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{{Era|Templars}} | {{Era|Templars}}{{Quote|In hoc signo vinces<br>(In this sign, conquer).|The unidentified CEO of Abstergo Industries, on the Templar insignia, 2012.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|Rifts}} | ||
{{Quote|In hoc signo vinces<br>(In this sign, conquer).|The unidentified CEO of Abstergo Industries, on the Templar | |||
[[File:Templars.png|200px|thumb|The Templar insignia]] | [[File:Templars.png|200px|thumb|The Templar insignia]] | ||
The '''Templar insignia''', based on the '''Mark of | The '''Templar insignia''', based on the '''Mark of Cain''', is the symbol of the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. It typically consists of a red {{Wiki|cross pattée}} on a black or white background, and as such, is often called the '''Red Cross''', or simply the '''Cross'''. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
===Prehistory=== | ===Prehistory=== | ||
The [[Children of Cain]], the earliest known incarnation of the Knights Templar, used what they believed to be Cain's branding mark as their insignia after it was given to him as punishment for killing [[Abel]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph]] #6: "Brothers"</ref> | The [[Children of Cain]], the earliest known incarnation of the Knights Templar, used what they believed to be [[Cain]]'s branding mark as their insignia after it was given to him as punishment for killing [[Abel]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Glyphs|Glyph]] #6: "Brothers"</ref> | ||
=== | ===Achaemenid Empire=== | ||
The [[Iran|Persian]] branch of the [[Order of the Ancients]] used the likeness of the {{Wiki|Faravahar}} as their insignia.<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]''</ref> | The [[Iran|Persian]] branch of the [[Order of the Ancients]] during the 5th century BCE used the likeness of the {{Wiki|Faravahar}} as their insignia.<ref name="ACOd">''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' – ''[[Legacy of the First Blade]]''</ref> | ||
===Ptolemaic Egypt=== | ===Ptolemaic Egypt=== | ||
In the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]], the [[Egypt]]ian branch of the Order of the Ancients used a version of the Mark of Cain, stylized as an ankh accompanying a [[Snake|serpent]] wearing the {{Wiki|pschent}} double crown, as their insignia.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Origins]]''</ref> | |||
===Tang | ===Tang China=== | ||
The [[China|Chinese]] branch of the Order used a [[Golden Turtles|Golden Turtle]] as their insignia.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]''</ref> | The [[China|Chinese]] branch of the Order of the Ancients during the [[Tang dynasty]] used a [[Golden Turtles|Golden Turtle]] as their insignia.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Dynasty]]''</ref> | ||
=== | ===Early Middle Ages=== | ||
The [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] branch of the Order of Ancients used the symbol of [[Yggdrasil]] as their insignia.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Birthrights]]</ref> | The [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] branch of the Order of the Ancients used the symbol of [[Yggdrasil]] as their insignia.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Birthrights]]</ref> | ||
===High Middle Ages=== | ===High Middle Ages=== | ||
During the High Middle Ages, the Knights Templar were a fully public order as the [[Levant]]ine [[Levantine Rite of the Templar Order|Rite]], and their [[Crusaders|Crusader]] [[soldier]]s wore the insignia freely on their uniforms.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> | During the High Middle Ages, the Knights Templar were a fully public order as the [[Levant]]ine [[Levantine Rite of the Templar Order|Rite]], and their [[Crusaders|Crusader]] [[soldier]]s wore the insignia freely on their uniforms.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref> | ||
=== | ===Renaissance=== | ||
During the [[ | During the [[Renaissance]], necklaces in the shape of the Templar cross became common pieces of jewelry worn by many members of the Order, including the [[Portuguese Rite of the Templar Order|Portuguese Templar]] [[Nuno Caro]],<ref name="ACSH">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]</ref> and the [[Roman Rite of the Templar Order|Italian Templar]] [[Paulino Massa]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga Chapter 9|Chapter 9]]</ref> As the Templars expanded their reach to new territories like [[Japan]], this practice was quickly adopted by several of the Order's new recruits, like [[Kimura Kei]] and [[Imagawa Tomeji]], who proudly displayed the insignia on their clothing.<ref name="ACSH"/> | ||
===Golden Age of Piracy=== | |||
By the time of the [[Golden Age of Piracy]], the Templars had long developed into a secretive society. The [[Grand Master of the Templar Order|Grand Master]] of the [[West Indies Rite of the Templar Order|West Indies Rite]], [[Laureano de Torres y Ayala]], relied on this near-global ignorance to subtly include a red cross on his belt.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]''</ref> | |||
