Cross pattée

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Heraldic symbol

title: "Cross pattée" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["7th-century-establishments-in-europe", "christian-crosses", "crosses-in-heraldry", "frederick-william-iii-of-prussia", "knights-templar"] description: "Heraldic symbol" topic_path: "society/religion" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_pattée" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Heraldic symbol ::

A cross pattée or cross patty (, ), also known as a cross formée or cross formy, or even a Templar cross, is a type of Christian cross with arms that are narrow at the centre and often flared in a curve or straight line shape to be broader at the perimeter. The form appears very early in medieval art, for example, in a metalwork treasure binding given to Monza Cathedral by Lombard queen Theodelinda (died 628) and the 8th-century lower cover of the Lindau Gospels in the Morgan Library. An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper (i.e., about 1200) is found in the arms of Baron Berkeley.

Etymology

The word pattée is a French adjective in the feminine form used in its full context as la croix pattée, meaning literally "footed cross", from the noun patte, meaning literally foot, generally that of an animal. The cross has four splayed feet, each akin to the foot, for example, of a chalice or candelabrum. In German it is called Tatzenkreuz from Tatze, foot, paw. Planché provides a dubious suggestion that the term comes from the Latin verb pateo, to lie open, be spread. He states it to be discernible on the standard of King Stephen (1135–1154).

Variants

Several variants exist as follows:

::data[format=table title="A sample of variants of the cross pattée"]

ImageDescription
[[File:Cross-Pattee-Heraldry.svgcenter
[[File:CrossPattéeFitchée.svgcenter
[[File:Cross-Pattee-alternate3.svgcenter
[[File:Bolnisi cross.svgcenter
[[File:Cross-Pattee-Alisee.svgcenter
[[File:Cross-Pattee-alternate2.svgcenter
[[File:Cross-Not-Pattee-Not-Maltese.svgcenter
[[File:Cross-Pattee-alternate.svgcenter
::

Use in crowns

Many crowns worn by monarchs have jewelled crosses pattées mounted atop the band. Most crowns possess at least four such crosses, from which the half arches rise. Some crowns are designed so that the half-arches can be detached, allowing the circlet to be worn separately on occasion.

A cross pattée is particularly associated with crowns in Christian countries. It is often heavily jewelled, with diamonds and precious stones. The Koh-i-Noor diamond is set in a cross pattée on the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The British Imperial State Crown has a base of four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis. A cross pattée on the Imperial State Crown holds the Black Prince's Ruby. The cross pattée also features in many of the other British Crowns including the St Edward's Crown, used for coronations, and the Imperial Crown of India created for George V as Emperor of India to wear at the Delhi Durbar of 1911.

Use by Crusaders, Prussia, and Germany

Teutonic Knights

This cross is often associated with the Crusades. The heraldic cross pattée was sometimes used by the Teutonic Knights, a Crusader order, though their more usual emblem was a plain straight black cross on white field. File:Crux Ordis Teutonicorum.svg|Emblem of the Teutonic Order

Iron Cross

In 1813, King Frederick William III of Prussia established the Iron Cross as a decoration for military valor, and it remained in use, in various forms, by Prussia and later Germany until 1945. A stylized version of the Iron Cross is used to date by the German military (Bundeswehr) as its symbol of nationality, and is found on vehicles, aircraft and publications.

Prussian and Imperial German Landwehr and Landsturm troops used a Cross Pattée cap badge to distinguish them from regular army troops. A stylized version of the Cross Pattée is used by the modern German military as its symbol of nationality, and is found on vehicles, aircraft and publications, with no border of any kind at the ends of each arm (as was the case with the Balkenkreuz used on German aircraft in 1918-1945). File:German Cross.svg|German Iron Cross File:Bundeswehr Kreuz.svg|Modern Bundeswehr emblem

Modern usage

Belarus

The cross pattée is adopted in several municipal coats of arms of Belarus. File:Coat of Arms of Kličaŭ, Belarus.svg|Coat of arms of Klichaw File:Coat of Arms of Kruhłaje, Belarus.png|Coat of arms of Kruhlaye File:Coat of Arms of Kryčaŭ, Belarus.svg|Coat of arms of Krychaw File:Coat of Arms of Vorsza, Belarus.svg|Coat of arms of Orsha

Canada

The cross pattée, a traditional Royal symbol in Canada, has been incorporated into official national symbols, provincial symbols and the insignia of various national armed forces. The Arms of Canada, numerous provincial coat of arms and the badges of the Canadian Forces feature St Edward's Crown; that displays four cross pattée and four fleur-de-lys, supporting two dipped arches topped by a monde and another cross pattée. Numerous orders, decorations, and medals of Canada are designed with a cross pattée, including the nation's highest civilian honour, the Order of Merit and the Victoria Cross of Canada the highest military honour that is derived from that of the British original Victoria Cross.

