Knights Templar History and Medieval Resources: Knights Templar Swords and Rings

Well, I finally got to watch Arn: The Knight Templar (Swedish title "Arn - Tempelriddaren"). The movie is based on a trilogy by Jan Guilou, available in English. I am mentioning the book because the main thing you will notice if you watch the movie is that most plot lines are only initiated in the movie and will need to find their resolution later. So, you just may have to get a hold of the books, to learn what happened.

The main character's story follows a generic hero plot line. Nothing unusual. Arn Magnusson is likable and for the most part believable. He seems to journey from naivete to experience quite quickly in a well-depicted atmosphere of a Medieval feudal society. Arn's Templar activities are really not the main focus of the movie. However, if you would like to see some scenic views of Scandinavia, this is a movie for you! There is just a little bit of fighting and violence throughn in for good measure. On the whole, no masterpiece, but if you like the subject matter (I would stress that it is primarily Middle Ages vs. Templar history specifically) you might enjoy it. Oh, yeah, there is a nice shot of a Templar sword with the "In Hoc Signo Vinces" motto. That explains why I have seen replicas of this sword for sale!

I can imagine there will be added interest in all things Masonic after Dan Brown's new book. How about a little excursion into masonic ring inscriptions?

As the novel would have us believe there is some level of freedom in the inscriptions one chooses to have engraved, there are, however, some traditional inscriptions:

P.D.E.P - (on Masonic Templar rings) stands for Pro Deo et Patria - For God and the Country

In Hoc Signo Vinces (Templar Motto, going back to Emperor Constantine) - With this sign thou shall conquer.

Deus Meumque Jus - (on Inspector General rings, i.e. 33rd degree) - God and my Right.

Virtus junxit, mors non separabit - (14th grade) Virtue has united (us), death shall not part (us). Curiously, I have seen this inscription quoted with the comma after mors and it just does not make much grammatical sense that way.

Ordo ex chao - Order out of chaos.

FilmSwords is a company makes medieval decorative swords "as seen in the movies." This makes me believe that the Swedish film "Arn: The Knight Templar" is more popular than I thought.

Peter Johnsson (who works as designer for Albion) modelled it on a type of sword being used at the end of the 1100s. A well-known representative of this type exists and is preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna: the sword of Saint Maurice, part of the imperial regalia of the Holy Roman Empire.

Arn was given his sword by his master and mentor, monk and one-time Templar, Brother Guilbert.

The sword bears an inscription "In hoc signo vinces" - "With this sign though shall be victorious." This motto is not exclusively a Templar device, but it was somewhat favored by the Knights of the Temple. Other than that I have nothing to say about the authenticity of the sword. Buy at your own risk!

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