This period of time also saw the greatest usage of [[Templar ring]]s, small pieces of jewelry displaying the Order's insignia. Typically bestowed upon new Templar recruits during their [[Initiation into the Templar Order|induction]] into the Order,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Mister Walpole, I Presume?]]</ref> these rings were designed to be inconspicuous to regular [[civilian]]s, but not to those who were already aware of the Templars' existence.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple Episode 12|Episode 12]]</ref><ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]] – [[The Last Maharaja]]'' – [[A Good Shot]]</ref> | |||
===Colonial America=== | |||
During the [[Seven Years' War]]<ref name="ACRG">''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]''</ref> and the [[American Revolution]],<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref> the Templars remained a secretive organization, and as such continued the tradition of displaying their insignia on relatively small and inconspicuous items, like belt buckles, sash ends,<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rogue]]'' – [[The Color of Right]]</ref> and rings.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed III]]'' – [[The Braddock Expedition (memory)|The Braddock Expedition]]</ref> Still, there were exceptions, as [[Shay Cormac]] would occasionally have his {{Wiki|sloop-of-war}}, the ''[[Morrigan]]'', proudly fly black sails with a prominent red cross.<ref name="ACRG" /> | |||
===French Revolution=== | ===French Revolution=== | ||
By the [[France|French]] [[French Revolution|Revolution]], the Templars maintained their practice of hiding the symbol from the public by limiting its use to small items such as [[Templar pin]]s or only displaying it behind closed doors, such as the secret Templar office in [[François-Thomas Germain]]'s shop. Like in America, there were exceptions where individuals openly displayed the symbol, as was the case with [[Chrétien Lafrenière]]'s religious regalia, which relied on the Catholic | By the [[France|French]] [[French Revolution|Revolution]], the Templars maintained their practice of hiding the symbol from the public by limiting its use to small items such as [[Templar pin]]s or only displaying it behind closed doors, such as the secret Templar office in [[François-Thomas Germain]]'s shop. Like in [[United States|America]], there were exceptions where individuals openly displayed the symbol, as was the case with [[Chrétien Lafrenière]]'s religious regalia, which relied on the Catholic Church's wide usage of the symbol to deceive people on the true meaning of his crosses.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Unity]]''</ref> | ||
===Industrial Revolution=== | ===Industrial Revolution=== | ||
During the [[Industrial Revolution]], the Templars once more displayed | During the [[Industrial Revolution]], the Templars once more displayed their insignia in public in the form of the logo for [[Crawford Starrick]]'s corporation, the [[Starrick Telegraph Company]], which used an ''alésée'' cross pattée, and an alternate sign for the Templar-affiliated gang, the [[Blighters]]. High-ranking Templars wore the insignia in the form of mantels and arm bands, while Starrick himself kept a jeweled ''alésée'' cross pattée for ceremonial purposes.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Syndicate]]''</ref> | ||
===Modern times=== | ===Modern times=== | ||
By the [[Modern times|modern era]], the Templars had largely removed themselves from the public eye completely, with only certain members of their [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]] wearing rings with the insignia displayed on them, even when amongst their brethren.<ref name="AC3" /> | By the [[Modern times|modern era]], the Templars had largely removed themselves from the public eye completely, with only certain members of their [[Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order|Inner Sanctum]] wearing rings with the Templar insignia displayed on them, even when amongst their brethren.<ref name="AC3" /> | ||
==Renditions== | ==Renditions== | ||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center | <gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180"> | ||
Mark of Cain.png|The Mark of Cain, as depicted in [[Glyphs|Glyph]] #6 | |||
Mark of Cain | |||
Cross of the Knights Templar.png|The cross as depicted in Glyph #8 | Cross of the Knights Templar.png|The cross as depicted in Glyph #8 | ||
AC2 Glyph - Abstergo Signature.png|A stylized {{Wiki|Maltese cross}} bearing the first letters of the Templar motto | |||
Knights.png|The Levantine Templars' insignia | |||
AC1 Flags Acre Templar.png|The flag of the 12th-century Knights Templar | |||
ACI Insignia Templar Order.png|A Templar badge | |||
ACRogue - Ship Visual - Templar's sails.png|The ''Morrigan'' with Templar sails | |||
ACS Starrick Telegraph Company Logo.jpg|Logo of the Starrick Telegraph Company | |||
Templar_necklace.png|A Templar necklace | |||
Starrick's Templar Necklace.png|The necklace worn by Crawford Starrick | Starrick's Templar Necklace.png|The necklace worn by Crawford Starrick | ||
ACS Rexford Templar Pin.png|A Templar pin worn by [[Rexford Kaylock]] | |||
Modern day templars.jpg|Modern Templar insignia | Modern day templars.jpg|Modern Templar insignia | ||
ACIII Templar Cross.png|Templar cross | ACIII Templar Cross.png|Templar cross | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Latest revision as of 04:49, 7 May 2026
The Templar insignia, based on the Mark of Cain, is the symbol of the Templar Order. It typically consists of a red cross pattée on a black or white background, and as such, is often called the Red Cross, or simply the Cross.
