Source: “Rosslyn: The Story Behind Rosslyn Chapel” By Andrew Sinclair, 2005
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This podcast explores the interconnected histories of the Scottish St Clair family and the Knights Templar, arguing for their significant roles in both military innovation and sacred architecture, particularly at Rosslyn Chapel. It highlights the St Clairs' service to the Scottish Crown, their involvement in pivotal battles and diplomatic missions, and their eventual loss of the Earldom of Orkney. The text then delves into the influence of ancient and Byzantine architectural principles, emphasizing the significance of the circle and square and the octagon in holy buildings, connecting these ideas to the Temple of Solomon and later Templar and Masonic practices, with Melchizedek serving as a key figure symbolizing a priestly order independent of the established church.
Topic 1: The St Clair Family and Their Fortunes: The St Clair family, particularly the Lords of Rosslyn and Earls of Orkney, held significant power and influence in Scotland across several generations, particularly during the reigns of the Stewart kings. They were seen as defenders of the realm and the Stewart dynasty. William St Clair of Orkney and Rosslyn served as Lord High Admiral and was entrusted with protecting the young heir, James, during his journey to France in 1406. This William was captured along with Prince James and imprisoned in England, marking his second imprisonment by the English. After his release, he fought in France before returning to defend Scotland against English counter-attacks. His son, another William St Clair of Rosslyn, inherited the title of Earl of Orkney twelve years after his father's death, a position granted by the Norse king. This William was the third and final St Clair Earl of Orkney. He faced a complex situation due to dual allegiances to both the Norse and Scottish Crowns. He eventually relinquished the Earldom of Orkney to the Scottish crown as part of the arrangement for King James III's marriage dowry, receiving other lands and titles in return, such as Earl of Caithness. His Scottish properties became more valuable than his Orcadian holdings, resolving his issue of dual loyalty in favour of Scotland. The family was also associated with control over key guilds related to weaponry and construction, such as gunners, smiths, masons, and shipwrights. Later members continued to serve the crown, including Lord Henry St Clair, who served as Master of Artillery and died at the Battle of Flodden, and Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairn, who became a favourite of King James V, held important court positions, and was appointed general at the disastrous Battle of Solway Moss, where his perceived elevation over traditional nobility caused confusion and contributed to the Scottish defeat. The family's power declined after the twinning of the Scottish and English crowns.
Topic 2: The Reigns of the Scottish Kings and Political Strife: The source covers the reigns of several Stewart kings, highlighting periods of political instability and challenges. The death of Robert III in 1406 led to intrigue surrounding the young heir, James, who was sent to France for safety but was captured by the English. During his captivity, Robert, the Duke of Albany, acted as Regent, effectively ruling the kingdom and aligning himself with powerful families like the Earls of Douglas. When James I was finally released in 1423, he returned to a country described as beggared by the Albany regency, although puritan doctrines had been suppressed. James I sought to rearm Scotland and live extravagantly. His successor, James II, was also fascinated by artillery, bringing famous cannons like Mons Meg to Scotland. He faced struggles with the powerful Douglas family, even personally killing the Black Douglas, relying on St Clair support against clan revenge. James II was killed at the siege of Roxburgh castle when one of his own cannons misfired. His death left another young heir, James III, for whom Earl William of Rosslyn briefly served as Regent. James III's eventual marriage to the daughter of King Christian of Denmark resulted in the Orkney and Shetland Isles being pledged to Scotland as part of the dowry payment. James IV, who came to the throne after rebelling against his father, was a key figure in building Scotland's national navy and modernizing its military with artillery and firearms. He was heavily involved in diplomacy and military campaigns, ultimately leading his army to defeat and death at the Battle of Flodden. The reign of James V saw another period of regency under a Duke of Albany. James V attempted to assert royal authority in the Highlands and Islands and again confronted the powerful Douglas family. He navigated complex political and religious tensions, adhering to the Catholic faith and the Old Alliance with France while facing threats from King Henry VIII and the rise of Protestant reformers like John Knox. His reliance on favourites like Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairn alienated the traditional nobility, leading to the disastrous outcome at Solway Moss, which contributed to his death shortly thereafter. The fate of the Scottish kingdom was linked to the royal lineage, particularly the birth of Mary, Queen of Scots, fulfilling a prophecy about the crown passing with a lass, reflecting the kingdom's origin through marriage to a Bruce princess.
