Nemo me impune lacessit: Difference between revisions
Wha Daur Meddle Wi Me? Who dares meddle with me? is a false translation of this motto. The motto is a statement of Regal power and the Elliot Battle cry is challenge to fight. The Scottish Field is not an academic source. |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
[[File:Ster van de Orde van de Distel.jpg|thumb|right|Star of the [[Order of the Thistle]]]] |
[[File:Ster van de Orde van de Distel.jpg|thumb|right|Star of the [[Order of the Thistle]]]] |
||
{{italic title}} |
{{italic title}} |
||
'''''Nemo me impune lacessit''''' is the [[Latin language|Latin]] motto of the [[Order of the Thistle]] and of three [[Scottish regiment]]s of the [[British Army]].<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/25/wirq325.xml A reputation forged in heat of war - Telegraph<!--Bot-generated title-->]{{Dead link|date=May 2011|url=http://replay.web.archive.org/20041125073905/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/25/wirq325.xml}}</ref> The motto also appears, in conjunction with the [[Livery collar|collar]] of the Order of the Thistle, in later versions of the [[Royal coat of arms of Scotland|Royal coat of arms]] of the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] and subsequently in the version of the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom]] used in [[Scotland]]. It is often translated as ''No one attacks me with impunity'', "the motto ‘Nemo me impune lacessit’ (No one provokes me with impunity |
'''''Nemo me impune lacessit''''' is the [[Latin language|Latin]] motto of the [[Order of the Thistle]] and of three [[Scottish regiment]]s of the [[British Army]].<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/25/wirq325.xml A reputation forged in heat of war - Telegraph<!--Bot-generated title-->]{{Dead link|date=May 2011|url=http://replay.web.archive.org/20041125073905/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/25/wirq325.xml}}</ref> The motto also appears, in conjunction with the [[Livery collar|collar]] of the Order of the Thistle, in later versions of the [[Royal coat of arms of Scotland|Royal coat of arms]] of the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] and subsequently in the version of the [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom]] used in [[Scotland]]. It is often translated as ''No one attacks me with impunity'', "the motto ‘Nemo me impune lacessit’ (No one provokes me with impunity,(''"Cha togar m' fhearg gun dìoladh"'' in [[Scottish Gaelic]]). It is alternatively translated into English as ''No one can harm me unpunished''. |
||
== Present and historical use of the motto == |
== Present and historical use of the motto == |
||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
The motto also appears on the back collar of [[Edinburgh Rugby]] official kit. |
The motto also appears on the back collar of [[Edinburgh Rugby]] official kit. |
||
The motto also appears (w�ith the verb in the |
The motto also appears (w�ith the verb in the FutureTense: "Nemo Me Impune Lacesset") above an American Timber Rattlesnake on a 1778 $20 bill from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] as an early example of the colonial use of the coiled rattlesnake symbol, which later became famous on the [[Gadsden flag]]. The phrase also appears on mourning bands worn over the badges of [[law enforcement officer]]s in the [[USA]].<ref>[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8-BfQQr0Dt8/RjgB7Wgcu0I/AAAAAAAABG4/RGOk1OaBh28/s320/cc-070430FuneralBadge.jpg - Image]. Accessed 1 April 2009</ref> |
||
Also in America, at the Ivy League school of Dartmouth College, "Nemo me impune lacessit" is the motto of the College's independent conservative newspaper, [[The Dartmouth Review]].<ref>[www.dartreview.com]</ref> |
Also in America, at the Ivy League school of Dartmouth College, "Nemo me impune lacessit" is the motto of the College's independent conservative newspaper, [[The Dartmouth Review]].<ref>[www.dartreview.com]</ref> |
||
| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
[[Image:Cirsium vulgare flowerhead Anstey Hill.PNG|thumb|left|Scotland's [[Floral_emblem#United_Kingdom|Floral emblem]].]] |
[[Image:Cirsium vulgare flowerhead Anstey Hill.PNG|thumb|left|Scotland's [[Floral_emblem#United_Kingdom|Floral emblem]].]] |
||
It has been suggested that the phrase was originally used by [[Julius Caesar]] as he was attacked by the Roman Senate.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} However, according to legend, the "guardian thistle" (see [[Scotch thistle]]) played a vital part in the defence of the ancient realm of Scotland against a night attack by Norwegian Vikings, one of whom let out a yell of pain when he stepped on a prickly [[thistle]], |
