How Did Templars Wear Their Hair and Beards?
The Knights Templar were required, by the Latin Rule (Regula Latina), to maintain a distinctive personal appearance, including specific regulations on hair and beards. These regulations were intended to reflect the Order’s commitment to austerity and to distinguish the brothers from secular knights. The regulations on personal grooming were a minor but distinctive feature of the Order’s life, and they have given rise to considerable discussion in modern Templar scholarship.
This article examines the regulations on hair and beards in the Templar Order. It is a companion to What the Rule of the Templars Said and to Templar Initiation and the Charges of Secret Rites.
The Latin Rule on Hair and Beards
The Latin Rule of the Templars includes several clauses on personal grooming. The most important clauses are:
- The hair of the brothers: The brothers were required to keep their hair short, in a style that was “neither too long nor too short.” The standard was probably a finger’s length all around, similar to the requirements of other monastic orders.
- The shaving of the beard: The brothers were required to shave their beards, although the practice was apparently not uniform. The Rule implies that brothers should be clean-shaven, although some brothers may have been allowed to grow beards in certain circumstances.
- The shaving of the tonsure: The brothers were required to maintain a tonsure, the distinctive shaven spot on the crown of the head that was a mark of the clerical state.
The Rule’s exact wording is unclear, but the general thrust is clear: the brothers were required to maintain a simple, austere appearance that was consistent with their monastic vocation.
The Historical Context
The regulations on hair and beards were not unique to the Templars. Most medieval monastic orders had similar regulations, and the regulations were intended to:
- Distinguish the brothers from secular knights, who often wore their hair long and their beards uncut.
- Reflect the brothers’ renunciation of the world and their commitment to monastic discipline.
- Maintain uniformity within the community, with all brothers having the same appearance.
The Templars’ regulations were similar to those of the Cistercians, on whom the Templar Rule was based. The Cistercian Rule also prescribed simple grooming, including the shaving of the beard and the cutting of the hair.
The Beard Question
The question of whether Templar brothers were clean-shaven is a matter of some debate. The Latin Rule seems to imply that brothers should shave, but medieval illustrations of Templars sometimes show them with beards. The discrepancy is explained by the fact that:
- The Rule’s exact requirements are not entirely clear, and medieval practice may have varied.
- The Rule was probably less strict in practice than in theory, especially on the battlefield, where beards might have been more practical.
- Some brothers may have grown beards as a sign of their martial character, while others may have been clean-shaven in the monastic tradition.
The clean-shaven or short-bearded Templar became a distinctive visual image of the Order, and it has been the basis of many modern portrayals in popular culture.
The Modern Image
The image of the clean-shaven Templar with short hair has become a distinctive visual image of the Order, and it has been the basis of many modern portrayals in popular culture. The most famous such portrayal is in the 2005 film Kingdom of Heaven, directed by Ridley Scott, in which the Templars are depicted as clean-shaven warriors with short hair. The image is also common in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
The image of the clean-shaven Templar is, however, not always supported by historical evidence. Some medieval illustrations of Templars show them with beards, and the Rule’s exact requirements are not entirely clear. The modern image is partly a product of Romantic and Gothic traditions that emphasized the austerity of the medieval knight.
The Practical Considerations
The regulations on hair and beards were also a matter of practical consideration in a military order. The brothers were required to wear helmets and chainmail in battle, and long hair and long beards could be inconvenient in combat. The regulations on grooming were, in part, a response to the practical requirements of medieval warfare.
The brothers were also required to maintain their equipment, including their helmets, chainmail, swords, and lances. The brothers were required to keep their equipment in good condition, and they were punished for failing to do so.
The Uniform
The regulations on hair and beards were part of a broader set of regulations on the brothers’ uniform. The brothers were required to wear:
- A white mantle with a red cross, in the case of knights. See The Templar Cross and Mantle.
- A brown or black mantle, in the case of sergeants.
- A simple tunic underneath the mantle.
- A belt or strap around the waist, often with a small knife attached.
- Boots for riding and marching.
The uniform was a distinctive feature of the Order, and it gave the brothers a recognizable visual identity. The uniform. See The Templar Cross and Mantle.
Conclusion
The regulations on hair and beards were a minor but distinctive feature of the Templar Order. The brothers were required to maintain a simple, austere appearance that was consistent with their monastic vocation and that distinguished them from secular knights. The regulations were based on those of the Cistercians, on whom the Templar Rule was based, and they were intended to reflect the brothers’ renunciation of the world. The modern image of the clean-shaven Templar is partly a product of historical evidence and partly of the Romantic and Gothic traditions that have shaped modern portrayals of the Order.