Topic 3: Military Evolution and Battles in 15th-16th Century Scotland: The period covered by the source witnessed a significant evolution in warfare, particularly the increasing importance of artillery and naval power. Scottish kings like James I, II, and IV were keen on modernizing their forces. James I aimed to rearm the country, while James II acquired powerful cannons like Mons Meg. James IV was instrumental in creating a national navy, moving beyond simple armed merchant vessels to purpose-built warships like the Margaret and the massive Michael, which was described as rivaling Mons Meg in size and armament. This naval buildup was overseen by Earl William St Clair of Rosslyn as Lord High Admiral. Land warfare also changed, with a focus on incorporating artillery into armies. However, the effective use of these new weapons presented challenges. King James IV's campaigns required extensive logistical support, including hundreds of roadbuilders and artisans to facilitate the movement of heavy gun-carts. The Battle of Flodden in 1513 highlighted the critical role of artillery and tactics. The Scottish artillery, though positioned high on Branxton Hill, could not effectively target the English ranks below, while the English bombards proved devastating against the Scottish formations (schiltrons). The battle also showed the effectiveness of English billmen against the Scottish long spears once the initial formations were broken. Despite receiving modern firearms and training from France, the Scottish army suffered a decisive defeat. Lord Henry St Clair, the King's Master of Artillery, died in the battle. The Battle of Solway Moss in 1542 demonstrated the continued relevance of traditional Border warfare tactics, particularly the use of light cavalry. A small English force of light horse successfully lured a much larger, but leaderless and disorganized, Scottish army into marshland, where they were easily captured or routed. The leadership crisis, exacerbated by the perceived insult of appointing Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairn as general over traditional nobility, proved fatal to the Scottish effort, confirming the military lesson of the frontier where light, mobile forces could defeat larger, less agile ones if strategy and morale failed.
Topic 4: Rosslyn Chapel: Architecture, Design, and Symbolism: Rosslyn Chapel is presented as a building of immense symbolic and architectural significance, designed by Earl William St Clair of Rosslyn. Although originally intended to be a much larger, cruciform cathedral, the surviving structure, the Collegiate Church of St Matthew, reflects a deep engagement with sacred geometry, ancient architectural principles, and layered symbolism. The design is said to draw inspiration from the Temple of Solomon and other historical sacred buildings like Hagia Sophia. The chapel's builders aimed to reconcile the circle and the square, a fundamental concept in sacred architecture, often achieved through the use of the octagon. The design incorporates this, likely planned to include octagonal mazes on the floor and featuring pillars set on octagonal bases. St Matthew was chosen as the patron, possibly linked to his genealogy of Jesus and the symbolism of the cornerstone. The chapel's alignment may correspond to the autumn equinox. Specific carvings within the chapel are highlighted for their symbolic meaning. Examples include the Agnus Dei, linked to the Templars and the Holy Blood; the headless figure of St Veronica with the Mandylion, suggesting connections to relics and facing the fury of the Reformation; carvings featuring Templar and Masonic marks near depictions of Pontius Pilate; a mailed Templar knight; a controversial carving of a horned Moses; a figure identified as Lucifer, the fallen angel; and, perhaps most significantly, a carving of Melchizedek. These carvings are interpreted as conveying Gnostic wisdom, connections to ancient cults, resistance to religious authority, and the lineage of priestly orders relevant to later Masonic practice. The chapel's design and carvings are presented as a testament to the esoteric knowledge and intentions of its creator, Earl William, and the masons he employed, potentially intended to represent a Third Temple and herald the coming of the Messiah.
Topic 5: Knights Templar's Influence on Architecture and Masons: The source strongly suggests a significant role for the Knights Templar in architecture and their close association with medieval masons and later Freemasonry. It posits that the Templars, during their presence in the Near East, particularly their headquarters on the Temple Mount beside the octagonal Dome of the Rock (which they called the Temple of Solomon), absorbed Byzantine architectural designs. This influence is seen in the design of surviving Templar chapels, many of which feature an octagonal central structure supporting the roof. Examples cited include chapels at Laon, Eunate, and La Vera Cruz de Segovia. The Templars are believed to have brought these designs back to Europe and directed medieval building guilds, known as compagnonnages in France, such as the Enfants de Salomon and the Fratres Solomonis. Evidence for this connection is sought in Templar gravestones, such as one found in Cumbria, which features architectural plans (a quartered circle within a circle, forming an octagon, enclosing a square/tabernacle) alongside mason's tools like the plumbline and compasses. Other Cumbrian burial stones show swords and trowels, interpreted as symbols of the 'knights of the sword and the trowel', who saw themselves as heirs to Prince Zerubabbel, the builder of the Second Temple. The Templars were reportedly focused on rebuilding a Temple based on Zerubabbel's example. Their connection to the masons and architectural symbolism, particularly the use of the octagon and the Royal Arch, is seen as a legacy that carried forward into the practices and symbols of later Masonic lodges. The source suggests that the architect of Rosslyn Chapel, Earl William St Clair, and the Templars shared the ambition of building a 'Third Temple', drawing on this lineage of architectural knowledge and symbolism. The Templars' trials even featured accusations that their leaders gave communion, drawing a parallel to Melchizedek, who gave bread and wine to Abraham without an established church.
