The mottos were, as it were, monuments of courage, generosity and politeness.
this or that knight and served as useful lessons for his offspring; these
mottos were, as it were, an abbreviation of those rhymed stories that composed
troubadours wandering from one castle to another; these rhyming
stories they sang to the accompaniment of harp, lyre and other instruments
minstrels; this, of course, was quite consistent with the spirit of chivalry.
The motto was often some proverb that agreed with the spirit and
the inclination of the knight to whom the coat of arms belonged. Glory and love created
also many such slogans.
The mottos were always related to some kind of emblems, and from this they received more
great strength. For example, they depicted an empty quiver and put a motto to it:
“His arrows in my heart”; or depicted a rosebud and a motto to it:
“Showing less, it becomes more beautiful”; a swallow that flew over the sea, and
there is an inscription to it: “To find the sun, I leave the fatherland”; sink,
facing the sun: "Her beauty descends from heaven"; when pictured
ermine had such a motto: “It is better to die than to be disgraced” (the motto
Francis, Duke of Brittany); for a sunflower bud: “By the rays of my star
I will open my heart”; if they depicted a pomegranate tree in bloom, then they set
motto: “Every year a new crown”; wounded lion, depicted sleeping under
balsam tree, on which healing juice drips: “His tears me
heal"; a lion chained by a shepherd: "Subdued and terrible"; looking at
sun eagle: "It is worthy of my reverence."
The motto was usually placed under the shield; it was like a memory of
glorious deeds of a person, about his heroism, generosity, mercy,
or else the same motto served to induce the exercise of these virtues. In motto
as if the idea of the coat of arms is explained, or, better, the reason why this person received
just such a coat of arms, and not another; motto is at the same time both flesh and
emblem spirit. Mottoes were often allegorical, and therefore existed
mottos consisting of only one letter. Their main merit
was precisely in the sense that could be given to the motto; generally,
all mottos were short and expressive.
Representatives of a family, usually the eldest in the family, wore over
coat of arms so-called cri de guerre or cri d'armes, that is,
an expression that some noble knight used in war to
excitation of warriors for battle or victory; this famous click, or cry,
distinguished him from other knights. The French say: “Le cri suit la baniere”
(“The cry follows the banner”). This means that the military signal is where
banner, because it was the focus of military power, the center, to
which the troops aspired to, which all the soldiers followed with both heart and
eyes. Military cliques were known in ancient times; everyone has it
knight, each commander had his own special call assigned to him,
with which he gathered his warriors and with whom he threw himself into the bloodiest
the battle. Here are the most remarkable of the clicks. Gottfried of Bouillon during
Crusades said: “Dieu le veut!” (“So pleases God!”) - and this
persuasion guided both himself and his army. With this click he led
their soldiers into battle with the infidels; this click inspired them, lifted their spirits and
instilled in them courage and courage. The French kings considered the saint
Dionysius as their patron, and therefore, leading their soldiers into battle, they
repeated: "Montjoie et Saint Denis"; Montmorency repeated the following click:
“Dieu aide au premier baron Chretien” (“God help the first
Christian baron). The Bourbons adopted the clique: "Bourbon Notredame", or
"Esperance". Among the English kings, Saint George was considered the patron, and
therefore they said at first: “St. Georges”, - and later: “God and my right!”
(“God and my right!”).
In one of the legends of the Arthurian cycle, it is reported that the coat of arms of the duke
Northumberland was a blue lion, and the motto was "Blow of the lion's paw
win."
Interestingly, the images of animals and mythical monsters on coats of arms are often
go back to the samples of the Scythian-Siberian animal style; so obviously
here the influence of the Great Migration of Nations, but also played a role and more
late links between Western Europe and the East. According to one of the major
specialists in this field of art - L.A. Lelekova “ancient plots and
images of the animal style in the 10-13 centuries flooded the entire medieval world and
formed a special interethnic pictorial language, understandable from the Tien-
Shan to the Scandinavian fjords.
A peculiar revival of the animal style was contributed no less than external
internal reasons. New socio-political ideas of the era needed
appropriate expression.
The concepts of domination and subordination, heraldic themes ... were looking for
public and at the same time bright figurative refraction.
Indeed, the image in the coat of arms of a dragon, griffin, lion, eagle, tour in
accompanied by mottos like “Beware it is me”, “Fear the black bull”, etc.
were supposed to characterize the power of its bearer, to inspire fear not
only to an unarmed villan, but also to a serious adversary.
