[MR] Knights Templer question

[Duane Moore]

--- On Mon, 9/21/09, M'lady Foxy <angellfoxx at yahoo.com> wrote:

> > 
>  The URL is the device that is being shown in shields in
> the dramatizations which had made me wonder... but I can see
> the other side of argument..if family will be giving the
> sons and fortunes to the order would they not of wanted to
> *brag* somehow by having family devices seen?

The Templars were a monastic order that followed a Rule including vows of poverty and obedience to the Order. 

http://www.amazon.com/Rule-Templars-Knights-Medieval-Religion/dp/0851157017

Not only would the wishes of family 'giving a son' (impossible btw since you had to be an adult to join the Order) be totally irrelevant, but a templar wearing personal heraldry would be just as inappropriate as a Cistercian or Dominican friar wearing personal heraldry, i.e. it didn't happen. Once you joined the Order, that old life was gone, along with all the trappings, including heraldry.

 This brings up
> another question..when shield is displayed on the
> sarcophagus (think there's another name) was the device
> shown there or somewhere else on stone effigy? I think I
> need a trip overseas lol but I'd drive tour guides nuts
> (hmmm there's a battles scadian vrs tour guide ).....

Effigies varied by time period and regionality. 
No need to go overseas for at least some of the information you seek though, there is an excellent website right here with some information:

http://www.gothiceye.com/

Regards, 
bdeb