets, and he always spoke in verse. Poets therefore invoked his name for inspiration; and to the best of them, Odin dispensed a hydromel - a divine form of mead that was known as Odrerir, from the cauldron in which it was kept. However, the worst had to be content with the dregs. Odin made great sacrifices to become all-knowing: for example, he had only one eye: the other he plucked out in exchange for wisdom; and to gain understanding of the Runes, he hanged himself from the great ash tree, Yggdrasil. His two pet ravens, Thought and Memory, travelled far and wide every morning in order to gather news for their master. These two ravens are depicted on the back of Odin's cloak in this sculpture. This pewter sculpture is approximately 48mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed with a numbered certificate.

Piebald Shield, 13th Century Matthew Paris, the monkish chronicler of St. Alban's Abbey showed this design of shield being carried by the Knights Templar in the mid-thirteenth century. Although at first a very plain-looking design, I recently painted a full-size reconstruction of this shield, and it certainly made an impact. I can assure you that a group of mounted Knights Templar, drawn up for battle, and equipped with shields like this one would have been an awe-inspiring sight. In fact, one can begin to appreciate why the Templars chose such a simple design for their famous banner; the Gonfanon Baucent. On the battlefield, their banner was an all-important rallying point. In the confusion of the melee, a banner with such a plain design would be instantly recognizable - even at a glance - through the narrow vision slits of a helmet; whereas a more complex heraldic design could be mistaken through the dust and haze of battle. The same would be true of a shield painted in this way: for even if it became hacked about and spattered with mud and blood, it wouldn't obscure the design. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Pierre-Roger de Mirepoix Pierre-Roger de Mirepoix commanded the defence of the Cathar stronghold of Montsegur when it was besieged in 1244. Under his leadership, the tiny garrison fought on for many months against a much larger force. When they could hold out no longer, however, he negotiated for an honourable surrender; the terms of which were that anyone who renounced their Catharism, made a full confession and did penance would be spared and set free: whereas those who held fast in their beliefs would be burned at the stake. About 200 were executed in this way; but the rest were allowed to go unharmed. Pierre-Roger, on the other hand, was too tempting a prize. His name had been on the Holy Inquisition's most-wanted list for too long; so the night before the fortress officially capitulated, he disappeared. This pewter sculpture is approximately 104mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed, with a numbered certificate which details the history of the subject in greater depth.

Robin Hood Did Robin Hood exist, or is he just a fictional character? Personally I believe that there were at least two real-life individuals who provided the inspiration for the outlaw hero of the ballads: Sir Robert of Locksley in Warwickshire, and Robin Hood of Wakefield in Yorkshire - a yeoman supporter of Thomas Earl of Lancaster, who lived during the early fourteenth century. However, the original ballads, which were first mentioned in the late fourteenth century, have not survived. These would probably have been much more informative, in that they would most likely have contained original details which would have made identification of the real Robin easier. Over the decades, the ballads evolved to such an extent that the historical characters behind them became obscured. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

Robin Hood When I was designing my Robin Hood badge, I decided upon an approach that was more inspired by the traditions of Hollywood. This is because for nearly all of us, our first encounter with the outlaw-hero is watching him being portrayed by Errol Flynn. When, however, I decided to tackle him as a sculpture, I wanted to produce a more thoughtful and realistic interpretation. There is no doubt in my mind that Robin Hood did once exist; but that the character of the ballads is more of an amalgam of several historical people. I am equally sure that the reality was quite different and from our movie-informed notions. Thus I used as my reference material manuscripts like the early to mid fourteenth century Luttrel Psalter, with its illustrations of medieval rural life. Gone are the green tights, fashionably cut leather jerkins and jaunty Monmouth caps. Instead this Robin Hood wears what was pretty standard attire for a medieval yeoman: a simple tunic and a warm hood. This pewter sculpture is approximately 95mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed and with a numbered certificate which gives a more detailed history of the subject.

Saladin Western artists in the medieval period based their interpretations of exotic subjects upon travellers' accounts and their own imaginations. Portrayals of Saracen warriors, despite being informed by returning Crusaders, are rarely that convincing: however, they have a certain charm that is all their own. It is with this in mind that this sculpture of Saladin, the great Saracen leader of the twelfth century, has been created. Certain elements ring true: for example, the way that he shoots his bow from the saddle; and that he does so as he gallops away from his enemy in a tactic known as the 'Parthian Shot'. The rest of Saladin's costume and appearance is more fanciful. The basis for this aspect of the sculpture has been the delightful illustrations executed by the thirteenth century monk, Matthew Paris; and the famous marginal illustration of Richard the Lionheart jousting with Saladin from the mid-fourteenth century Luttrell Psalter. This is especially evident in Saladin's face in this representation: the hooked nose and bared teeth are exactly as depicted by the anonymous Luttrell Master. This pewter sculpture is approximately 108mm overall. It is supplied gist-boxed, with a numbered certificate which details the history of the subject in greater depth.

Sergeant Preceptor's Seal In Western Europe in particular, Templar properties resembled manorial estates, rather than the fortified installations that were necessary in the Holy Land. There would typically be a preceptory, consisting of a cluster of buildings for the Templars' own use; and the adjoining fields would be let-out to the Templars' tennants, for them to farm. This would then generate the income necessary to support the Templars' mission in the Holy Land. The preceptors who administered such estates were very often chosen from the ranks of the Sergeant-Brothers of the Order. These brethren were distinguished from the Knights by their black or brown mantles. This seal is a variation on the one above (KTB118); and it features a black background to the red cross of the Order. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm in diameter.

Sergeant-Brother of the Knights Templar On the battlefield, the front ranks of the Templars' contingent was made up of the heavily armed Knights. Behind them, and in support, were the lighter armed Sergeants. The Sergeant-Brothers were actually more numerous than the Knights of the Order; and they were distinguished by wearing black or brown mantles, or cloaks. Off the battlefield, the Sergeants performed various functions within the Order. Some were involved in garrison work in the Holy Land; while others were agricultural workers or craftsmen on the Templars' estates. Some Sergeants, on the other hand, occupied high ranks within the Templar organisation. The Grand Preceptor of the Shipyard of Acre was always a Sergeant-Brother of the Order; and he commanded the Templars' fleet. By joining the Templars, therefore, these men were able to attain ranks that they would otherwise not be able to achieve. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 93mm overall.

Sergeant's Shield, Teutonic Knights, 13th Century The Sergeant-Brothers of the Teutonic Order were distinguished from the Knights by their grey mantles and surcoats. Thus they were sometimes known as Grey-mantles. They also bore a truncated form of cross, referred to as a Tau, or St. Anthony's Cross. From this insignia the Sergeants were also known as Half-brothers. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of Bernard de Tramelay, circa 1153 Bernard was Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1150. He became the first leader of the Order to be killed in battle. At the siege of Ascalon in 1153, a breach appeared in the walls, and Bernard and his Templars rushed in. The chronicler William of Tyre claimed that they had only done so in order to secure the most plunder for themselves; but the Templars themselves replied that the rest of the Crusader army had failed to support their attack. Once inside Ascalon, Bernard and his Knights were surrounded and killed. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 38mm overall.

