On the Árpádian
Double Cross

The double cross first appeared in 1190 on the denarii—silver coins—of Béla III. It is noteworthy that the miniatures of the Illuminated Chronicle (from the 1360s) depict only King Szent István I (Saint Stephen), King Szent László I (Saint Ladislaus), and King András II (Andrew) —who fought in the Holy Land and acquired relics—with such a banner; it can also be seen on the crown of the circular military tent of László IV (Ladislaus the Cuman), above its entrance. This reflects the ideological spirit of the age of (Nagy) Lajos I (Louis the Great), since the chronicle was created during his youth, and the knightly ancestors and canonized rulers served as worthy examples for the young king.

The triple green mound beneath the double cross appeared on the banner at a later time. Its precursor can be seen during the reign of King Imre (Emeric, 1196–1204), on his Slavonian denarii (silver coins), where the cross stands on a double base, the lower part of which is broader, thicker, and vertically striped. At the upper arms of the double cross appear ancient symbols: the moon on the right and the sun on the left. These celestial bodies also appear in the heraldry of certain clans (Hont-Pázmány, Ráskay, Gutkeled), noble families (Szapolyai, Kinizsi, Kanizsai), and in the 15th-century Székely coat of arms. This heraldic motif group remained in continuous use on coins during the reigns of Kings András (Andrew) II and Béla IV (1205–1270). The Sun and Moon, gaining independent significance, also appear on Andrew II’s Golden Bull alongside the royal portrait. Other marks also occur on both sides of the broader lower arms of the cross: circles, bird figures, and monograms such as H(ungaria) R(ex). From the 1270s, during the reign of István (Stephen) V, this symbol also appeared on banners.

The green triple mound was certainly in use under the Anjou dynasty, but it was only from the 17th century onward that it became associated with the geography of Hungary. In practice, the coat of arms bearing the double cross had a public-law character: after ascending the throne, only the sovereign ruler could use it as a symbol of royal authority, whereas the red-and-silver striped arms were used by members of the Árpád dynasty, the royal princes. The triple mound appeared on the seals of queens from the 1270s. The reason for its appearance lies in the specific customs of Hungarian heraldry. Symbols placed in the center of the shield were often set upon some form of base (as can also be seen on coins). Thus, the double cross did not appear alone but required a base, which eventually took the form of a Gothic trefoil arch. Its precursor can also be observed on coinage.

The principal symbol of the Order of Saint George is the double cross depicted in silver on a red field. The green mounds are not included in our coat of arms, as we use a simplified and archaic version in our attire and insignia.

Author of original hungarian article: Tamás Sashalmi-Fekete