File:Coat of Arms of Canada (1957).png|link=Arms of Canada|Arms of Canada (1957 rendition) File:Coat of arms of Quebec.svg|link= Coat of arms of Québec|Coat of arms of Québec File:Badge of the Canadian Armed Forces (1968–2026).svg|link=Canadian Forces|Badge of the Canadian Forces File:Order of Merit Dorothy Hodgkin (cropped).jpg|link=Order of Merit|Order of Merit

France

The cross pattée can be found on coats of arms of various French communes.

File:Blason ville fr Ambacourt (Vosges).svg|Coat of arms of Ambacourt File:Blason ville fr Damouzy (Ardennes).svg|Coat of arms of Damouzy File:Blason ville fr Fontaine-lès-Luxeuil 70.svg|Coat of arms of Fontaine-lès-Luxeuil File:Blason ville fr Fontaines-Saint-Martin (Rhône).svg|Coat of arms of Fontaines-Saint-Martin File:Blason de la ville de Saint-Gondon (Loiret).svg|Coat of arms of Saint-Gondon

Georgia

Main article: Bolnisi cross

The Bolnisi cross (ბოლნისის ჯვარი ka) is a cross symbol, taken from a 5th-century ornament at the Bolnisi Sioni church, which came to be used as one of the oldest national symbol of Georgia. It was used on the flags and coat of arms of the Kingdom of Georgia and the current Republic of Georgia, with its various organizations and administrative divisions.

File:Bolnisi Sioni - Georgian inscription.JPG|Bolnisi Sioni inscriptions. Oldest Georgian inscription that uses the Asomtavruli script, predating the modern Mkhedruli script, inside Georgia. File:Flag of Georgia.svg|Flag of Georgia File:Greater coat of arms of Georgia.svg|Coat of arms of Georgia File:DFG small Emblem green.png|Roundel of the Georgian Defense Forces File:Bolnisi COA.svg|Coat of arms of the city of Bolnisi

Latvia

File:Schwarzhäupter 09.jpg|Coat of arms of the Brotherhood of Blackheads shown in the House of the Blackheads, Riga File:Coat of Arms of Riga small.svg|Coat of arms of Riga File:LVA Ventspils COA.svg|Coat of arms of Ventspils

Montenegro

Main article: Flag of Montenegro

The Montenegrin cross-flag (Krstaš-barjak) has been used in Montenegro since medieval times to represent the state, and lately its military divisions. Use of this flag was first recorded in 1687. During the 1990s, it was used as a symbol of Montenegrin independence movement, most notably by the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro. Nowadays, Montenegro's Royal Capital City Cetinje uses krstaš flag as its flag. It is also used as an unofficial alternate Montenegrin flag, as well as by local trademarks and societies related to Montenegro.

File:Flag of the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro2.svg|Flag of the Prince-Bishopric of Montenegro File:Vucji Do flag.svg|Montenegrin flag used in the Battle of Vučji Do. The Н.I. initials indicate Prince Nicholas I. One of the most important historical Montenegrin flags. File:Flag_of_Cetinje.svg|Flag of Old Royal Capital Cetinje File:Niksic Coat-of-Arms.svg|Coat of arms of Nikšić Municipality File:Roundel_of_Montenegro.svg|Modern Montenegrin Air Force roundel File:Montenegrin_Police_Special_Counter-Terrorist_Unit_Insignia.png|Montenegrin Police Special Counter-Terrorist Unit Insignia File:Flag of Montenegrins in Serbia.svg|Flag of Montenegrins of Serbia File:Řád_knížete_Danila_I.jpg|Order of Prince Danilo I

Poland

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Polish_Unknown_Soldier.jpg" caption="Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]], Warsaw. Behind them, the ''Virtuti Militari'' emblem."] ::

File:POL województwo podkarpackie COA.svg|Coat of arms of Podkarpackie Voivodeship File:POL Przemyśl COA.svg|Coat of arms of Przemyśl File:POL Rzeszów COA.svg|Coat of arms of Rzeszów File:POL Skierniewice COA.svg|Coat of arms of Skierniewice

Portugal

Main article: Order of Christ Cross

The Portuguese heraldry makes a very common use of three variants of the cross pattée, the standard form (also as a variant of the Maltese cross proper, associated with the Knights Hospitaller), the Alisee form (associated with the Knights Templar) and the Order of Christ cross (associated with this order of chivalry and also used as one of the main national symbols of Portugal). These crosses are often present on the arms of the municipalities located in former domains of these orders.

File:PFR1.png|Coat of arms of Paços de Ferreira File:Coat of arms of Madeira.svg|Coat of arms of Madeira File:Roundel of Portugal.svg|Roundel of the Portuguese Air Force File:Portuguese_Football_Federation.svg A Seleção (The Selection)

Russia

The cross pattée is adopted by Russian Border Service, it is also found on coats of arms of some Russian regions. File:Russian Federation. Emblem of the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service.svg|Emblem of the Border Service File:Coat of arms of Kaliningrad.svg|Coat of arms of Kaliningrad File:Coat of arms of Kirov Region.svg|Coat of arms of Kirov Oblast File:Coat of Arms of Perm Krai.svg|Coat of Arms of Perm Krai File:Coat of Arms of Borisovka (Belgorod oblast).svg|Coat of arms of Borisovka, Belgorod Oblast

The cross alisée version of the cross pattée, with rounded edges, has been used in Russia since the 19th century. This cross shape was used in the badges of the Narodnoe Opolcheniye, during the Patriotic War of 1812 and the Crimean War as well as the . Although it was not used for decorations before, in the modern-day Russian Federation, the cross alisée was adopted for the Order of Courage, as well as for other emblems such as the logo of the Wagner Group.