Shield of Brian de Jay, circa 1298 Brian de Jay became Grand Preceptor of the Knights Templar in England in 1296. Previous to this, he had been Master of Scotland; and had been based at Balantrodoch Preceptory, just outside Edinburgh. The Templars were invited into Scotland by King David I in 1128; and their oldest and largest preceptory was at Balantrodoch; which is now simply known as Temple, because of its association with the Knights. During de Jay's time as the Scottish Master, King Edward I of England embarked upon a series of campaigns to subjugate Scotland; and in 1291 he demanded that de Jay swear fealty to him as his overlord. It is not clear whether he swore a personal oath to Edward, or whether he did so as representative of the Templars; but either way, he broke the rules of the Order in doing so; because the Knights were supposed to acknowledge the authority of the Pope, and no other sovereign. De Jay, however, went further than this, and he supported Edward in his wars against the Scots. Indeed, for the 1298 campaign against William Wallace, de Jay commanded a squad of Welsh mercenaries; and on the 22nd July of that year he was killed at the battle of Falkirk. After his death, rumours about de Jay's conduct began to circulate which are believed to have inspired Sir Walter Scott to base his character of the fearsome Templar, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, in his novel 'Ivanhoe', upon de Jay. De Jay was probably a member of the Jay family of Shropshire; and the fact that he was placed by King Edward in command of Welsh troops for the Falkirk campaign would tend to support this. This brooch therefore shows the Jay family's arms. It is a substantial piece, and is ideal for wear upon a cloak, surcoat or scarf; to name but a few uses. It also looks great worn on a leather biker jacket. We have hand crafted this brooch in polished pewter. It is approximately 57mm overall, and it is supplied attractively gift-boxed.

Shield of Garnier de Nablus, circa 1190 Garnier de Nablus was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1190 to 1192. He led the Order during the Third Crusade, and he fought at the Battle of Arsuf in 1191. By the time that King Richard the Lionheart of England arrived in the Holy Land in June 1191, the siege of the city of Acre had been dragging on for over twenty months. However, he reinforced the Crusader forces entrenched there, and the city soon fell into their hands. With this prize secure, Richard turned his attention to his ultimate goal; the city of Jerusalem. He marched his army south, hugging the coast all the way. The Saracens harrassed the Crusaders constantly, hoping thereby to provoke them into launching an ill-judged charge; in the face of which the Saracens would just melt away, leading the Crusaders into a carefully prepared trap. Richard was too wily a general to fall for this trick; and he managed to maintain the cohesion of his forces throughout the long march. However, as the Crusaders neared the town of Arsuf, the Saracen attacks intensified. Richard halted his army, and turned to face the enemy. The Saracens' tactics remained the same: to try and lure the Crusaders into squandering their most effective weapon: the heavy cavalry charge. The Hospitallers formed the rearguard of Richard's army; and they were taking the brunt of the enemy onslaught. Many of their precious warhorses were falling victim to Saracen arrows; and Master Garnier feared that when Richard eventually decided to unleash the cavalry, his Knights would be in no position to take part in the charge. He begged the King to order the attack; but Richard refused. However, the Hospitallers could stand it no longer. They broke ranks and thundered after the Saracens. Fortunately, the rest of the army supported them; and the Saracens were swept off the battlefield under the weight and ferocity of the Crusaders' charge. This shield has been carved with Garnier de Nablus' personal arms (sable, a cross potent argent); which is virtually identical to the arms used by the Knights Hospitaller. We have hand crafted this brooch in polished pewter. It is approximately 65mm overall, and it is supplied gift-boxed.

Shield of Gerard de Montclar, circa 1169 The early Masters of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint Lazarus are not well documented, so it is difficult to construct accurate or extensive biographies for them. In more than a few cases, not even their surnames are known. However, a few details have been preserved about Gerard de Montclar. Gerard originally came from the Auvergne region of France, and when he first arrived in the Holy Land he may have joined either the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John or the Templars; although this is by no means certain. There is a tradition that the early Masters of the Hospitallers of Saint Lazarus were themselves lepers. This is possible, since none of them seem to have lasted very long in the post. If Gerard did contract leprosy, then he would have had to leave the Templars or the Hospitallers and transfer to the Lazarites: though the date he entered the Order of Saint Lazarus is not known. By 1169, however, he is recorded as Master. He was a generous patron of the Lazarites, and he donated an impressive collection of relics to the Order's church in Jerusalem. These included a piece of the Virgin Mary's clothing; a fragment of wood from the stake to which Christ was bound and then flogged; and several of Saint Nicholas' bones. He survived until 1185. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 39mm overall.

Shield of Gerard de Ridefort, circa 1187 Gerard de Ridefort was Grand Master of the Knights Templar from 1184 until 1189; and he was probably the most ferocious and warlike leader of the Order. In 1187 he led a tiny force against thousands of Saracens at the battle of the Springs of Cresson. Gerard was one of only three Templars to survive. A few weeks later he fought at the battle of the Horns of Hattin. This defeat of the army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem spelled disaster for the Crusader states in the Holy Land; and not long afterwards, Jerusalem itself fell to Saladin. De Ridefort was eventually released by the Saracen leader, and he went on to the siege of Acre. It was here that he was killed in a skirmish with the Saracen defenders of the city. See also KTB133 and KTB134 for other combattants from the Springs of Cresson. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 36mm overall.

