Baucent

[1] Jacques de Vitry, writing in the 1220s, mentions the gonfanon baucent and explains that the black and white colours symbolise the Templar's ferocity towards their enemies and their kindness towards their friends.

In a damaged fresco of the late 13th century in the Templar church of San Bevignate, Perugia, a Templar banner is depicted with the upper half in white and the lower half in black, with the red cross patty attached to the white field.

The name baucent (also spelled bausent, bauceant, baussant, beausseant, beauséant etc.

In battle, the banner-bearer was obliged to avoid direct contact with the enemy, and between five and ten brothers were specifically charged with guarding the banner.

[6] It has also been noted that, according to a medieval legend, Alexander the Great was said to have had a similar banner with miraculous powers.

The emblem of the Templars, two knights seated on a single horse, shown alongside the Beauséant ; miniature from the Chronica of Matthew Paris (c. 1250–1259).
Fragment of the fresco at San Bevignate (c. 1290) showing the gonfanon with a red cross patty .