This is a characteristic Templar graffiti from Domme (department of Dordogne, France), shown in red to enhance the image of the cross:

Destructor Templi Clemens V. MCCCXII
Destroyer of the Temple, Clement V. 1312.

The year, given in the graffiti, is the date when the Order of the Knights Templar was officially dissolved by the decrees of Pope Clement V. The papal bulls acknowledged the absence of sufficient evidence to condemn the Knights Templar, so the Order was disbanded on the grounds that its reputation had been damaged irreparably. It has been established that even many cardinals of the Church were unhappy with this decision. The graffiti (there are similar ones found at Domme) shows a very distinct attitude towards Clemens V. But whose attitude is it?

During the trials of the Knights Templar, Domme was among the places where members of the Order were imprisoned. The style of the letters used in the inscription generally matches known examples from the 13-14th centuries. In my opinion, the phrase itself indicates that the inscription was made before the death of Clement V (which is corroborated by the date, 1312). It seems that after 1314 there would have been vengeful references to divine judgment against the Pope. Therefore, it is very likely that the inscription was actually made by a Templar in 1312.

The cross that accompanies the inscription is also quite interesting. It is definitely the splayed cross that we now associate with the Knights Templar, drawn within a square.

See also: Knights Templar cross

Some people enjoy a very special connection to medieval times. This image, along with the story, was submitted through Facebook by Paul Hunter. After many years he revisited a place that he used to frequent as a boy – an old churchyard in Medomsley (County Durham),  North East England:

When I was a boy aged about 10 (I’m now 55), I used to sit by what I was told was a knight’s grave, in my village church, and imagine him in battle, he and I had many adventures together in my imagination, mainly we slew dragons and rescued damsels. There are three gravestones, one is overgrown and no longer visible, but I know roughly where it is, it is a simple stone slab, with a sword or long cross cut into it, one is very feint, but this one, has the Templar cross or Knights of Malta cross on it in relief.  About 250 mm diameter. No doubt about it.

The image is faint, but I have added a copy with the cross overlaid, so you can see better. Certainly looks like a cross pattee in a circle.  Paul is hoping to explore the area some more.

Read more about the Knights Templar cross.

Anyone familiar with the history of Christianity knows that the symbol of the cross has been used in a variety of different ways. Even prior to the time of Crusades there were stories about crosses miraculously showing up on the garments of particularly worthy individuals. There could have been nothing more suitable for crusading armies than to implement crosses as a visual distinction. Abbot Guibert in his History of Jerusalem (1.5) says that Pope Urban II instituted this sign both as an indicator of military distinction and a symbol that would help Christian knights fight with greater valor for God’s cause. The abbot clarifies that the pope ordered the figure of the cross to be cut out of any material (ex cujuslibet materia) and sown onto tunics and cloaks of the members of the expedition. [click to continue…]