It has been suggested that the phrase was originally used by [[Julius Caesar]] as he was attacked by the Roman Senate.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} However, according to legend, the "guardian thistle" (see [[Scotch thistle]]) played a vital part in the defence of the ancient realm of Scotland against a night attack by Norwegian Vikings, one of whom let out a yell of pain when he stepped on a prickly [[thistle]], t�hus alerting the Scottish defenders. In the motto "No-one harasses me with impunity" (Latin: "Nemo me impune lacessit"), "me" was therefore originally the thistle itself, but by extension now refers to the Scottish regiments which have adopted it. |
||
The modern form of the motto was used by [[Francesco Sforza|Francesco I]], Duke of Milan and had been used in Britain on the colours of the Scottish Royalist officer [[John Hurry|John Urry]] during the [[English Civil War]].<ref>Ian Gentles, "The Iconography of Revolution: England 1642–1649," in ''Soldiers, Writers and Statesmen of the English Revolution'', edited by Ian Gentles, John Morrill & Blair Worden, pp. 91–113 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998) p. 100.</ref> It was also used by the Parliamentarian propagandist [[Marchamont Nedham]] as the motto for his newsletters.<ref>Ian Gentles, "The Iconography of Revolution: England 1642–1649," p. 100, note 34.</ref> |
The modern form of the motto was used by [[Francesco Sforza|Francesco I]], Duke of Milan and had been used in Britain on the colours of the Scottish Royalist officer [[John Hurry|John Urry]] during the [[English Civil War]].<ref>Ian Gentles, "The Iconography of Revolution: England 1642–1649," in ''Soldiers, Writers and Statesmen of the English Revolution'', edited by Ian Gentles, John Morrill & Blair Worden, pp. 91–113 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998) p. 100.</ref> It was also used by the Parliamentarian propagandist [[Marchamont Nedham]] as the motto for his newsletters.<ref>Ian Gentles, "The Iconography of Revolution: England 1642–1649," p. 100, note 34.</ref> |
||
Revision as of 04:02, 6 June 2013
Nemo me impune lacessit is the Latin motto of the Order of the Thistle and of three Scottish regiments of the British Army.[1] The motto also appears, in conjunction with the collar of the Order of the Thistle, in later versions of the Royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Scotland and subsequently in the version of the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom used in Scotland. It is often translated as No one attacks me with impunity, "the motto ‘Nemo me impune lacessit’ (No one provokes me with impunity,("Cha togar m' fhearg gun dìoladh" in Scottish Gaelic). It is alternatively translated into English as No one can harm me unpunished.
Present and historical use of the motto
.svg)
The motto of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the Scottish chivalrous order, is also that of the British Army regiments The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Scots Guards and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. It was also the motto of several former units of the British Army, including the Royal Scots, Royal Scots Greys, Royal Highland Fusiliers and Black Watch, some of which went on to be amalgamated to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland in 2006. The motto is also that of the Royal Company of Archers and has been displayed upon the unit's second standard since 1713, following the grant of a Royal charter by Queen Anne.
During the reign of Charles II,[citation needed] the motto, appearing on a scroll beneath the shield and overlying the compartment, was added to the Royal coat of arms of Scotland and, since 1707,[citation needed] has appeared in the Scottish version of the arms of British Monarchs, including the present Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom used in Scotland. The motto appears in conjunction with the collar of the Order of the Thistle, which is placed around the shield. (The collar of the order appears in earlier versions of the Royal coat of arms of Scotland, but without the order motto).
The motto of the Order of the Thistle (Nemo me impune lacessit) should not be confused with the motto of the Royal arms (In Defens), which appears on an escroll above the crest in the tradition of Scottish heraldry.[2] (In Defens being an abbreviated form of the full motto In My Defens God Me Defend).[3]
Armed forces units elsewhere have also adopted this historic motto. In Australia, the motto was also used by the Victoria Scottish Regiment, which subsequently became 5th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment (RVR) which now forms one of the rifle companies of the RVR. (The motto is also used by the RVR Pipes and Drums Association). The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, a reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces, also bears this motto.(The motto appearing upon the regimental cap badge).