Part 10. Coats of arms of Mstislavl It so happened that Mstislavl has long been on the border with Russian lands and therefore Russian sovereigns have always tried to take possession of it. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich called himself Vitebsk and Mstislavl at a time when Mstislavl was not yet included
From the book Another History of Wars. From sticks to bombards author Kalyuzhny Dmitry VitalievichCoats of arms and flags No matter how we feel about chivalry today, but there was a time, and people lived in it. We can now, if we wish, laugh at their ridiculous clothes and hairstyles, feathers on their helmets, "technical backwardness", superstitions and coats of arms. But they were completely
From the book Everyday Life in France and England at the Time of the Knights of the Round Table author Pasturo MichelCoats of arms Costume was not the only way to express one's own individuality or to demonstrate one's belonging to a particular social group. A similar function was performed by numerous accessories, insignia and emblems. Among the latest
From the book Another History of Art. From the Beginning to the Present Day [Illustrated] author Zhabinsky Alexander From the book The Age of Paul I author Balyazin Voldemar NikolaevichNoble mottos
From the book Knights author Malov Vladimir Igorevich From the book Knights author Malov Vladimir Igorevich From the book Knights author Malov Vladimir Igorevich From the book Knights author Malov Vladimir Igorevich From the book History of Sweden the author MELIN and others JanThe mottos of the Swedish rulers Gustav Vasa: - All power is from the Lord. - If the Lord is with us, then who is against us. - Blessed is he who fears the Lord. - The earth belongs to the Lord. Erik XIV: The Lord gives to whom He wills. Johan III: The Lord - our defender. Sigismund: - For the right and the people. -
From the book Wars of the Roses. Yorkies vs Lancasters author Ustinov Vadim Georgievich From the book War Communism in Russia: Power and the Masses author Pavlyuchenkov Sergey AlekseevichWar Socialism and War Communism
From the book Antiquity from A to Z. Dictionary-reference book author Greydina Nadezhda LeonidovnaMottos, inscriptions, emblems in LATIN A genio lumenFrom genius - lightAliis inserviendo consumorServing others, I waste myselfAliis lucens urorShining others, I burn (Proposed as the motto of medicine by Van Tulpius, a Dutch doctor of the 17th century.)Alterius non sit qui - suus esse potestWho can belong to himself, that yes not
From the book Mysteries of History. Patriotic War of 1812 author Kolyada Igor Anatolievich“The convulsive cry has reached the limits of peaceful Ukraine”: Ukrainians in the “war for the tsar and the Fatherland” But what about Emperor Alexander I? Did he hope to use the Ukrainian possessions of his empire in the fight against the French? Could he count on the help of the "Little Russian
From the book World History in Sayings and Quotes author Dushenko Konstantin Vasilievich From the book Wonderful China. Recent Travels to the Middle Kingdom: Geography and History author Tavrovsky Yury VadimovichThe slogans of government are not only for emperors Implementing the Xiaokang strategy, Deng Xiaoping's successors put forward their own tactical programs in its context. The tradition of creating a short slogan that conveys the main meaning of the current policy is rooted in the depths
The study of inscriptions on medieval weapons provides an interesting story about the mentality and beliefs of both the knights who carry these weapons and the craftsmen who made them. The mystical meaning of these inscriptions was important for the knights participating in the crusades and in numerous wars of that turbulent time. The sword was a symbol of justice, protection of Christian ideals, peace and tranquility of citizens. They prayed for them, took an oath, made vows. Sometimes at the top of the hilt were holy relics. Famous swords had their own names. The sword of King Arthur had the name Excalibur, had magical properties and could heal wounds.
"D NE QVIA VIM PATIOR RESPONDE PRO ME" was translated from Latin as follows - "Lord! So that I do not suffer resentment, answer for me." The first D stands for DOMINE for short. This inscription is derived from a quotation from the Bible Libri Isaiae Capitis XXXVIII versum XIV
DOMINE VIM PATIOR RESPONDE PRO ME
However, often the inscriptions were abbreviated, with the initial letters of religious sayings. Illiterate knights participating in the crusades memorized the words of prayers by the first letters engraved on their swords. In this way they could read a prayer before the battle. Let's say:
DIOLAGR reads: "D(e)I O(mnipotentis) LA(us) G(enitricis) R(edemptoris)". Translated from Latin, this means - "God almighty GLORY to the mother of the redeemer." Another composition INININININININ, despite the abundance of signs, is much simpler and means: I(esu) N(omine), I(esu) N(omine), I(esu) N(omine) and three more repetitions. The text is translated as "In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus..." and three more times. The cryptography SNEMENTS means: S(ankta) N(omin)E M(atris) E(nimo)N T(rinita)S - "Holy In the name of the Mother of God in the name of the Trinity".