Topic 6: Sacred Geometry and Its Historical Application in Building: Sacred geometry is presented as a fundamental principle guiding the design of significant religious architecture throughout history, with the aim of reconciling the circle and the square. This concept is traced from ancient times, including the Roman Pantheon and Emperor Constantine's instructions for building Hagia Sophia (Sancta Sophia), where the circle of the dome was placed upon a square base, resulting in an octagonal supporting structure. This octagonal form became a model for future holy architecture, signifying concepts like resurrection, new beginnings, and perfection. Plato's ideas about city planning, incorporating circular and square elements and specific numbers, are also mentioned as influencing this ideal. The biblical descriptions of the New Jerusalem as a squared circle and the exact measurements in the Book of Revelation reflect this emphasis on geometric proportion and numbers. Gnostic writers further associated numbers with a holy science. Vitruvius, the Roman architect whose ten volumes on architecture survived antiquity, considered the octagon sacred for its ability to incorporate squares, be contained within a circle, and support a dome, influencing the Renaissance and city planning like Filarete's Sforzinda. Bishop Guillaume Durand de Mende's medieval manual on church symbolism also interpreted architecture through geometric and numerical metaphors, seeing the shape of the church as the Cross and human body, the dome as perfection, and the cloister representing heaven's many rooms. Examples of octagonal churches and baptisteries across Europe (Aachen, Neuvy-Saint Sepulchre, Sainte-Croix à Quimperlé) reinforce the significance of the octagon, often supported by pillars numbering eight, twelve, or sixteen, each number carrying symbolic meaning (divine harmony, disciples, gospels). The octagonal shape of numerous baptisteries is explicitly linked to spiritual rebirth and baptism, which involves notions of death and new life. This tradition of sacred geometry, particularly the use of the octagon to resolve the circle and square, is described as becoming the "master plan" for Rosslyn Chapel.
Topic 7: The Symbolism and Significance of Melchizedek: Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem mentioned in the Old Testament (Genesis 14), holds profound symbolic importance within the source's narrative, particularly his connection to kingship, priesthood, ancient traditions, Templars, and Masons. He is noted for bringing forth bread and wine to Abraham after the latter's victory and blessing him as a priest of God Most High. This act is interpreted as an early form of the Eucharist occurring outside of a traditional church structure. Melchizedek is further highlighted in the Psalms of David and the New Testament Epistle to the Hebrews, where he is described as a priest "after the order of Melchizedek," without clear lineage, and likened to the Son of God, abiding as a priest continually. This biblical emphasis made him a significant figure for groups or individuals who might have challenged established religious authority. Early Jewish interpretation saw him as a forerunner of Christ. The source details his prominent depiction in art and mosaics, particularly at Ravenna (Sant' Apollinaire-in-Classe and San Vitale), where mosaics featuring Melchizedek presenting offerings are seen as asserting the divine right and priestly role of Byzantine emperors like Constantine IV and Justinian. This assertion of royal authority over the church was later mirrored by Merovingian and Capetian kings of France, who placed Melchizedek statues in cathedrals like Reims and Chartres to legitimize their rule. The carving of Melchizedek at Reims Cathedral, showing him offering a wafer and chalice directly to Abraham, emphasizes his priestly role independently of the Church. The gravest accusation against the Templars at their trials was that their leaders gave communion to their knights, drawing a direct parallel to Melchizedek's actions. The source explicitly links Melchizedek to high grades and priestly orders in later Masonry and suggests that the Master of the Byzantine Order of Melchizedek may have influenced the customs and organization of the early Knights Templars. The bust of Melchizedek at Rosslyn Chapel is presented as a testament to the Gnostic wisdom of its creator and masons, solidifying his importance in this symbolic lineage.