History[edit | edit source]
Prehistory[edit | edit source]
The Children of Cain, the earliest known incarnation of the Knights Templar, used what they believed to be Cain's branding mark as their insignia after it was given to him as punishment for killing Abel.[1]
Achaemenid Empire[edit | edit source]
The Persian branch of the Order of the Ancients during the 5th century BCE used the likeness of the Faravahar as their insignia.[2]
Ptolemaic Egypt[edit | edit source]
In the Ptolemaic Kingdom, the Egyptian branch of the Order of the Ancients used a version of the Mark of Cain, stylized as an ankh accompanying a serpent wearing the pschent double crown, as their insignia.[3]
Tang China[edit | edit source]
The Chinese branch of the Order of the Ancients during the Tang dynasty used a Golden Turtle as their insignia.[4]
Early Middle Ages[edit | edit source]
The Anglo-Saxon branch of the Order of the Ancients used the symbol of Yggdrasil as their insignia.[5]
High Middle Ages[edit | edit source]
During the High Middle Ages, the Knights Templar were a fully public order as the Levantine Rite, and their Crusader soldiers wore the insignia freely on their uniforms.[6]
Renaissance[edit | edit source]
During the Renaissance, necklaces in the shape of the Templar cross became common pieces of jewelry worn by many members of the Order, including the Portuguese Templar Nuno Caro,[7][8] and the Italian Templar Paulino Massa.[9] As the Templars expanded their reach to new territories like Japan, this practice was quickly adopted by several of the Order's new recruits, like Kimura Kei and Imagawa Tomeji, who proudly displayed the insignia on their clothing.[7]
Golden Age of Piracy[edit | edit source]
By the time of the Golden Age of Piracy, the Templars had long developed into a secretive society. The Grand Master of the West Indies Rite, Laureano de Torres y Ayala, relied on this near-global ignorance to subtly include a red cross on his belt.[10]
This period of time also saw the greatest usage of Templar rings, small pieces of jewelry displaying the Order's insignia. Typically bestowed upon new Templar recruits during their induction into the Order,[11] these rings were designed to be inconspicuous to regular civilians, but not to those who were already aware of the Templars' existence.[12][13]
Colonial America[edit | edit source]
During the Seven Years' War[14] and the American Revolution,[15] the Templars remained a secretive organization, and as such continued the tradition of displaying their insignia on relatively small and inconspicuous items, like belt buckles, sash ends,[16] and rings.[17] Still, there were exceptions, as Shay Cormac would occasionally have his sloop-of-war, the Morrigan, proudly fly black sails with a prominent red cross.[14]
French Revolution[edit | edit source]
By the French Revolution, the Templars maintained their practice of hiding the symbol from the public by limiting its use to small items such as Templar pins or only displaying it behind closed doors, such as the secret Templar office in François-Thomas Germain's shop. Like in America, there were exceptions where individuals openly displayed the symbol, as was the case with Chrétien Lafrenière's religious regalia, which relied on the Catholic Church's wide usage of the symbol to deceive people on the true meaning of his crosses.[18]
Industrial Revolution[edit | edit source]
During the Industrial Revolution, the Templars once more displayed their insignia in public in the form of the logo for Crawford Starrick's corporation, the Starrick Telegraph Company, which used an alésée cross pattée, and an alternate sign for the Templar-affiliated gang, the Blighters. High-ranking Templars wore the insignia in the form of mantels and arm bands, while Starrick himself kept a jeweled alésée cross pattée for ceremonial purposes.[19]
Modern times[edit | edit source]
By the modern era, the Templars had largely removed themselves from the public eye completely, with only certain members of their Inner Sanctum wearing rings with the Templar insignia displayed on them, even when amongst their brethren.[15]
Renditions[edit | edit source]
-
The Mark of Cain, as depicted in Glyph #6 -
The cross as depicted in Glyph #8 -
A stylized Maltese cross bearing the first letters of the Templar motto -
The Levantine Templars' insignia -
The flag of the 12th-century Knights Templar -
A Templar badge -
The Morrigan with Templar sails -
Logo of the Starrick Telegraph Company -
A Templar necklace -
The necklace worn by Crawford Starrick -
A Templar pin worn by Rexford Kaylock -
Modern Templar insignia -
Templar cross
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Glyph #6: "Brothers"
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey – Legacy of the First Blade
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Origins
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Dynasty
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Birthrights
- ↑ Assassin's Creed
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed: Shadows
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga – Chapter 2
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga – Chapter 9
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
- ↑ Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Mister Walpole, I Presume?
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple – Episode 12
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – The Last Maharaja – A Good Shot
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Assassin's Creed: Rogue
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Assassin's Creed III
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rogue – The Color of Right
- ↑ Assassin's Creed III – The Braddock Expedition
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Unity
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