IHS (Jesus Homini Salvator) or the letters S, O, X used separately (Salvator - Savior, Omnipotentes - Almighty, Xristus - Christ).
IN NOMINE DOMINI (In the name of the Lord)
SOLI DEO GLORIA (Only for the glory of God)
USSU TUO DOMINE (By thy command, Lord)
IN TI DOMINI (In your name, Lord)
IN DEO GLORIA (To the glory of God)
PRO DEO ET RELIGIONE VERA (For God and True Religion)
IVDICA DOMINE NOCENTES ME EXPUGNA IMPUGNATES ME, representing the first stanza of Psalm 34: “Judge, Lord, those who quarrel with me, fight those who fight with me”
FIDE SED CUI VIDE (Believe, but watch who you believe)
ELECTIS CANCIONATUR DEO GLORIA DATUR (The chosen ones are sung and praise the Lord)
PAX PARTA TUENDA (Equal peace must be preserved)
ROMANIS SACRIFICATUR RARAE GLORIA DATUR (The Romans offer a prayer service and glorify the Pope)
Later, when the sword came into use, as an indispensable attribute of a noble family, which was worn constantly, and which meant readiness to defend honor and dignity at any moment, another kind of inscription appeared:
VINCERE AUT MORI (Win or Die)
INTER ARMA SILENT LEGES (Among weapons, laws are silent)
FIDE, SED CUI VIDE (Believe, but look to whom)
Some Latin mottos can be classified as moral and ethical instructions. Let's say:
TEMERE NEC TIMIDE (Do not insult and do not be afraid),
VIM SUPERAT RATIO (Mind overcomes force)
HOCTANGI MORTI FERRUM (Touch with this iron is deadly)
RECTE FACIENDO NEMINEM TIMEAS (Fear nothing by doing the right thing)
There are inscriptions in national European languages, often having the meaning of mottos:
Ne te tire pas sans raison ne me remette point sans honneur (Don't strip me unnecessarily, don't sheath me without honor)
Honni soit qui mal y pense (Shame on him who thinks ill of it)
Dieu mon esperance, Iere pour that defence (God is my hope, the sword is my defense).
Often the inscriptions on weapons are mixed, reflecting the new ideology of the absolutist monarchy:
PRO GLORIA ET PATRIA (For Glory and Fatherland)
PRO DEO ET PATRIA (For God and Fatherland)
VIVAT REX (Long Live the King)
There were also frequent poetic inscriptions, characteristic only for these instruments of execution: Die hersen Steiiren Demvnheil
Jch ExeQuire Jhr Vrtheil
Wandem sunder wirt abgesagt das leben
Sowirt er mir vnter meine handt gegeben
(Hearts rule misfortune
I carry out your sentence
A sinner when his life is taken away
Then they hand it over to me.)
Other blade inscriptions:
"Cuando esta vivora pica, No hay remedio en la botica" (There is no cure for this viper in the pharmacy). An inscription on a navaja given to Stalin by the Spanish Republicans.
"Die villain by my hand." Inscription on a hunting dagger. Chrysostom, 1880s.
"Meine Ehre heißt Treue" (My honor is called loyalty). motto on SS daggers (Schutz Staffeln)
"Mort aux boches" (Death is dumb). Boche is a French derogatory/swear word for Germans. Inscriptions on the blades of the French resistance.
"Beware of false friends yourself, and I will save you from enemies." Latin inscription on the saber of the Polish king Jan Sobieski
"There is strength in truth" inscription on the saber of lame Timur
Melius non incipient, quam desinent -
Better not to start than to stop halfway
Serva me - servabo te - save me - save you
Mehr sein als scheinen - Be better than you seem
Oderint, dum metuant. - Let them hate - they were too afraid.
"Do not take out without need, do not invest without glory"
"Without faith, do not swear, if you swear, believe" is one of the many mottos on Cossack checkers.
“In hostem omnia licita.” - In relation to the enemy, everything is permitted. (lat.)
In omnia paratus - ready for anything
Ultima ratio - the last argument
The era of knights has always attracted special attention. The romantic image and fair fights of the Middle Ages continue to exist in literature, cinema, as well as in the new subculture of role players.
An integral part of any knight was the coat of arms. It depicted various animals, plants, objects. Its main task was to provide information about the knight who holds it. What did the coat of arms of the knight and the motto written on it mean?
How did the knight's emblems appear?
The custom of choosing a distinguishing sign for oneself and placing it on one's own shield dates back to ancient times. This helped to recognize their own during the battle.
