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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. |
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| Code: KTB173Price: £9.50 |
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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. |
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| Code: KTB164Price: £14.50 |
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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. |
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| Code: KTB163Price: £14.50 |
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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. |
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| Code: KTB162Price: £14.50 |
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