Shield of Godfrey de Bouillon, circa 1099 The armies of the First Crusade (1096-1099) looked to the Papal Legate, the fighting bishop Adhemar of Le Puy, for overall leadership; although he was not officially designated as such. After his death from disease at Antioch, Godfrey de Bouillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine, was informally acknowledged as the overall leader by the commanders of the various contingents. When the Crusaders captured Jerusalem in 1099, the crown of the city was first offered to Duke Robert of Normandy, and possibly also to Count Raymond of Tolouse. When they declined it, by consensus, Godfrey was proclaimed as ruler. However, he refused the title King of Jerusalem, saying that he would not wear a crown of gold in the city where Christ had been crowned with thorns. Instead, he accepted the title Defender (or Advocate or Warden, depending on how you translate the Latin) of the Holy Sepulchre. However, his rule in the Holy City lasted only a year. He either succumbed to plague or typhus, which was possibly contracted by eating fruit that had been washed in contaminated water. As a result of his simple piety, his prowess as a warrior and his illustrious lineage, to later generations Godfrey became a legend. He became a hero of the calibre of King Arthur or Charlemagne (from whom he was descended; and to this was always attached a mystical aura); and many tales about his adventures (true or otherwise) were circulated during the later medieval period. One of these stories concerns the coat-of-arms that he bore. The date of the introduction of heraldry is the subject of debate amongst scholars. For many years, the prevailing attitude has been that it appeared suddenly in the mid twelfth century. It is argued that this was because knights' helmets had developed to cover the wearers' faces by this time. Thus it was no longer possible to recognize friend from foe on the battlefield. An alternative means of recognition was therefore necessary; so knights started identifying themselves by painting individual designs and emblems upon their shields. However, although this sounds reasonable, on closer examination, flaws begin to appear in this argument. For a start, the type of helmet in use by knights during the mid twelfth century was no different from those in use by their fathers or grandfathers at the battle of Hastings. Furthermore, any re-enactor will tell you that the classic Norman nasal helmet when worn over a maille coif with the ventail drawn up over the chin and mouth, just as on the Bayeux Tapestry, obscures the face that much that you can't recogize a person in this way anyhow - especially not in the confusion of battle. It is thus much more likely that heraldry was under gradual development for years before the mid twelfth century; and we need to look again at the argument that Godfrey de Bouillon died too early to have used heraldic arms. In the later medieval period, pictures of Godfrey show him in the arms traditionally associated with the Kings of Jerusalem (cf. KTB131). However, these cannot be definitely said to have existed before the thirteenth century. He is also associated with a banner that copies these arms, but with the crosses in red instead of gold. Such a banner is flown today from the battlements of Bouillon Castle in Belgium. It has also been proposed that the early Latin rulers of Jerusalem used a shield with a gold background, emblazoned with a silver cross: and indeed, Crusader coins of this period from Jerusalem are inscribed with a large single cross. Another coat of arms features the arms later adopted by the Dukes of Lorraine, which is to say, Or, a bend Gules charged with three eaglets Argent (a gold shield, upon which is a red diagonal stripe with three silver eagles on it). This design traditionally refers to an incident that occured while Godfrey was in Jerusalem. He is said to have espied three birds land on the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and to have loosed an arrow at them, impaling all three on the one shaft. Even if there is any truth in the tale, this story indicates that later Dukes of Lorraine adopted these arms in memory of the event. However, medieval heralds asserted that the arms of the Dukes of Lower Lorraine were a shield that was red with a horizontal white stripe (gules, a fess argent in heraldic terminology); and a banner of these arms is now used by the municipal council of the town of Bouillon. This is certainly a simple enough design to have an early origin, because the general rule is that the earlier arms are in date, the simpler they are. To this shield, we have added a variation on the traditional arms of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. With any artistic interpretation, a degree of licence has to be expected; and there is no real way of knowing for certain if Godfrey bore these arms, or any at all. However, the very fact that as the Crusaders advanced, the leaders of the different contingents proclaimed themselves rulers of the cities they conquered by planting their standards on the city walls indicates that these standards were distinctive to each leader because they were adorned with individual and easily identified devices; which is after all, the essence of heraldry. This, therefore, argues in favour of a basic form of heraldry existing at least this early. As a footnote, there will be those amongst you reading this entry who will wonder why these arms were also used by the Dukes of Austria. These arms actually have a seperate origin, which I here outline for reference. The story goes that during the Third Crusade, Duke Leopold of Austria emerged from one battle with the Saracens with his white surcoat saturated with blood. On removing his sword belt, a white stripe was revealed beneath, and the Emperor Henry VI granted Leopold the right to adopt this design as his arms in memory of the campaign. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 41mm overall.

Shield of Guillaume (William) de Beaujeu, circa 1291 William of Beaujeu became Grand Master of the Knights Templar in 1273. He has the distinction of being the last head of the Order to hold his office in the Holy Land; and the last to fall in action. The Egyptian Mamluk Sultan, Qalawun, and his son and successor, Khalil, embarked upon a campaign to oust the Crusaders from the Holy Land in the 1280s. De Beaujeu's spies in the enemy camp gave him warning of this, but the rest of the Crusader commanders did not believe him. This was because de Beaujeu was related to the French monarch; and thus he gave his support to the claim of Charles of Sicily (another relative of the French King) to the Kingdom of Jerusalem; the seat of which was now Acre. Charles' claim, however, was opposed by the rest of the Crusader leaders and the Knights Hospitaller. Ultimately, they were to pay the price for this mistrust; for Tripoli and then Acre fell to the Mamluks. It was at the siege of Acre in 1291 that de Beaujeu was mortally wounded by a javelin in the armpit. Despite the injunction against the Templars using fancy arms and equipment, there is evidence that a certain amount of personal display did go on in the Order. Some Templar officers used their family arms upon their seals; and de Beaujeu was one of them. When in armour, I pin one of these brooches to my battlefield surcoat to help identify the character I am portraying. We have hand crafted this brooch in polished pewter in the forge at our own Templar Preceptory here in Warwickshire. It is approximately 57mm overall; and it is supplied gift-boxed.

Shield of Hermann von Salza, circa 1220 Hermann von Salza was Hochmeister (Grand Master) of the Teutonic Knights from 1210 to 1239. He bore these arms between 1219 and 1226; however, because of this shield's association with the greatest of all the Teutonic Grand Masters, it was especially revered by all later members of the Order. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Shield of Hugh Revel, circa 1270 Hugh was an English knight who became Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller in 1258. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of Hughes de Payns, circa 1120s Hughes de Payns was one of the founder knights of the Order of the Templars, and its first Grand Master. The origins of the Knights Templar are shrouded in myth and legend, and it is hard to discern the truth. Much of our information about this period is derived from the chronicler, Archbishop William of Tyre; who is generally regarded as being reliable. However, he was not present in the Holy Land this early on, and he was also anti-Templar. Thus he has to be treated with caution. The story that the Templars only adopted the red cross as their insignia in 1147 is based upon William of Tyre. Its use, however, is attested in Papal documents which date from 1139. Another chronicler, called Ernoul, states that the Templars were using it almost from the start; and that initially it took the form of a Patriarchal Cross (also known as a Cross of Lorraine). Surviving Templar seals prove that the Knights did sometimes use this form of cross; and there is a mounting body of evidence that a simple system of heraldry was in use earlier than is generally supposed. Thus it is quite probable that Hughes de Payns bore this shield. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 36mm overall.

Shield of Jacques de Molay Jacques de Molay was the last, and perhaps the most famous of the Grand Masters of the Knights Templar. He joined the Order in 1263, and saw active service in the Holy Land. In 1293 he was elected Grand Master; by which time the Crusaders had been ousted from the Holy Land, and the Templars had moved their headquarters to Cyprus. In 1307 Jacques was arrested by King Phillip IV of France on a series of trumped-up charges. In 1314 he was burned at the stake as a relapsed heretic for retracting the confession he had made under duress. This shield combines the arms of de Molay's family of Longwy-Rohan with the emblem of the Templars. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of Jakelin de Mailly Jakelin de Mailly was Marshall of the Knights Templar, and a contemporary of Gerard de Ridefort (cf. KTB132). He was killed at the Springs of Cresson on the 1st May 1187. When the Crusaders saw how large the Saracen host was, Jakelin was one of those who advised against attacking. Gerard de Ridefort snapped back at him that he was just too fond of his blond head to lose it. He therefore charged with the rest, and was killed defending the Templars' banner, known as the Baucent. This shield combines his family arms of Mailly of Tourraine with those of the Knights Templar. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 36mm overall.

Shield of Jean de Villiers, circa 1291 Jean de Villiers was elected Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller in 1285. Like William de Beaujeu (cf. KTB164), de Villiers became the last head of his Order to hold his post in the Holy Land. Unlike de Beaujeu, however, he survived the siege of Acre in 1291. The crisis for the Crusader garrison of Acre came early on the morning of 18th May, 1291. At sunrise, the Saracen besiegers launched a general assault against the walls of the city. Before long, they had captured a key position, known as the Accursed Tower. The Templars and the Hospitallers led the counterattack to try to retake the Tower. It was in the bitter fighting that followed that the Master of the Templars, de Beaujeu, was killed by a javelin in the armpit. In the same action, de Villiers was also wounded by a javelin; this time, between the shoulder blades. However, his wound was not mortal; and he was dragged, protesting, by his knights down to the harbour and placed aboard a ship bound for Cyprus. Thus he escaped. De Villiers continued as Grand Master of the Hospitallers until his death in 1294. We have hand crafted this brooch in polished pewter. It is approximately 57mm overall; and it is supplied gift-boxed. It would make an atttractive accompaniment to our brooch KTB164, which depicts William de Beaujeu's shield.