File:1903-MilitarySymbol-Russia.png|Narodnoe Opolcheniye badge, 1903 version File:Order of Valour (rus).jpg|Order of Courage File:Medal "For Bravery" 1st Сlass (Russia).png| File:Life_Saving_Medal.jpg|Medal "For Life Saving"

Spain

File:Coat of Arms of El Bierzo.svg|Coat of arms of El Bierzo File:Coat of Arms of Mondoñedo.svg|Coat of arms of Mondoñedo File:Escudo de Morcín.svg|Coat of arms of Morcín File:Escudo de Oviedo.svg|Coat of arms of Oviedo File:Escut del Priorat.svg|Coat of arms of Priorat File:Coat of Arms of Sabiñánigo.svg|Coat of arms of Sabiñánigo File:Coat of Arms of Sitges.svg|Coat of arms of Sitges File:Coat of Arms of Villafáfila.svg|Coat of arms of Villafáfila

Sweden

In Sweden, the term "Saint George's Cross" sometimes refers to the cross pattée used by Swedish Freemasons. For example, the cross of the Swedish Order of Freemasons was defined by the King of Sweden in 1928 to be a "red St George's cross with triangular arms". |author = Norrgård, Leif |title = Frimurarkorset – symbol med dunkelt ursprung |url = http://issuu.com/svenskafrimurareorden/docs/frimuraren_nummer_1_2009/31 |magazine = Frimuraren |date = 2009-02-18 |pages = 31–32 |access-date = 3 February 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160818163223/https://image.issuu.com/140530184640-5a4a54d4b88d5d03b80ec1db68b2babe/jpg/page_31.jpg |archive-date = 2016-08-18 |url-status = live |publisher = Swedish Order of Freemasons |id = 1651-35766 |issue = 1 |language = sv

File:Frimurarflagga.svg|Flag of the Swedish Order of Freemasons File:Svenska Frimurar Orden vapen.svg|Coat of arms of the Swedish Order of Freemasons

Ukraine

In Ukraine, the cossack cross was used historically on banners by cossacks, installed on their graves, and nowadays part of emblems of a number of Ukrainian state bodies connected with security, including the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

File:Flag of the Zaporizhian Sich.svg|link=|Flag of the Zaporizhian Sich (16th-18th century) and Danubian Sich (17th-18th century) File:Myrhorod polk.svg|link=|Coat of arms of the Myrhorod regiment of the Cossack Hetmanate (1625-1782) File:Emblem of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.svg|Emblem of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

United Kingdom

File:Durham shield.png|Coat of arms of the University of Durham File:College of St Hild & St Bede, Durham.svg|Coat of arms of the College of SS Hild and Bede, Durham File:John Snow College, Durham.svg|Coat of arms of John Snow College, Durham File:Wiltshire Regiment Cap Badge.jpg|Wiltshire Regiment cap badge

United States

File:Southern Cross of Honor presented to Capt. William M. Miller, C.S.A.jpg|Southern Cross of Honor, used to honor Confederate Veterans

Encoding

In Unicode, a cross pattée character is encoded under the name "Maltese cross" in the Dingbats range at code point U+2720 (✠).

References

References

  1. ''Larousse Dictionnaire de la Langue Francaise'' Lexis, Paris, 1993, p.1356
  2. [[James Planché
  3. (2012). "Dictionary of Architecture and Building Construction". Routledge.
  4. (2012). "PATTÉ : Définition de PATTÉ".
  5. (1955). "The book of signs". Dover Publications.
  6. Healey, T. (1977). The Symbolism of the Cross in Sacred and Secular Art. Leonardo, 10(4), 289-294. doi:10.2307/1573764
  7. "Arms & Badges - Royal Arms of Canada, A Brief History".
  8. Defence, National. (November 2, 2018). "Canadian Medals Chart".
  9. Cetinje, Official website (English). "Symbols".
  10. Derevyanko, Kolesnikov. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090609165329/http://www.bratishka.ru/archiv/2002/2/2002_2_10.php "Awards: Rewarded With A Battle Order", ''Bratishka'', Feb 2002]
  11. Goncharov, 2010, ''Award System of the Russian Federation''
  12. Samoilov, 2021, [https://www.politnavigator.net/voennyjj-ehkspert-obyasnil-simvoliku-okopnogo-kresta.html "Military Expert Explains the Symbolism of the Trench Cross", ''Politnavigator'']
  13. ''Nationalencyklopedin'', [http://www.ne.se/georgskors "Georgskors"], retrieved 12 August 2010. Swedish.

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7th-century-establishments-in-europechristian-crossescrosses-in-heraldryfrederick-william-iii-of-prussiaknights-templar