''Honneur, patrie, valeur, discipline'' (''Honour, fatherland, valour, discipline'') is the

motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...

of the

French Navy The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the Navy, maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of History of France, France. It is among the largest and most powerful List of navies, naval forces i ...

. It is found inscribed on all ships and buildings, sometimes with each word on its separate plaque at a corner of the superstructure. A memorial plaque for Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who died in the Titan submersible implosion features the motto. It was placed at the Wreckage of the Titanic in 2024https://au.news.yahoo.com/titan-submersible-victim-honoured-plaque-124930859.html

Origin

The motto uses words found in traditional mottos of French institutions: "''Honneur - Patrie''", and "''Valeur - Discipline''" * "''Honneur - Patrie''" is the motto of the

Légion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

; it has been inscribed on military flags under the

First French Empire The First French Empire or French Empire (; ), also known as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. It lasted from ...

, and also became the motto of the French Navy from 1830; * "''Valeur - Discipline''" was inscribed on military flags under the late First Empire; fallen in disuse under the Bourbon Restauration, is reappeared on the flags of the

French Second Republic The French Second Republic ( or ), officially the French Republic (), was the second republican government of France. It existed from 1848 until its dissolution in 1852. Following the final defeat of Napoleon, Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle ...

and on the reverse of the Médaille militaire. Probably under the

Second French Empire The Second French Empire, officially the French Empire, was the government of France from 1852 to 1870. It was established on 2 December 1852 by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, president of France under the French Second Republic, who proclaimed hi ...

, these two mottos fused and became features of French naval ships. File:Le drapeau du 21e RIC.jpg, "''Honneur - Patrie''" on the flag of the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment. File:Medaille Militaire 3e Republique France REVERS.jpg, "''Valeur - Discipline''" on the reverse of the Médaille militaire. File:Honneur et patrie.jpg, "''Honneur et Patrie''" on a poop deck panel of the ''Pourquoi-Pas ?''.

Sources and references

L'origine de la devise : "Honneur, Patrie, Valeur Discipline"
''Le fauteuil de Colbert''. Specific {{Reflist French Navy Mottos French words and phrases

Origin

See also

Sources and references