Shield of Roger des Moulins, circa 1187 Roger des Moulins was the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller from 1177 to 1187. He fought at the battle of the Springs of Cresson; and it was he who counselled Gerard de Ridefort against attacking such a large force of Saracens with only a handfull of knights. In the ensuing battle, des Moulins was killed. (See also KTB132 & 133). We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 35mm overall.

Shield of Simon Streche, circa 1308 Simon Streche was the last Knight-Preceptor of Eagle in Lincolnshire. No trace remains today of this preceptory, but it was once a Templar hospital. This was where elderly or infirm Templars as well as pensioners of the Order, known as corrodians, were cared for. Simon was arrested with the rest of the English Templars, and was nominated by his fellow brethren to be a spokesman for the Order during their trials. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of Sir Galahad Sir Galahad became the hero of the Grail Romances in the first part of the thirteenth century. In the original Grail romance, 'Li Conte del Graal', Chretien de Troyes had been rather vague about the nature of this wondrous object. Nor did he help matters much by failing to complete his tale. In the years that followed Chretien's death (circa 1180), other writers attempted to provide satisfactory conclusions to his story; however, it was not until circa 1200 that the Burgundian poet, Robert de Borron, made the connection between Chretien's Graal, or Grail, and the cup or dish used by Christ at the Last Supper. From that time on, we should, therefore refer to the Grail as 'Holy'. What de Borron also achieved was to take the Grail quest out of the Celtic tradition of the mystical hero quest, and translate it to the realm of Christian spiritual awakenings. A new hero was therefore needed to successfully complete the quest who did not owe his origins to 'uncouth' Celtic prototypes, like Perceval and Gawain. Into the breach stepped Sir Galahad; the virgin flower of Christian knighthood. Traditionally Sir Galahad was said to have carried a white shield, upon which Joseph of Arimathea had smeared a cross in blood. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Shield of Sir Gawain According to the anonymous author of the fourteenth century poem, Sir Gawain & the Green Knight, the famous Knight of the Round Table bore a pentacle upon his shield. In the Grail romances 'Li Conte del Graal' and 'Parzival', Gawain is just as much a hero as Perceval/Parzival; and the middle sections of these stories are dominated by his adventures. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Shield of Sir Lancelot Sir Lancelot must surely be the most famous of all the Knights of the Round Table. According to legend, he was adopted and raised by the same Lady of the Lake who gave Arthur his sword, Excalibur: thus Sir Lancelot is usually surnamed 'du Lac' (meaning 'of the Lake'). Though he was invincible in battle, he was flawed by his love for Queen Guinevere. As a result, he failed in the quest for the Holy Grail. Ultimately, their affair led to the collapse of the Order of the Round Table and the death of King Arthur in battle against Sir Modred. Afterwards, Sir Lancelot lived out his remaining years as a holy hermit. Over time, artists have come to associate Sir Lancelot mainly with two coats of arms. One of these is an azure (blue) shield, charged with three golden lions passant. This seems to have been especially popular with Victorian artists. An earlier coat of arms is that reproduced here. This can be dated back to at least the fifteenth century; and it has become the one favoured by artists in more recent times. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Shield of Sir Perceval The hero of the earliest Grail romance is Sir Perceval of Wales. As far as we can now tell, the theme of the Grail and the quest to achieve it was introduced to us by the twelfth century poet, Chretien de Troyes. However, he claimed to have an earlier source for his story, which had been written in the Welsh language. This was a common enough literary device in Chretien's day; but it has intrigued Grail questers ever since; especially since a Welsh version of the story does indeed exist, albeit in a much later manuscript. However, we can be pretty certain that Chretien was truthful insofar as he did have a wealth of storytelling traditions from the Celtic world upon which to draw for inspiration. Whatever the truth, though, Chretien's tale became an instant hit. It was copied and re-copied many times, sometimes in illuminated manuscripts. The artists who decorated these manuscripts would ascribe ficticious coats of arms to Sir Perceval and the other knights he encountered in the course of his adventures. Over time, these started to become conventionalized. This coat of arms is an early one, and it is one of my favourites. As a child Perceval was brought up by his mother in isolation. Thus, because of his innocence, he was referred to as 'the Perfect Fool'. This design, therefore, symbolizes his pure heart. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Shield of the Blessed Gerard, circa 1100 Although the Blessed Gerard is cited as the founder and first Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem, this is not strictly true. When Gerard arrived in the Holy Land, sometime before 1080, a hospital, which was dedicated to Saint John the Almoner (an early seventh century Patriarch of Alexandria who was noted for his generosity to the poor and care of the sick), already existed in Jerusalem. It is true, though, that it was under Gerard's direction that the hospital staff formed themselves into a separate Order; and this was recognized by Pope Paschal II in 1113: and in this respect, Gerard was the founder of the Hospitallers of Saint John; although he never used the title of Grand Master. However, we should not refer to the Order as the Knights Hospitaller during this period, as it was only after Gerard's death that it became militarized. In fact, it is difficult to substantiate most of the claims made about Gerard; and he remains an historically shadowy figure. Even his surname cannot be given with absolute certainty. It is variously said to have been Thom or de Martigues. The former (and variations on it, which include Tonque and Tum) are most likely derived from a misreading of the Latin phrase 'and then' that occurs next to Gerard's name in an original source. Much stronger traditions are attached to the surname of de Martigues: and Martigues in Provence, France, is claimed as his place of origin. It is for this reason that the Langue of Provence has seniority over all the others (the Hospitallers divided up their territories into provinces which were referred to as Langues; which is to say tongues, or languages: hence the Langues of England, Aragon etc.). However, Hainault and Amalfi have also been proposed as Gerard's birthplace. Possibly Gerard was from Amalfi, and this would help explain his presence in the Holy Land in the late eleventh century. Of course, he could have arrived as a pilgrim, and then decided to stay; but his taking up residence in Jerusalem and his involvement with the Hospital of Saint John does make more sense if he was one of the Amalfitan merchants who had interests in the city. It was, after all, this group who had established the Christian community in Jerusalem and who had founded Saint John's Hospital. A medieval hospital did not resemble a modern establishment. True, the Hospitallers of Saint John did nurse the sick and weary, but for the most part, they offered refuge to the large numbers of Christian pilgrims - especially the poorer ones who could not afford to make alternative arrangements - passing through Jerusalem. Perhaps the Abbot of Saint Mary of the Latins, who was in overall charge of the Christian hospitaller missions in the city, felt that all the comings and goings at Saint John's would be too much of a worldly distraction for his brethren. This could be why it was staffed by lay-brethren, rather than monks. Confusingly, Gerard is usually referred to as 'Brother'; which would seem to indicate that he was a monk of Saint Mary's whom the Abbot had appointed to run the nearby Hospital of Saint John. However, in the medieval period it was possible to become a lay brother or an associate member of a religious community without actually becomming a fully-fledged monk or nun. These brethren would be expected to live according to the rule of their community (which, in the Hospitallers' case, was that of Saint Benedict to start with), but because they would be preoccupied with other duties, it was acknowledged that they would not be able to completely withdraw from the outside world in order to dedicate themselves to contemplation, nor would they be able to observe the same regime and attendance of services as the conventual brethren. This may also help to explain why Gerard pushed for the independance of the Hospital from the control of the Abbot of Saint Mary's: a move which would probably not have otherwise crossed his mind had he been a monk, as it would have conflicted with his strict vow of obedience. There is a tradition that Gerard may have originally been a knight; and so armorials of the Order of Saint John attribute arms of azure, a lion rampant argent to him. Again, the tradition is an uncertain one; but we have placed these arms upon a type of shield that would have been used during Gerard's lifetime. It is a handcrafted badge in pewter and enamel, and is approximately 39mm overall.

