''Invicta'' is a

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

word meaning invincible, undefeated, or unconquered. It has been used in mottoes like '' Roma invicta'' (Latin for "Unconquered Rome"), and it is the motto of the county of

Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Theories of origin

"''Invicta''" has been a motto for centuries. ''Roma invicta'' is a Latin phrase, meaning "Unconquered Rome", inscribed on a statue in Rome. It was an inspirational motto used until the

fall of the Western Roman Empire The fall of the Western Roman Empire, also called the fall of the Roman Empire or the fall of Rome, was the loss of central political control in the Western Roman Empire, a process in which the Empire failed to enforce its rule, and its vast ...

in 476 AD. This symbolic statement was later printed onto gold coins, to help boost the morale of the failing Empire. For Kent, it dates back to the invasion of England by Duke William of Normandy in the year 1066. As the official motto, it appears on the

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...

Kent County Council Kent County Council is a county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Kent in England. The non-metropolitan county is smaller than the ceremonial county, which additionally includes the Unitary authorities of England, unitary auth ...

. Leaving the

battle A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force co ...

site at

Hastings Hastings ( ) is a seaside town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England, east of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to th ...

, William marched on to London on his way to the (then) capital

Winchester Winchester (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs N ...

. While passing through

, the local people attacked and harassed William's men. The uncertain William and his army fled and went a different route to London. As the people of Kent had chased William away, they adopted "''Invicta''" as a county motto. Kent Invicta Monument

A different version of the legend above is depicted on a monument at Swanscombe, where legend states this meeting took place on the Old Roman Road to London ( Watling Street). The monument, sculpted by Hilary Stratton and unveiled in 1958, was moved in the early 1960s due to the construction of the A2 dual carriageway. It is now located in the churchyard of St Peter and St Paul's Church in Swanscombe, where the picture (right) was taken. The monument states that:

Near this spot by ancient tradition the men of Kent and Kentish men carrying boughs on their shoulders and swords in their hands met the invader William Duke of Normandy. They offered peace if he would grant their ancient rights and liberties otherwise war and that most deadly. Their request was granted and from that day the motto of Kent has been INVICTA meaning Unconquered.

Because Dover and Kent were not besieged or defeated on William's march, but instead the people demanded and received preservation of their rights in exchange for acknowledging his kingship and peace, they were therefore not conquered by him. Holding of land in Kent by gavelkind, rather than the Norman laws of

primogeniture Primogeniture () is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn Legitimacy (family law), legitimate child to inheritance, inherit all or most of their parent's estate (law), estate in preference to shared inheritance among all or some childre ...

, lasted until the early-20th century suggesting that the people of Kent were successful in maintaining their rights.

Local influences

As the motto of the county, "''Invicta''" is now a frequently used term within Kent.

Other uses

"''Cidade Invicta''" ("Unvanquished City") is coined of the city of

Porto Porto (), also known in English language, English as Oporto, is the List of cities in Portugal, second largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon. It is the capital of the Porto District and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto c ...

, Portugal. It was earned during the Napoleonic invasions in the 19th century.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Invicta (Motto) Kent Latin mottos

Theories of origin

Local influences

Other uses

See also

References