Jason Askew is a modern South African painter who frequently chooses military themes for his works. A full inventory of Jason’s art would list pictorial responses to many military conflicts in the history of the Western hemisphere. This particular piece, Jerusalem, is an allegorical painting that brings into focus the most contested and ancient holy place on Earth. The painting does not show any particular battle, instead it highlights the perennial conflict in Palestine as a whole. Warriors of different factions in the foreground express valor and determination mixed with despair. White doves against the background of a blue, yet stormy, sky invoke a familiar Christian symbol, as well as provide a sense of timelessness and divine presence.

This piece of art is currently for sale.

The subject of this painting by Jose Moreno Carbonero (1860-1942) is rather unlikely. It depicts the arrival of Roger de Flor to Constantinople in 1303. He is accompanied with 8000 ‘Almogavares’ serving the Byzantine Emperor in Battle against the Turks. Who was Roger de Flor?

The following story can be found, along with many other fascinating tales, in “Legends of the Knights Templar”.

The life and career of Roger de Flor (1267-1305, also known as Rutger von Blume) is so incredible that it seems legendary. Much of what is known about this man comes from a book written by one of his subordinates. It appears that Roger to a German knight in the service of Frederick II and was drawn to sea faring at a young age. He became a cabin boy on a Templar ship and eventually joined the Order as a sergeant. During the siege of Acre in 1291, Roger de Flor commanded a Knights Templar ship called the Falcon. There were reports that he used that calamitous situation to enrich himself, charging civilians for their rescue from the embattled city. As a result, de Flor was expelled from the Order of the Knights Templar. He went on to command a fleet of ships for Charles of Naples, who was involved in a war with Aragon over Sicily. When Charles was no longer able to pay his mercenaries, Roger de Flor offered to his crews rich spoils in the Levant. His career continued as a mixture of privateering and outright piracy. The success of de Flor’s navy was such that his employer, the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II, was forced to see him as an equal. De Flor married a Byzantine princess and received a duke’s title. The life of plunder, warfare and intrigues could hardly end any other way but with an assassination, which was carried out at the behest of the new Emperor, Michael IX Palaeologus.

See also: Famous Knights Templar

One of many great tales found in “Legends of the Knights Templar.”

Walter Map included in his book “Courtier’s trifles” a story about a certain pious knight by the name of Aimery who was once travelling with his friends to a tournament. He suddenly heard the distant ringing of a bell and wished to stay back and attend the mass. Aimery’s friends tried to dissuade him, but it was no use. He took off, leaving his squires and his armor. In the woods, Aimery came across a community of hermits and attended mass in their midst. When he decided to rejoin his comrades, he could not find the way back to the main road. Only on the third day, accompanied by one of the hermits, Aimery came across his friends returning home. To his great astonishment, they proceeded to praise and congratulate him. At first Aimery suspected that they were being facetious, but after talking to his closest friend, he realized that someone participated in the tournament in his place, with amazing success. This certainly was a case of divine intervention. Moved by this wondrous occurrence, Aimery decided to join the Knights Templar.

Complete Latin story by Walter Map:

Miles quidam, Hamericus nomine, magni patrimonii, famae modicae, petebat exercitium militare, quod torniamentum ducunt. Cumque per nemus altum iter ageret, audivit ad missam matutinam a longe pulsari campanam, sociisque dissuadentibus et invitis ut missam audiret properavit, armigeris et armis relictis in comitatu. Heremitas invenit. Missa celebrata redire festinavit ad socios, sperans eos in secundo vel tertio consequi miliario; sed tota die devius sero reversus est ad locum missae. Similiter et in crastino. Die tertia conductus ab heremita socios invenit redeuntes, ipsique multa laetitia congratulantes. Miratur solito majorem sibi venerationem exhiberi; timeat ironiam. Familiarem ergo socium vocat in partem, quaerit quomodo casus eis in torniamento responderit. Intulit ille, “Bene nobis et manu tua, sed inimicis male, qui tamen hodie reversi sunt ad nos ut te pro tuorum operum admiratione viderent, sed ut heri recessimus ad hospitia, nemo nobis de te quicquam certitudinis dicere potuit; asserunt et armigeri tui quod armis tuis a te receptis ab oculis eorum evanisti cum equo tuo. Si vero cupis audire quod de te loquuntur in via, demissis vultibus audamus.” A transeuntibus igitur secus eos audierunt Hamerici praeconia per singulos et magnas laudes hominis per timiditatem prius infamati. Miratur ipse, nullius meriti conscientiam habens, et vis tandem advertit quod ei dispensaverat Dominus vicarium, ne gaudere socii sui possent de missa despecta, vel ipse dolere de respecta, deditque se cum omnibus quae possederat Deo domuique Templarium, at auxit eos multum, ut dicitur.

The watercolor painting is by James Henry Nixon (1802-57).

Want to read more stories about the Knights Templar? Check this out:
Legends of the Knights Templar

How can I join the Knights Templar? Is it even possible?