FERT — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|Motto of the House and former state of Savoy}} [[File:Lesser coat of arms of the Kingdom of Italy (1890).svg|thumb|Lesser coat of arms of the Kingdom of Italy (1890)]] '''FERT''' (sometimes tripled, ''FERT, FERT, FERT'')<ref>{{Cite journal |last=A. |first=R. G. |date=1907 |title=Austrian and Italian Mint Marks |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43583407 |journal=American Journal of Numismatics (1897-1924) |volume=41 |issue=4 |pages=88–88 |issn=2381-4594}}</ref> is the motto of the royal House of Savoy and Kingdom of Italy. The motto<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=byk_DwAAQBAJ&dq=fert+latin+motto&pg=PA428|title=Ut pictura amor: The Reflexive Imagery of Love in Artistic Theory and Practice, 1500-1700|last1=Melion|first1=Walter|last2=Zell|first2=Michael|last3=Woodall|first3=Joanna|date=2017-11-09|publisher=BRILL|isbn=9789004346468|pages=428|language=en}}</ref> was adopted by Duke Vittorio Amedeo II (1666–1732).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHYIavGtTCkC&dq=fert+savoy&pg=PA230|title=Historic Devices, Badges, and War-cries by Mrs. Bury Palliser|date=1870|publisher=S. Low, Son & Marston|pages=230|language=en}}</ref>

It appeared for the first time on the collar of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, or ''Ordine Supremo della Santissima Annunziata'', the primary dynastic order of the kingdom.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mFcMAQAAMAAJ&dq=fert+latin+motto&pg=PA811|title=Encyclopaedia Londinensis; or an universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature ...|last=Sussex.)|first=John Wilkes (of Milland House|date=1812|publisher=publisher not identified|pages=811|language=en}}</ref> This ceased to be a national order when Italy became a republic in 1946. The order remains under the jurisdiction of the head of the House of Savoy, however, as hereditary Sovereign and Grand Master.<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE DYNASTIC ORDERS – Ordini Dinastici della Real Casa di Savoia |url=https://www.ordinidinasticicasasavoia.it/en/the-dynastic-orders/ |access-date=2026-05-20 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Etymology == The meaning of the letters has been a matter of some controversy, to which a number of interpretations have been offered. The motto is believed to be an acronym of:<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fpQlBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA293 |title=Ulwencreutz's The Royal Families in Europe V |last=Ulwencreutz |first=Lars |date=November 2013 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781304581358 |pages=293 |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dictionnaire de Trévoux/6e édition, 1771/FERT - Wikisource |url=https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionnaire_de_Tr%C3%A9voux/6e_%C3%A9dition,_1771/FERT |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=fr.wikisource.org |language=fr}}</ref>

* {{lang|la|Foedere et Religione Tenemur}} (Latin: "Treaty and religion bind us"); * {{lang|la|Fortitudo Eius Rhodum Tenuit}} (Latin: "His strength conquered Rhodes" or "By his bravery he held [or occupied] Rhodes"), referring to the victory of Amadeus V, Count of Savoy (1249–1323), who fought in the 1315 siege of Rhodes;<ref name=":0" /> * {{lang|la|Fortitudo Eius Rempublicam Tenet}} (Latin: "His bravery [or strength] preserves [or defends] the state"), referencing the same ruler — Amadeus V. * {{lang|la|Fides Est Regni Tutela}} (Latin: "Faith is the protector of [our] Kingdom")

It has also been suggested that the letters are actually the Latin word {{wikt-lang|la|fert}} (third-person singular present active indicative of {{lang|la|ferre}}), meaning '[he/she/it] suffers/bears', possibly referring to Jesus bearing the sins of the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Deanna |others=Hans (Advisor) Boker |title=Margaret of Austria and Brou : Habsburg political patronage in Savoy |url=https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/j098zd325 |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=escholarship.mcgill.ca |at=36n78}}</ref>

A French-language parody of FERT was said by Savoy's neighbors to mean {{lang|fr|Frappez, Entrez, Rompez Tout}} (French: "Strike, Enter, Break Everything"), from their penchant for {{lang|fr|chevauchée}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luigia |date=2024-08-13 |title=FERT, devise de la Maison de Savoie |url=https://chateaudethorens.com/fert-devise-de-la-maison-de-savoie/ |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=Chateau de Thorens**** |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=K |first=Jacob |date=2022-10-28 |title=FERT et le nœud mystique |url=https://toysondor.blog/2022/10/28/fert-et-le-noeud-mystique/ |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=Toison d'Or |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery widths="300" heights="180"> File:Vitrail aux armes d'Amédée VIII-h.jpg|Stained glass with the coat of Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy File:Palazzo dei gran maestri di rodi, salone fert 04.JPG|The motto in the main hall of the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes File:Flag of Albania (1939–1943).svg|Flag of the Italian Protectorate of Albania

File:COA of Italian East Africa (Wiki Style).svg|Coat of arms of Italian East Africa

</gallery>

==See also== *A.E.I.O.U. – another motto of a European dynasty (the House of Habsburg) whose precise meaning and origin is similarly unclear.

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fert}} Category:House of Savoy Category:Initialisms Category:National symbols of Italy Category:National mottos Category:Mottoes of orders of chivalry Category:Duchy of Savoy Category:Latin mottos