Topic 8: The Symbolism of the Royal Arch and Ark of the Covenant: The Royal Arch and the Ark of the Covenant are presented as key symbols with significant meaning, particularly within the traditions of the Knights Templar and later Freemasonry. The Ark of the Covenant, the sacred chest containing the tablets of the law, was housed in the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle and later the Temple of Solomon. While the biblical description of the First Temple's Holy of Holies does not mention an arch, but rather a flat roof with Cherubim over the Mercy Seat, Ezekiel's vision of the Second Temple does include arches. The Templars, identifying with the warrior masons of Zerubabbel who rebuilt the Second Temple, are believed to have adopted the arch as fundamental to their sacred architecture and likely used it symbolically in their rituals. In Templar tradition and Masonic practice, the Royal Arch held multiple symbolic meanings: it was said to span the Tabernacle in Solomon's Temple, protecting the altar and Ark; it represented an arch over a hidden cellar within the Temple where the Ark was supposedly preserved; it symbolized the crown of the human head, where divine intelligence is believed to be implanted; and it signified the vault of the firmament separating heaven and earth. These layered meanings were important to the higher degrees of the Military Orders and later Masonic lodges. The Kirkwall Scroll from the 15th century, dating to the period when Earl William of Orkney was designing Rosslyn Chapel, is noted as featuring two symbolic Royal Arches alongside Templar strip maps. The Ark of the Covenant also appears as a symbol in medieval art, such as a depiction in a small rose window at Notre-Dame in Reims, shown as a pouch with specific characteristics and symbolic birds representing wisdom. Another relief at Chartres shows the Ark on wheels, deviating from the biblical description of carrying poles, and includes a mysterious inscription hinting at working through the Ark. These representations underscore the deep symbolic importance of the Ark and the associated Royal Arch in the architectural and symbolic language used by the Templars and guiding their masons.
Topic 9: Connections and Lineage: Templars, Masons, and Ancient Wisdom: The source explores a suggested lineage of knowledge and symbolism connecting ancient traditions, the Knights Templar, medieval building guilds (compagnonnages), and later Freemasonry. It proposes that architectural principles and sacred geometry, understood and applied by builders from ancient Egypt and the designers of the Temple of Solomon, were carried forward through various periods and groups. The Byzantine builders who designed structures like Hagia Sophia and the Dome of the Rock are seen as inheriting and developing these principles. The Knights Templar, through their presence in the Near East and potential interaction with Byzantine figures like Michael Psellos, Master of the Byzantine Order of Melchizedek, are suggested to have absorbed elements of this architectural knowledge and perhaps ritualistic practices. Their headquarters on the Temple Mount and identification with the builders of the Second Temple under Zerubabbel reinforced their connection to Temple building and the concept of a Third Temple. The Templars are presented as having directed and influenced the medieval building guilds (compagnonnages), such as those known as the Enfants de Salomon and Fratres Solomonis, who were associated with building abbeys and cathedrals. Evidence like Templar gravestones featuring architectural plans and mason's tools is presented to support this link. The source implies that the symbolic language, including sacred geometry (octagon, circle, square), the Royal Arch, and figures like Melchizedek and Zerubabbel, was transmitted through these guilds and later became central to the symbolism and ceremonies of Freemasonry. The desire to symbolically or literally "rebuild the Temple of God" is presented as a shared ambition across this lineage, from Zerubabbel's masons to the Templars and later Scottish Masons. The Gnostic wisdom believed to be embedded in structures like Rosslyn Chapel is also seen as part of this transmission, highlighting a thread of esoteric knowledge connecting these groups over centuries.
Topic 10: Key Individuals and Their Contributions to the Narrative: Beyond the main figures like the Scottish kings and the St Clair family members, several other individuals play significant roles in the narrative, shaping events, recording history, or representing important symbolic lineages. Robert, the Duke of Albany, is crucial as the Regent during James I's captivity, effectively ruling Scotland and influencing its political landscape by allying with powerful families like the Douglas clan. Oliver Sinclair of Pitcairn emerges as a key figure in the reign of James V, becoming a royal favourite, holding important court positions like keeper of the king's purse and cup bearer, and controversially being appointed commander at the Battle of Solway Moss. His elevation over the traditional nobility is presented as a direct cause of the disarray and defeat at that battle, contributing to James V's death and the subsequent political instability. Father Hay is frequently cited as a chronicler, providing valuable historical details, descriptions of individuals (like Earl William St Clair's wit and ambitions), and accounts of key events (like the capture of Prince James and Earl William, and the chaos at Solway Moss). Bishop Guillaume Durand de Mende is important as the author of a significant manual explaining the complex symbolism and meanings embedded in medieval church architecture, providing a framework for interpreting the spiritual significance of buildings. Vitruvius, the ancient Roman architect, is highlighted for his surviving work on architecture and his views on the sacredness of the octagon, influencing later periods, including the Renaissance and potentially the design principles seen in structures like Rosslyn Chapel. Prince Zerubabbel of Judah is a foundational figure, presented as the builder of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, whose story, particularly his use of a trowel while armed with a sword and his interpretation of Darius's dream, becomes a symbolic prototype for the 'warrior masons' and is linked to the Templars and Masonic traditions of rebuilding the Temple. Melchizedek, as discussed in a separate topic, is another central figure, representing an ancient priesthood, a forerunner of Christ, and a symbol adopted by various groups to assert spiritual and temporal authority. These individuals, through their actions, writings, or symbolic representations, significantly contribute to the rich tapestry of history, architecture, and esoteric traditions presented in the source.