Shield of the Brethren of the Sword The Sword-Brethren were a small German order of knights who were amalgamated with the Teutonic Knights around the year 1237 or 1239. It was largely ex Sword-Brothers who provided the Teutonic Knights' contribution to the Novgorod Crusade, which was defeated in 1242 at the battle of Lake Peipus. This battle was immortalized by Sergei Eisenstien in his 1938 film, Alexander Nevski. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of the Fisher King The Fisher King was first mentioned by Chretien de Troyes in 'Li Conte del Graal ou Perceval' (circa 1180). He is the king of the Grail castle; and though later writers embellish upon his role, according to Chretien, he is so called because when Perceval first encounters him, he is on a boat in the middle of a lake; and the hero of the story therefore assumes that he is passing his time by fishing. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of the Kings of Jerusalem The Kingdom of Jerusalem was founded in 1099, when the army of the First Crusade captured the city. It endured until 1187, when it was re-taken by Saladin. The seat of the Kingdom then became Acre; but after its fall in 1291, the honorific title of King of Jerusalem was retained firstly by the Kings of Cyprus, and later by a succession of European princes until long after the medieval period. The arms traditionally ascribed to the Kingdom of Jerusalem famously defy one of the basic rules of heraldry in that they depict a gold (or yellow) design upon a silver (or white) background. The date that these arms were adopted, however, is difficult to determine, since they cannot be traced before the mid thirteenth century. The coinage of the Latin Kings of Jerusalem is usually stamped with a cross, but the design of the five crosses, which are said to represent the five wounds of Christ, is lacking. Various arms have been proposed for the early Kings of Jerusalem, therefore. These include a single gold cross upon a silver background, or, indeed the exact opposite. It has even been proposed that the five crosses were originally red: and a banner of this design is still flown from the battlements of Bouillon Castle, the home of Godfrey de Bouillon, first Crusader ruler of Jerusalem. Certainly a gold cross was in use in the early thirteenth century, because in 1219, the right to superimpose the gold cross of Jerusalem upon the black cross of the Teutonic Knights was granted to the Hochmeister of the Order. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint Lazarus, circa 1187 The Knights Hospitaller of Saint Lazarus claimed to be the oldest of all the Military Orders of the Crusades in the Holy Land. Some of the Order's scholars traced its origins back to the time of the Jewish High Priest, John Hyrcan (fl.134-105 B.C.), who, it is said, founded a leper hospital outside the walls of Jerusalem. It was claimed by the Lazarite brethren that the hospital that they later occupied was built on the site of Hrycan's original foundation; and on the basis of this, he was included at the head of the list of the Order's Grand Masters. As far-fetched as this seems to us, the Order had its reasons for promoting this story. However, the very fact that they made serious and scholarly attempts to do so indicates that quite early on the Order's true origins had become obscure. Any history of the Lazarites' founding therefore is speculative. It would be fair, though, to state that their inception does pre-date the First Crusade. In the eleventh century, merchants from Amalfi in Italy had made their city state wealthy by trading grain with the Muslim rulers of the Holy Land. The Amalfians had even managed to establish a sizeable Christian quarter within Jerusalem. Here they built the Church of Saint Mary of the Latins and in a neighbouring complex of bulidings they founded a monastery, a convent and a hospital. This was not like a modern hospital, rather it was a place where weary pilgrims could find shelter and hospitality as well as medical services. This was an especially important foundation, because the Amalfians had created a lucrative sideline in organising pilgrimages to Jerusalem. By circa 1080, the Benedictine Abbot of Saint Mary's had become responsible for the whole Christian hospitaller mission in Jerusalem. This effectively meant that the leper hospital dedicated to Saint Lazarus (which was initially run by Greek and Armenian monks) located outside Jerusalem's walls had come under his jurisdiction. It thus became the Abbot's responsibility to appoint a rector or provost of the hospital mission, and he chose Gerard de Martigues. Gerard seems to have delegated the running of the Hospital of Saint Lazarus to one Renault de Bichers, who replaced the Greek and Armenian brethren with Latins, while Gerard himself presided over the Hospital of Saint John the Almoner, near to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This, at least, is a realistic expalnation of the origins of the Order of Saint Lazarus; and it also helps to make sense of the tradition that the earliest Masters of the Hospital of Saint John were said to have been heads of the Order of Saint Lazarus as well. Nonetheless, because of the specialist nature of the hospital mission of Saint Lazarus and the fact that lepers and their carers were banished to the fringes of society in the Middle Ages for fear of contagion, the Lazarite brethren must have felt naturally inclined towards independance, hence their promotion of the dubious story about their ancient origins. After the shock of the First Crusade, the Saracens had quickly begun to recover. In 1113, Gerard de Martigues and his brethren had been recognised by the Pope as a seperate Hospitaller Order; but in 1120, Gerard died and was replaced by Raymond du Puy. Raymond's appraisal of the situation was that his Hospitallers were operating in a war-zone; so he began the process of militarization. He realized that it was all very well providing hospitality to pilgrims, but not if they weren't reaching their destinations safely. It was also desirable to take measures to protect the Order's hospitals; and this latter consideration cannot have been lost on the Lazarites because their hospitals were usually situated outside the protection of city walls. Not only did the statutes of the Hospitallers of Saint John and the Templars state that a knight of these Orders who caught leprosy should join the Hospitallers of Saint Lazarus, the law code of the Haute Cour of Jerusalem made it necessary for secular knights who contracted the condition to do so as well. The more able-bodied of these would certainly have been willing to take up arms to defend their hospitals; so in some ways the militarization of the Order of Saint Lazarus was a more natural progression than in the Order of Saint John. However, the Lazarites soon began recruiting small numbers of non-leper knights; and these personnel provided the contingents that the Order supplied to the army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Knights of Saint Lazarus' first major battle was probably at the Horns of Hattin in 1187, where all those present are thought to have been slain. The Hospitallers of Saint Lazarus wore black mantles, like the Knights of Saint John. The latter started wearing the insignia of a white cross sometime after 1130; and it is likely that the Lazarites copied this practise soon afterwards, although their emblem is not mentioned in documentary sources until the early fourteenth century. However, this does not preclude it having existed much earlier: particularly as this source condemns the various forms of cross that the brethren had been wearing beforehand. The plain Lazarite cross was green, and one tradition asserts that the choice of colour, which is associated with the Prophet Mohammed, was inspired by a Lazarite knight's capture of a green Saracen banner. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 36mm overall.

