Papal coat of arms

[Alexios Komnenos]

Hi there!

After a long time away, I'm checking how's it going, and I realized that you use the current Papal flag, white and yellow. But this flag was instituted in modern times (probably XIXth Century, although I'm not sure).

In Medieval times, the Popes used two golden keys crossed on a red field, sometimes crowned by the triregnum crown. Sometimes, one key was golden and the other was silvery (the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of Earth).

Anyway, I'm not sure about the keys symbology being as old as the XIth Century. But there is a theory about the Pope giving to Pepin the Short the Papal ensign to use it as the symbol of the new-born Carolingian kingdom: a golden cross patée with golden dishes between the arms, on while field. Like this, mroe or less, but more patée:



Theorically, between the arms are just four dishes or bezants, one for each side.

I hope I gave my grain of sand. Take much care, and keep up the good work!

[Hengest]

This is very interesting, thank you- we used the gold and white banner because we hadn't had time to change it for the previews to the red and white once we improved our sources. As you say, it may not be as old as the 1100s but seems to have existed at least in the later Middle Ages and will probably be the one we will use.