The motto is also that of the Cape Town Highlanders Regiment, a reserve mechanised infantry unit of South African Army. In Belgium, the 1st Squadron (Belgium) of the Belgian Air Force bear the motto, so too the 1st Battalion 24th Marines of the United States Marine Corps.
The Caledonian Railway used the motto as part of its crest, until "grouped" into the London, Midland and Scottish railway in 1923.
The motto (with the verb in the Future Tense [lacesset]: "Nemo Me Impune Lacesset") appears as a reverse insription on the Scottish "Bawbee" (6 Pence) coin of King Charles II surrounding a crowned thistle. Examples exist for 1677, 1678 and 1679. The coin is scarce but not considered rare. This coin is of copper, and was latter revalued as half penny.
The motto appears as an inscription on the rim of the 1984 and 1994 "Scottish" editions of the British one pound coin and is also referenced in the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Cask of Amontillado" (Poe was adopted by a Scottish merchant). Union College, University of Queensland, Australia, also adopted the motto.
The motto also appears on the back collar of Edinburgh Rugby official kit.
The motto also appears (w�ith the verb in the FutureTense: "Nemo Me Impune Lacesset") above an American Timber Rattlesnake on a 1778 $20 bill from Georgia as an early example of the colonial use of the coiled rattlesnake symbol, which later became famous on the Gadsden flag. The phrase also appears on mourning bands worn over the badges of law enforcement officers in the USA.[4]
Also in America, at the Ivy League school of Dartmouth College, "Nemo me impune lacessit" is the motto of the College's independent conservative newspaper, The Dartmouth Review.[5]
It is used as the motto of the USS SHAMAL.
Possible origin of the motto
It has been suggested that the phrase was originally used by Julius Caesar as he was attacked by the Roman Senate.[citation needed] However, according to legend, the "guardian thistle" (see Scotch thistle) played a vital part in the defence of the ancient realm of Scotland against a night attack by Norwegian Vikings, one of whom let out a yell of pain when he stepped on a prickly thistle, t�hus alerting the Scottish defenders. In the motto "No-one harasses me with impunity" (Latin: "Nemo me impune lacessit"), "me" was therefore originally the thistle itself, but by extension now refers to the Scottish regiments which have adopted it.
The modern form of the motto was used by Francesco I, Duke of Milan and had been used in Britain on the colours of the Scottish Royalist officer John Urry during the English Civil War.[6] It was also used by the Parliamentarian propagandist Marchamont Nedham as the motto for his newsletters.[7]
Another traditional source appears in the form of a Scots proverb; "Ye maunna tramp on the Scotch thistle, laddie", this being immortalised in marble by Glasgow monumental sculptors James Gibson & Co. for the Kelvingrove International Exhibition of 1888.[8].
The French city of Nancy has a similar motto, Non inultus premor ("I cannot be touched unavenged"), also a reference to the thistle, which is the symbol of the region of Lorraine.
See also
- "The Cask of Amontillado" - a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, where Nemo me impune lacessit is the family motto of the character Montresor.
- Mortal Causes a 1994 novel by Ian Rankin, where the motto is a clue in solving a young man's murder.
References
- ^ A reputation forged in heat of war - Telegraph[dead link]
- ^ International Civic Heraldry
- ^ Image
- ^ - Image. Accessed 1 April 2009
- ^ [www.dartreview.com]
- ^ Ian Gentles, "The Iconography of Revolution: England 1642–1649," in Soldiers, Writers and Statesmen of the English Revolution, edited by Ian Gentles, John Morrill & Blair Worden, pp. 91–113 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998) p. 100.
- ^ Ian Gentles, "The Iconography of Revolution: England 1642–1649," p. 100, note 34.
- ^ Glasgow - City of Sculpture, by Gary Nisbet
External links
Royal heraldry in the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | .svg) | |
| England | ||
| Scotland | ||
| Wales | ||