Strange phrases and quotations

Dieu et mon droit

Dieu et mon droit (French for God and my right) has been used as the motto of the British monarch since it was adopted by Henry V (1413-1422). Originally it was spelled Dieut et mon droict, the early Modern French spelling, but later the 'c' in "droict" was taken out in accordance with present French orthography. To this day, this motto is emblazoned on the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.

A French motto rather than English was chosen because the English language had only recently replaced French as the language of the English ruling classes. Henry spoke French and had been crowned King of France as well as of England. The motto of the Order of the Garter Honi soit qui mal y pense is also in French.

The phrase was allegedly first used as a password by King Richard I in 1198 at the Battle of Gisors, when he defeated the forces Philip II of France. Its meaning was that Richard owed his royalty to no power other than God and his own heredity, and was therefore subject to no earthly power or other monarch. This can be taken as a direct reference to the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings.