Desmond Seward, The Monks of War (1972)
In the center, the Iron Cross of the Teutonic Knights and the Maltese Cross of the Knights Hospitaller, symbolizing sacrifice, chivalry, and the defense of Christian peoples. The Knights of Malta defeated Ottoman Caliphate forces in the Siege of Malta (1565), curbing Mediterranean raids enslaving Europeans. Teutonic Knights fought Baltic pagans. Habsburgs, Poles, and Venetians halted Ottoman advances in the Battles of Vienna (1529 and 1683) and the Battle of Lepanto (1571). And notably,
the Spanish Iberian Reconquista (1492) unified Western Europe under Ferdinand II, after Castile's forces captured Granada.
Malcolm Barber, The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple (1994)
The Red Cross on a white shield of the Knights Templar, granted by Pope Eugenius III in 1147. It represented Christ's blood, martyrdom, purity, and the knights' vow to defend the faith. The design later inspired the International Red Cross emblem, adopted in 1864 for neutral humanitarian medical protection in war, honoring both Swiss origins and Crusader heritage.
Marc Leepson, Flag: An American Biography (2005)
The Revolutionary Ring of 13 stars, as in the Betsy Ross design, symbolizes the unity and equality of the original 13 American colonies. Adopted via the 1777 Flag Resolution, this circular layout emphasized that no colony ranked above another, promoting cohesion during the Revolution. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote in a letter dated November 13, 1787, to William Stephens Smith, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
This statement was made in the context of Shays’ Rebellion, an uprising of farmers and Revolutionary War veterans who protested against heavy taxes and property confiscations. Jefferson acknowledged the conflict was "founded in ignorance, not wickedness", but argued that such uprisings were necessary to preserve social mobility.
Paul L. Maier, Eusebius: The Church History (2007)
The Chi-Rho (☧), formed by superimposing the Greek letters Chi (Χ) and Rho (Ρ). The first two of "Christos" (Χριστός) meaning "Christ" or "Anointed One", was especially prominent in Byzantine Orthodox Christianity. Noted in Emperor Constantine's 312 AD vision before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, where he saw it overlaid on a cross with the phrase "In Hoc Signo Vinces", translated from Latin, "In this sign, you shall conquer."
Michel Pastoureau, Heraldry: Its Origins and Meaning (1997)
The Fleur-De-Lis, a stylized lily with the three petals of purity, light, and perfection. It became the emblem of France based on a legend of King Clovis' 5th-century baptism by an angel. Refined by Charles V in 1376, the three petals also evoke the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with the base band representing the Virgin Mary.
Dan Jones, The Hollow Crown (2015)
The Tudor Rose marks a pivotal moment of unity after the Wars of the Roses. On January 18, 1486, Henry VII wed Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward IV, merging the rival houses' claims. Their union symbolized lasting peace and reconciliation after 30 years of bloodshed. Today, the double rose endures in British heraldry, jewelry, and architecture.
Stephen R. Turnbull, The Samurai Sourcebook (1999)
The Japanese Tomoe (巴), especially the mitsu-domoe with its three swirling comma shapes, evoke water's flow, lightning's strike, and nature's harmony. On taiko drums, the triple form rotates perpetually, implying divine protection beyond mere balance. During the Battle of Sekigahara (1600),
it warded evil on Samurai banners, with the Tokugawa shogunate reshaping Japan after centuries of civil war. It calls forth the Takama-ga-hara "the high plains, the earthly realm, and the underworld."
Bushido, the Samurai code of the Kamakura period (1185–1333) parallels Crusader Knight ethos in shared virtues like loyalty, honor, courage, and martial piety. Both demand moral conduct beyond war; protecting the weak, loyalty, and truth. Crusaders vow poverty, chastity, and obedience akin to Bushido's frugality and discipline.