Shield of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, 12th Century This is a variation on the Hospitaller shield shown above (KTB182). Early on, there would have been little regularity in the equipment used by the Knights Hospitaller. It is even possible that some knights who joined the Order continued to use their own arms and armour, and in which case, they may have just added the Hospitaller' white cross to the existing paint scheme on their shields. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 37mm overall.

Shield of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John of Jerusalem, circa 1160 The tunics of the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem were black. On their foundation, they followed the rule of Saint Benedict; and although this was abandoned for that of Saint Augustine it made no difference to the Hospitallers' manner of dress as both Orders wore black. In 1130, the Pope granted them the right to display a red banner emblazoned with a white cross. Not long afterwards, Raymond du Puy, the second Master of the Hospitallers, urged his brethren to bear this cross upon their breasts. They also began painting it on their shields; though at first there was probably little uniformity in the form and size of this emblem (cf. KTB120). We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 39mm overall

Shield of the Knights Hospitaller of St. Thomas of Canterbury in Acre The Knights of St. Thomas was an English hospital order which was formed during the Third Crusade to care for sick and wounded English Crusaders; and its patron saint was Thomas Becket. In the thirteenth century, the Order became militarized, though there were never many military brethren; and the principal function of the Order was always charitable. However, it is known that a contingent fought in the defence of Acre in 1291; and they may even have taken part in the notable sortie on the night of the 15th April. The Crusaders sallied forth against the Saracen besiegers, and initially took them by surprise. Unfortunately, they pressed their advantage too far, and some of the Crusaders' horses tripped over the Saracens' tent ropes in the darkness. This allowed the Saracens to rally, and the Crusaders were repulsed with heavy losses. When the final assault on Acre began, the Master of St. Thomas and nine Knights of the Order were all killed in the fighting. With the loss of Acre, the Knights of St. Thomas, like the Templars, moved its headquarters to Cyprus. The Order ceased to function as a military one in the fourteenth century, but it continued with its charitable work. It was finally dissolved along with all other English monastic institutions during the reign of King Henry VIII. There are two versions of the insignia worn by the Knights of St. Thomas. Some sources argue for a white shield upon which was placed a red cross with a white escallop shell at its centre. However, in 1236, the Pope is said to have granted the Knights to wear a cross pattee per pale gules and argent (ie. divided vertically half red and half white). This may have been placed upon a black background. The modern Masonic Order of St. Thomas uses the former insignia. We have managed to find time between sorties to recapture the Accursed Tower on the north-eastern wall of Acre to hand craft this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of the Knights Hospitaller, 14th Century In 1259 the Pope granted the Hospitaller Knight-Brothers the right to wear red battlefield surcoats and to carry red shields. In 1278 this privilege was extended to the Sergeant-Brothers as well. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of the Templiesen According to the early thirteenth century knight and author, Wolfram von Eschenbach, the Grail was protected by an order of knights known as the Templiesen. The similarity of their name to the Templars has led many to believe that Wolfram was intimating that the Knights Templar were in some way party to knowledge about the Grail. The insignia of the Templiesen was a stylized dove; which is, of course, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 32mm overall.

Shield of the Teutonic Knights Originally formed as a hospital to look after German Crusaders at the siege of Acre, the Teutonic Order soon took on military functions. As the thirteenth century progressed, there arose a conflict of interests within the Order. A second front had been opened up in Eastern Europe, and there were those Teutonic brethren who thought that they should concentrate their efforts in this area, rather than in the Holy Land where the Templars and Hospitallers were the dominant military orders. Fate took a hand, and in 1291 the Holy Land fell. The Teutonic Knights evacuated their convent at Acre and the party who had maintained that Eastern Europe should be the Order's base of operations won through. The Teutonic Knights used the insignia of a black cross upon a white background. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of the Teutonic Knights, 14th Century In the fourteenth century the Teutonic Knights started using a rectangular shield instead of the traditional heater-shaped one (cf. KTB122). This apparently offered better protection against arrows and javelins, which were the Knights' Lithuanian adversaries' favourite weapons. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of Thomas de Walkington, circa 1308 Thomas de Walkington was the last Templar preceptor of Rothley, Leicestershire. He was also probably acting preceptor of Balsall in Warwickshire. However, he was not a Knight of the Order, but a Sergeant. In the West, preceptors were often of this rank: and Sergeants could actually rise to quite senior posts; though positions such as the Marshall and Grand Master were always filled by Knights. During his trial in 1310, Thomas de Walkington went on record as speaking out against the confessions made by the French Templars. He claimed they were invalid because they were extracted under torture. He was sentenced to do penance in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Shield of Ulrich von Jungingen, circa 1410 Ulrich von Jungingen became Hochmeister of the Teutonic Knights in 1408; and he led the Order at the disastrous battle of Tanneburg in 1410 against the Poles and Lithuanians. This was the worst defeat ever suffered by the Teutonic Knights, and von Jungingen was amongst those slain. This shield features a cut-out, called a bouche, which is designed to act as a lance-rest. It displays the family arms of Jungingen of Swabia with an inescutcheon of the arms of the Teutonic Order. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 32mm overall.

Shield of William de la More William de la More became the Templar Grand Preceptor of England in 1298. The arrests of the Templars began in France in 1307; and a few months later they were detained throughout Europe on the Pope's orders. William steadfastly refused to confess to the charges made against the Order, and so he was imprisoned in the Tower of London on a bread and water regime in order to try and break his spirit. He died in this prison in 1312, still refusing to confess. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 32mm overall.

Sir Geoffrey de Chargny Sir Geoffrey was probably the most famous knight of his generation: a real-life Sir Lancelot. He was the trusted lieutenant of two successive kings of France; and he died defending one of them (Jean II) on the battlefield of Poitiers in 1356. However, Sir Geoffrey's other claim to fame is that he was the first recorded owner of the Turin Shroud. We know this because of a lead pilgrim badge that was discovered which bears his coat of arms as well as a representation of the Shroud. This badge has been used as the basis for the shield in this sculpture. Shroud historians have not been slow to point out that when the Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was burned at the stake in 1314, executed alongside him was another Geoffrey de Chargny. This Geoffrey was the Templar preceptor of Normandy; and this story is recounted in depth in my publication, 'The Book of Knights'. This pewter sculpture is approximately 95mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed and with numbered certificate which provides a more detailed insight into the life of this fascinating and remarkable knight.

Templar Lance Pennon It is not absolutely certain that the Knights Templar used lance pennons. They are not mentioned in their rule-book; but the Knights in the frescoes at Cressac have them, as does another warrior who features as a marginal illustration on a contemporary map. We cannot say definitely that these both depict Templars; but this lance pennon is based upon these two sources. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 32mm overall.

Templar Seal The Knights Templar used a large number of seals to attach to their documents, ranging from the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) to antique Roman intaglios . Even those that feature a cross as the central device exhibit many different patterns. This example is a composite design, which showa a cross pattee. Such a seal would have been typical of those used by Templar preceptors. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm in diameter.