Each nation had its own signs on the emblems:
- the Franks depicted a cross over a circle;
- Angles - a mythical dragon, a cross with a ball or birds;
- Danes - raven;
- Saxons - a lion or a rose.
The appearance of a special heraldic symbolism is associated with the knightly crusades. Signs-symbols have become a special type of writing. With their help, it was possible to recognize a knight clad in iron armor.
The symbols placed on the shield were supposed to speak about the character and life path of a person. For example, the one who first went on a crusade portrayed small migratory birds. By this he showed that he had no home and was constantly wandering.
They also contributed to the fact that the shields began to be painted in different colors, including blue. At that time, there was no dye of this shade in Europe; it was brought from the East.
Over time, the coat of arms of the knight and the motto began to be placed not only on the shield, but also on the helmet. It has become a special insignia, a modern analogue of an identity card or business card.
The role of heraldry in the time of the knights
The more coats of arms appeared, the more the need for their systematization increased. Codes of rules for drawing up coats of arms began to emerge. Thus, a new science appeared - heraldry. Her task was to describe and study knightly insignia.
People who practiced this science began to be called heralds. They lived at the courts of nobles and knights and were closely associated with Did medieval knights have mottos? Of course there were. They were placed on the shield and announced before the start of the fight.
Developing over the centuries, heraldry became more and more complex and intricate. By the 15th century, special treatises began to appear, which were difficult to understand due to the many symbols and signs intertwined with each other.
About tournaments
Knightly competitions were still in the days of Charlemagne. This is known from the chronicle of 844 by the historian Nitgart ("The Song of Beowulf").
It is believed that the first rules for duels were established in the 11th century by the French knight Gottfried de Prelly. By the 12th century, tournaments had spread to England.
King Richard the Lionheart contributed to their popularization. He authorized competitions in five counties and took part in them himself. During their conduct, coats of arms, mottos and war cry were everywhere.
For the knight, participation in the tournament played a big role. Everyone found in it their own benefit:
- boast of armor and noble origin;
- declare to everyone about their military qualities;
- earn the favor of the lady of the heart;
- take possession of the armor and horse of the enemy;
- receive a cash ransom for the armor won.
To participate in the tournament, it was necessary to prove one's noble origin. It had to be confirmed in two generations by both mother and father. The proof was the hereditary coat of arms of the knight and the motto on the shield and helmet.
The church struggled with holding tournaments for a long time, but they continued until the 16th century. They were banned in 1559, when the French king died due to an accidental fragment of a spear. Along with the competition, heralds were no longer needed.
At the same time, mottos and a war cry remained on the shields. The knights of the century spent in battles, but in the end they were replaced by a new type of troops. The knight's coat of arms eventually transformed into signs of workshops, cities and states.
Classification of coats of arms
It has already been mentioned that heraldry is a very complicated science. It subdivides all coats of arms and mottos into separate genera. Knighthood could have any of these:
An interesting example is the story about the coat of arms of Aragon. Initially, it was in the form of a golden shield. In one of the battles, the king was struck by the courage of Gottfried of Aragon. After the battle, he approached the warrior and, dipping his fingers in his wound, ran them over the shield. So on the golden coat of arms of the Aragon clan they began to depict four vertical scarlet pillars.
What was painted on the shields
The shield consisted of honorary heraldic figures: head, belt, extremity, pillar, border, rafters, bandages, crosses. There were also minor heraldic figures, such as columns, belts, rhombus fields.
The most numerous group was non-heraldic. It included natural, artificial and fantastic elements. It could be animals, plants, people, body parts, weapons, mythical animals, natural phenomena.
Heraldic mottos
The coat of arms of the knight and the motto were one. A short saying was supposed to explain the idea of the emblem.
Did medieval knights have mottos |
|
Image on the emblem | Motto to the coat of arms of a knight |
empty quiver | His arrows in my heart |
The swallow that flies the sea | To find the sun, I leave the fatherland |
Ermine | Better to die than be disgraced |
Lion chained by a shepherd | Subdued and fearful |
Eagle looking at the sun | He alone is worthy of my reverence |
Rosebud | Showing less, it becomes more beautiful |
What coats of arms can tell
Medieval heraldry can be compared to the architecture of that time. Therefore, it is quite easy to determine which state the coat of arms belongs to.
For example, the French are very fond of luxury, so their symbols of the nobility are decorated with a lot of precious metals and furs. The Burgundian emblems were dominated by the red color due to imitation of the Dukes of Burgundy.
All countries of Western Europe had their own characteristics in heraldry. This allows you to learn about how the borders of states were redrawn, about conquered lands, concluded or terminated alliances and other important events of that time.
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