{"id":6269,"date":"2026-03-19T20:27:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:27:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/the-seal\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T23:24:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T22:24:47","slug":"the-seal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/en\/the-seal\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SEAL"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"6269\" class=\"elementor elementor-6269 elementor-6223\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-055c8a7 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"055c8a7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e29ad27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e29ad27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"808\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.56.46-e1773946989530.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6258\" alt=\"Close-up of a Templar seal in red wax depicting two knights on one horse, next to a metal seal matrix.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.56.46-e1773946989530.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.56.46-e1773946989530-300x152.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.56.46-e1773946989530-1024x517.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.56.46-e1773946989530-768x388.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.56.46-e1773946989530-1536x776.jpeg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1289f60 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1289f60\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfaf2c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"bfaf2c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">THE SEAL<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce8a013 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ce8a013\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b1268c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b1268c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the legend, the seal bears the Latin inscription:<\/p><p>This means: \u201cSeal of the Knights of Christ.\u201d<\/p><p>(XPISTI = a medieval abbreviation for Christi \u2014 comparable to the Christogram associated with Constantine the Great, IHSV)<\/p><p><strong>The two knights on one horse<\/strong><\/p><p>1\ufe0f\u20e3 Poverty of the early Templars<br>According to tradition, the first knights had so few resources that two brothers shared one horse.<\/p><p>2\ufe0f\u20e3 Brotherhood<br>It symbolizes that a knight never fights alone, but stands as a brother among brothers. Connected, carrying together, never standing alone. Two Templars, one strength.  <\/p><p>3\ufe0f\u20e3 Dual vocation<br>Knight and monk. Martial and spiritual. <\/p><p>The seal as a declaration<br>We do not carry ourselves. We are carried.<br>We do not possess. We share.<br>We do not stand alone. We are brothers.<\/p><p>The official seal of the Order emerged in the earliest phase of the Order, shortly after its foundation, around the years 1120\u20131140. The first known impressions date from this period. Hugues de Payens was the first to use it, followed by his successors.    <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6873b1d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6873b1d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b1e7d8d e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b1e7d8d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-deb6dbb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"deb6dbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The seal was an official instrument.<br>A seal was not decoration, but:<br>\u2013 a legal instrument<br>\u2013 a sign of authority<br>\u2013 a guarantee of authenticity<\/p><p><br>Responsibility for its use most likely lay with:<br>\u2013 the leadership of the Order<br>\u2013 possibly the Grand Master himself<br>\u2013 or a small circle around him<\/p><p><br>\ud83d\udc49Think of Hugues de Payens and his immediate circle.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4385201 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4385201\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64e49d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"64e49d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.27.34-768x1152.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-6259\" alt=\"Medieval monk pressing a seal matrix into wax on a parchment document by candlelight.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.27.34-768x1152.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.27.34-200x300.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.27.34-683x1024.jpeg 683w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.27.34.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40852b4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"40852b4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-389f4c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"389f4c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The designer<br>We have no record of the designer or maker. Not of the engraver, the creator of the matrix, or the one who conceived the image.  <br>In the Middle Ages, craftsmen worked \u201cin service of\u201d \u2014 in service to a monastery, a lord, or a ruler. The work belonged to the community, not to the individual.   <br>It is possible that Hugues, together with the other eight founders, contributed to its design. Bernard of Clairvaux may also have had influence. However, there is no direct evidence for this.  <\/p><p>Godfrey of Bouillon<br>There is a story that Godfrey of Bouillon sold his fortress to the bishop of Li\u00e8ge to finance the First Crusade. A crusade was extremely expensive \u2014 equipment, men, travel, everything had to be financed. According to the story, he arrived in the Holy Land so poor that he had to share a horse with another brother.   <br>This story is not accurate. Godfrey did sell possessions to fund his crusade, but the idea that he arrived so poor that he had to share a horse is a romanticized narrative. He remained a high noble with a retinue, including knights, soldiers, and resources.   <\/p><p><br>Later developments<br>Other Templar seals also appeared over time. Another well-known example is the seal depicting the Dome of the Rock.  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d689b5 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"8d689b5\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a1447b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"3a1447b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3c9ea3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e3c9ea3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"248\" height=\"318\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.45.38.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6260\" alt=\"Medieval depiction of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, identified as Templum Salomonis.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.45.38.jpeg 248w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.45.38-234x300.jpeg 234w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e80cfd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0e80cfd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92d7148 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"92d7148\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f274f0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f274f0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"249\" height=\"125\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-20.45.26.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6261\" alt=\"Two medieval Templar seals, depicting respectively a mounted figure and the Dome of the Rock (Templum Domini\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c2f37f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c2f37f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p> <\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\">\ud83d\udc46\ud83c\udffb Medieval image of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, labeled as Templum Salomonis.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\">\ud83d\udc48\ud83c\udffb Solomon&#8217;s Temple according to medieval representation<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-634fd93 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"634fd93\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6f5ab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a6f5ab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, referred to as Templum Domini \u2014 the Temple of the Lord.<br>This seal expresses:<br>we belong to this holy place.   <\/p><p><br>There were more.<br>Each Grand Master possessed a seal used for official documents \u2014 such as Hugues de Payens, Robert de Craon, and Jacques de Molay.  <br>Their seals could show small variations \u2014 sometimes different text or style \u2014 but generally remained within the same visual language. It was not the case that each Grand Master thought: \u201cI will design my own logo.\u201d<br>The seals were part of the identity of the Order, not personal expression. <\/p><p>In addition, individual commanderies also used their own seals. Across Europe \u2014 in France, England, Spain and beyond \u2014 local variants developed. Sometimes simpler in form, sometimes with a cross or inscription, but always connected to the Order of the Temple.  <\/p><p>There were also functional seals, used for administration and property. Less elaborate in imagery, but no less important in use. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab053be e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"ab053be\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1a660e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c1a660e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5bca19 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a5bca19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"664\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.17.28.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6262\" alt=\"Medieval Templar document with a hanging wax seal attached by cords, symbol of authenticity and authority within the Order of the Temple.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.17.28.jpeg 664w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.17.28-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.17.28-150x150.jpeg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 664px) 100vw, 664px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b41da9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4b41da9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8612048 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8612048\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"276\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.31.35-276x300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-6263\" alt=\"Medieval ecclesiastical seal of Henricus de Bye from Breda (1459), featuring a religious image, used for official authentication.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.31.35-276x300.jpeg 276w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.31.35-941x1024.jpeg 941w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.31.35-768x836.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.31.35.jpeg 1014w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e988a2c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e988a2c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d45315f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d45315f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"597\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.47.16-1024x764.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6264\" alt=\"Medieval parchment charter with multiple hanging wax seals attached to strips, used for official authentication by multiple parties.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.47.16-1024x764.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.47.16-300x224.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.47.16-768x573.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-21.47.16.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-53f009f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"53f009f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b9b89e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5b9b89e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cord attachment<br>In the Middle Ages, a seal was not pressed onto paper as we know today. It was attached to it \u2014 a hanging seal.<br>Medieval documents were written on parchment \u2014 strong, but costly material. At the bottom of the document, a strip was cut, or cords were drawn through. The seal was attached to these.<br>A narrow strip was cut from the document itself and folded downward.<br>The warm wax was pressed onto it.<br>\ud83d\udc49 The seal was literally part of the document.     <br><br>Small holes were made in the parchment, through which cords (of flax or silk) or flat ribbons were drawn. The seal was attached to these.<br>\ud83d\udc49 This provided additional strength and status, especially for important documents.  <\/p><p><br>A seal was not decoration, but:<br>\u2013 a signature<br>\u2013 a guarantee of authenticity<br>\u2013 a legally binding mark<br>If the seal broke or was removed, the document was often no longer valid.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d70255a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d70255a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5423df7 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5423df7\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72f81e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"72f81e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"477\" height=\"633\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-22.06.32.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6265\" alt=\"Detail of cords used to attach a medieval hanging seal to parchment.Templar seal and seal matrix with knight figure\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-22.06.32.jpeg 477w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-22.06.32-226x300.jpeg 226w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d3841f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"7d3841f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-55656cd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"55656cd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Such a document did not lie flat and neat like modern paper.<\/p><p><br>It was:<br>\u2013 heavy parchment<br>\u2013 with a seal hanging beneath it<br>\u2013 sometimes large and thick<br>\u2013 sometimes damaged by time<br>\ud83d\udc49 The seal quite literally \u201clived\u201d beneath the document.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d24fa6a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d24fa6a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f9788ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f9788ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"446\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.25.48.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6266\" alt=\"Artistic representation of the early Knights Templar, illustrating their dual vocation: knight and monk. The presence of a cleric and a document refers to the Rule of the Order and their close connection to the Church.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.25.48.jpeg 446w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-19.25.48-256x300.jpeg 256w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 446px) 100vw, 446px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0586e48 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"0586e48\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37f4eaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"37f4eaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>How it worked in practice<br>First, the attachment was prepared. A strip of parchment or cords was added to the document.<br>Then melted wax, or a wax mixture, was applied around the strip or cords \u2014 often mixed with resin, making it stronger than simple candle wax.     <br>Next, a seal matrix was used \u2014 sometimes even a counterseal for the reverse side. This created two hard surfaces, That was for the counter-pressure. And that could also have a relief or image. So you have 2 hard surfaces this way.    <br>The whole was then left to cool. The wax hardened, and the seal was fixed around the strip or cords \u2014 not on top of it, but clamped around it.  <\/p><p><br>A wax seal was not a thin layer, but a thick disc \u2014 heavy, sometimes several centimeters thick. In some cases, both sides carried an image.   <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-641f375 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"641f375\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e491333 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e491333\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"477\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-22.27.38.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-6267\" alt=\"Artistic depiction of Knights Templar with red crosses receiving instruction from a cleric, referring to the Rule and the Order.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-22.27.38.jpeg 477w, https:\/\/nederlandsetempeliers.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-19-at-22.27.38-210x300.jpeg 210w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE SEAL In the legend, the seal bears the Latin inscription: This means: \u201cSeal of the Knights of Christ.\u201d (XPISTI = a medieval abbreviation for Christi \u2014 comparable to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6269","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - 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