Templar Sergeant's Shield The bulk of the Templars' fighting brethren were not actually Knights. Rather, they were lower ranking personnel, who were known as Sergeants. They had to be content with less extensive armour, and they were not permitted to wear the coveted white mantle; which was restricted to the Knight-Brothers. Instead they were issued garments of black or brown. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

Templar shield from Cressac, 12th Century At Cressac-sur-Charente in Southern France is a twelfth century chapel that once formed part of a Templar preceptory. Original frescoes decorate the walls inside; but they are a difficult to interpret. On one wall a group of mounted knights is to be seen riding out from a city. These may be Templars, but they could just represent ordinary Crusader knights. In any case, one of them has a very interesting shield. Assuming that he is a Templar, it seems as though his old eagle-emblazoned shield has been adapted for use within the Order by the simple addition of a red cross to the upper section. The Templars acquired their military equipment from a variety of sources; and as the eagle would have been acceptable to them; since it was the symbol of St. John the Evangelist; they probably didn't bother to overpaint the shield. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel at our own preceptory here in Warwickshire. It is approximately 33mm overall.

Templar Shield from San Bevignate Frescoes also survive at the Templar church at San Bevignate, Perugia, Italy. The preceptory on the site was established around 1250, and the church was completed twelve years later. These frescoes unquestionably depict Templars; but they are still difficult to interpret in their own right. For example, the shields that the Knights carry are decorated most unusually. Not only do they reverse the colours shown by Matthew Paris; but the crosses that they also bear are black and not red, as one would expect. The reason for this is unknown; but we can speculate that the Templars used a variety of designs; and so long as the colours were in the correct livery, nothing else mattered that much. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

The Arms, Armour & Insignia of the Knights Templar Although there are vast numbers of books available on the subject of the Knights Templar, there has actually been very little original research done into what these elite warriors looked like. This book investigates the variety of arms, armour and equipment used by the Templars over the two centuries of their history. It also delves into the insignia that they employed; and fresh and realistic interpretations are advanced as to the meaning behind some of the Order's most intriguing emblems. Evidence that has been largely overlooked until now is used as the basis for reconstructions of warriors of the Temple from their earliest history; and in doing so, a fascinating insight into how the Templars saw themselves emerges; and numerous misconceptions about them are challenged and overturned in the process. This book is a thoroughly revised edition of my earlier publication of the same title. It contains numerous new colour photographs and illustrations, as well as new sections on, amongst other subjects, that much neglected topic, the Turcopoles ISBN 978-1-906724-04-7. Paperback. 105 pages. 70+ illustrations in colour and black & white

The Baphomet In 1307 the Templars in France were all suddenly arrested on the orders of King Phillip IV. They were faced with a number of charges; and one of these was that the Templars indulged in idol worship. This idol is referred to by modern authors as the Baphomet; though this is not accurate, strictly speaking. Enquiries into the nature of this supposed idol and its worship proved singularly fruitless. In countries such as England, this line of interrogation was all but dropped; though some witnesses from outside the Order did come up with one or two fantastic tales. Most confessions about the Templars' idol worship came from the French brethren, who were subjected to torture. Nonetheless, there is little in common between the accounts that they give. The only point upon which some of the confessions agree is that the idol was in the form of a head: a couple of Templars said that it was grizzled black and white; and this is an imaginative reconstruction of how it could have appeared. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

The Book of Knights This book contains biographies of several medieval knights which demonstrate that there was much more to these fascinating characters than just fighting in tournaments or going on Crusade. The two founder Knights Templar and Jacques de Molay are profiled, as are other knights who crop-up continually in the history of the Templars and the quest for the Grail: Wolfram von Eschenbach, author of Parzival; Pierre Roger de Mirepoix, defender of the Cathar stronghold of Montsegur; Geoffrey de Chargny, owner of the Turin Shroud... And several others. This book is profusely illustrated in colour and black & white throughout. ISBN 978-1-906724-01-6. Paperback.

The Cerne Abbas Giant The Cerne Giant, also known as the Rude Man of Cerne, is a 180 ft tall figure carved into the hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, England. Just below the turf lies a layer of chalk, and it is into this layer that the Giant has been etched. For obvious reasons, he is regarded as a fertility symbol; however his age is a matter of debate. The general feeling is that he must be ancient; and he has been tentatively identified as a Celtic god, like Nodens or Cernunnos. Others regard him as being more recent; perhaps no earlier than the 16th or even the 18th century. This is due to the fact that no document has ever been discovered which mentions him before the 18th century. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 83mm overall.

The Dragon, the Warrior & the Raven This book examines the sources for the battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings from the point of view of the banners under which the Viking, Saxon and Norman armies fought. The written sources for Hastings, in particular, constantly mention King Harold of England's banners (the dragon and the warrior of the title; which refers to the Wessex Dragon and the Fighting Man): so they are obviously hinting at something; but what? Well, when we turn our attention to the Bayeux Tapestry in this context, and try to relate what the written sources tell us, we arrive at a better understanding of what the dynamics of the battle were actually like. This also helps us to address some of the mysteries surrounding the battle; like, for example, whether or not King Harold was struck in the eye by an arrow. When it comes to looking at the banners of the Normans and their allies, evidence for a simple system of heraldry is uncovered decades before it is supposed to have been introduced. The raven banner of King Harald Hardrada is revealed as an allegory for this whole period; for when seen in these terms, the Norman Conquest of England was more than just a changeover in ruling dynasties. This book is illustrated throughout in colour and black & white. ISBN 978-1-906724-02-3. Paperback.

The Fisher King The Fisher King appears in the story which first introduced us to the Holy Grail, 'Li Conte del Graal, ou Perceval' by Chretien de Troyes (circa 1180). He is the guardian of the Grail, but because of his pride he suffers a wound from a lance that refuses to heal. In later versions of the story it is the same lance that pierced the side of Christ; however, in the earliest versions, much of the religious mysticism that came to characterize the Grail stories is absent. Nonetheless, as the Fisher King suffers because his wound begins to fester, so his kingdom becomes a wasteland; and only when the quest for the Grail is successfully concluded will he heal and the land will become once more abundant. This sculpture depicts him in heavy robes and a fur cap because according to the early tales, he swathed himself in fur-lined garments to keep out the cold, which made his wound hurt more. This pewter sculpture is approximately 105mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed and with a numbered certificate which provides a more in-depth history of the subject.

The Frog Prince A badge inspired by the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale. However, I can't guarantee that if you kiss him, he'll turn into a human prince! We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

The Hare of Eostre Eostre was a pagan Saxon goddess whose festival was assimilated into the Christian calendar as Easter. Eostre's symbols were a hare and an egg; and these are the origin of the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 53mm overall.

The Middleton Seal Recently discovered on land once owned by the Knights Templar in Warwickshire, England, is this seal matrix. It probably dates to the thirteenth century, and was once the bezel of a ring. This has broken off; but traces of it remain on the reverse. The original features an antique Roman intaglio at its centre, which depicts an angel. Around this, the setting bears the Latin inscription: X IHESVS : CRISTVS : AVE MAR (Jesus Christ, Hail Mary). This is a faithful copy in pewter; and as such, it is not fitted with a pin; but is presented in the same way as the original. We have hand crafted this seal in pewter. It is approximately 20mm x 23mm.

The Nephilim This unusual image is based upon an ancient Babylonian bas relief which depicts a god slaying a solar being. The scene is very difficult to interpret; but the fact that the solar entity is a cyclops, and that he is obviously the enemy of the god could lead one to suspect that he is a Nephilim. These were the giants spoken of in the Book of Genesis (6:4): which is to say the terrible and gigantic offsprings of mortal women and fallen angels. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

The Shield of Queen Sibylla of Jerusalem, circa 1187 This badge was originally commissioned from us by a collector in Scotland. While in Jerusalem, he had seen a painting of Queen Sibylla wearing armour and carrying a shield which bore the design of a gold cross surmounted by a crown. We only had this collector's description and a rough sketch to go on; but we suspect the painting was one of those heavily romanticized affairs so beloved of the Victorians. In order, therefore, to try to add some measure of authenticity, we adapted the design supplied to us by researching the exact form that the crown of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem took. This was by no means an easy task, for although contemporary illustrations exist of the Latin kings and queens, they are all generic, and can hardly be called portraits. We then turned to their coinage; but it seems that most of the Crusader rulers did not have their heads stamped on their money: instead, they opted for architectural motifs. However, one king whose coinage did bear his crowned head was John de Brienne (1210-1225), who was ruler by right of his marriage to Maria of Montferrat. The type of crown he is depicted as wearing is Byzantine in style: and we have reproduced it on this shield. We repeat, though, that we had to base this badge on limited information supplied to us by the customer; so we cannot personally attest to the historical accuracy of this design, or indeed whether Sibylla ever wore armour, though there are traditions which maintain that she was both an accomplished horsewoman and archer. We have hand crafted this badge from pewter and enamel. It is approximately 35mm overall.

The Sleeping Emperor The Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa (meaning 'Red Beard') led a massive German Crusade to the Holy Land in 1190. However, the ageing warrior never reached his goal, as he drowned en route while trying to cross the River Calycadnus. With his death, the German Crusaders became demoralized. Some returned home; while a small hard-core went on to take part in the siege of Acre. However, all of his men refused to believe that their beloved Emperor had simply died. Legends grew up that he was in fact under a spell which placed him into an enchanted slumber. Deep in a cave under a mountain in Germany he slept until the day that his red beard had grown so long that it had encricled his foot stool three times. Then he would awake and lead a fresh Crusade; and this time, nothing would stop him. This sculpture entwines historical fact with legend: for while Barbarossa is depicted as the Sleeping Emperor of fairy tales, his arms and armour are authentic in detail. Upon his shield is the double-headed Imperial Eagle; though it is a matter of some debate as to whether the double-headed type was used by the Holy Roman Emperors this early on. From the back of Barbarossa's pot helm hang two infulae; which were badges of rank. This polished pewter sculpture is approximately 99mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed, and it is accompanied by a numbered certificate which explains more of the history of the subject.

The Tooth Fairy One of my more whimsical designs. According to folklore, the Tooth Fairy comes to children in the night. From under their pillows she takes their milk teeth which have fallen out, and leaves silver coins in their place. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 45mm overall.

The Two Poor Knights of Christ & the Temple of Solomon The most famous and enduring symbol of the Knights Templar is the two knights sharing the one horse. In my book, 'The Arms, Armour & Insignia of the Knights Templar' I expound my theory as to how this image was originally arrived at. This interpretation is based largely upon the famous illustration by the mid-thirteenth century monk, Matthew Paris of St. Albans. Thus the Knights wear typical crusading gear of full chain-mail armour and heavy great helms. This sculpture is approximately 100mm overall. It is carved in solid pewter, which has been polished to a high grade finish. It is supplied gift-boxed with a numbered certificate detailing the history of the subject.

The Two Princes in the Tower The fate of the uncrowned King Edward V and his brother, Richard Duke of York, remain a source of controversy. On the 26th June 1483, the two children were declared illegitimate on the grounds that their father, King Edward IV of England, had entered into a legally binding pre-contract to marry another woman before he took their mother, Elizabeth Woodville, to wife; and as a result, Edward V was on this day formally deposed, and his uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester ascended England's throne as King Richard III. The two children were already lodged in the Tower of London while all these events were taking place; but not long afterwards, they disappeared behind its walls, never to be seen again. The suspicion that they had been murdered by Richard was voiced at the time, especially at the the French royal court; and he did nothing to dispell these rumours. However, Richard's partisans to this day maintain his innocence. Instead, the finger of guilt is pointed alternately at the Duke of Buckingham and then at Henry Tudor, who succeeded Richard as King Henry VII. Some argue that the Princes were not murdered at all, but were spirited away in secrecy, and that they lived on under assumed identities. I am not espousing any particular theory with this sculpture; but I am trying to convey the sense of fear and uncertainty that these two children must have felt while pent-up in the Tower. This pewter sculpture is approximately 76mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed, with a numbered certificate which details the history of the subject in greater depth.

The Unicorn Many different animals have been proposed as the prototype for the Unicorn. Probably the first mention in the West of this fabulous creature was by the Greek historian, Ctesias, around the year 398 B.C. He described these beasts as being about the size of a horse, with a single horn growing from their foreheads. These horns, Ctesias claimed, possessed magical properties; like being an antidote to poison. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 40mm overall.

The Witch's Cauldron A cauldron is one of the traditional attributes of a witch. Ostensibly for brewing up spells and potions, modern witches uphold it as a symbol of renewal and rebirth; and some leap over a cauldron as a fertility rite. There can be no doubt that metal cooking pots in the past were status symbols. Not only do they feature in Celtic heroic tales, but they are also found in graves and as ritual deposits. In ordinary dwellings, the hearth was the focus of the home, and a cauldron would have been a prized possession; so it would be patched-up to prolong its working life. Hence this cauldron's contented face is made-up from metal patches that have been applied over the years. We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 30mm overall.

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Thor, God of Thunder Although Thor was second in importance to Odin in the pagan Viking pantheon, he was in many ways more popular. He lacked the eloquence and sophistication of Odin, but he made up for it with his indomitable spirit, his bravery and his brute strength. His weapon was his magic hammer, called Mjolnir; and with it he overcame giants, demons and monsters. Because no evil could prevail against him, Thor was invoked to bring good fortune to an enterprise, victory in battle and blessings to a wedding. We remember Thor every Thursday, for this day of the week is named after him. This pewter sculpture is approximately 53mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed, with a numbered certificate.

Updraxi Witches' Familiars come in all shapes and sizes. Mother Shipton was a famous 16th century witch from Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England. She is said to have foretold many modern inventions; and the cave where she lived is a tourist attraction to this day. However, her Familiar was apparently unique in the history of witchcraft; for instead of a cat or a stoat, Mother Shipton had a dragon, whom she would summon with the words, 'Updraxi, call Stygician Helluei!' We have hand crafted this badge in pewter and enamel. It is approximately 60mm overall.

Wolfram von Eschenbach Wolfram von Eschenbach was a late twelfth/early thirteenth century German knight. He was also a poet; and his enduring legacy is the Grail romance 'Parzival'. The inspiration for this book was Chretien de Troyes earlier Grail romance, 'Li Conte del Graal, ou Perceval'. However, Wolfram made the claim that Chretien had got the story all wrong, and that he was in possession of the real truth about the Grail; and this has intrigued and perplexed Grail-seekers ever since. This pewter sculpture is approximately 108mm overall. It is supplied gift-boxed, with a numbered certificate which details the history of the subject in greater depth.