What does 'Semper Fidelis' mean in English, and whose motto is it?

bloomsby

The meaning is 'always faithful' - or better 'ever faithful' as it's a motto. I *think* it was the motto of Elizabeth I. Jan 28 03, 5:04 AM

McGruff

'Semper fidelis' means 'always faithful' and is the motto of the US Marine Corps. Jan 28 03, 5:25 AM

Kainantu

Additional information : Semper Fidelis John Philip Sousa (1854 - 1932) The name of John Philip Sousa is almost synonymous with band music in America. Child of a Portuguese father and Bavarian mother, he showed musical aptitude at an early age. At ten, he was studying violin and harmony, soon learning to play wind instruments as well. He played with the Marine Band at thirteen, and later was appointed leader of the same band, a position he held for a dozen years before setting out to organize his own band. The Sousa Band became famous throughout America and Europe. Sousa developed a distinct flair for writing marches, and he seemed instinctively to know how to compose for band instruments. His style, full of bouncing rhythms, brilliant instrumentation, and catchy tunes, earned him the name of 'The March King'. His output was extraordinary, with hundreds of compositions, including some comic operas as well as orchestral works. His passing ended an era of military and marching band music which had become a positive force in American music at the turn of the century. Sousa wrote Semper Fidelis in 1888, in response to a request by President Chester A. Arthur for something more appropriate than Hail to the Chief for use at official functions. Arthur died without ever hearing Semper Fidelis. Sousa considered this to be his best march, and it is the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps. http://www.sjws.org/programs/1999-07-04.htm Jan 28 03, 5:33 AM

Senior Moments

It is also the motto of the Devon and Dorset Regiment in the UK Jan 28 03, 8:20 AM

M3rr

Compilation and Additional Information - The Lynch family of Galway: Semper Fidelis is the family motto of the Lynch Family. The Lynches were one of the Twelve Tribes of Galway, who were fourteen merchant families who dominated the political, commercial, and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the 13th and 16th centuries. Although the earliest traceable reference to its doing so is James Hardiman's history of Galway published in 1820, the history of the family makes it likely that the motto was in use by the 14th or 15th century. The Edge family of Strelley, Nottinghamshire, were using the motto "Semper fidelis" by, at the latest, 1814 (see UK National Archives document reference DD/E/209/32-34) In 1999, the Chief Herald of Ireland granted to Irish Senator Joe Doyle arms that include the motto "Semper fidelis." Steele Family of Cheshire: 'Semper Fidelis' is the family motto of the Steele Family. The motto appears on the coat of arms of Thomas Steele of Weston, and was used by his descendants, Lord Chancellor William Steele and Sir Richard Steele, the famous dramatist and essayist. The City of Exeter, in Devon, England, is believed to have adopted the motto in 1588, to signify the city's loyalty to the English Crown. According to White's Devonshire Directory of 1850, it was Queen Elizabeth I who suggested that the city adopt this motto (perhaps in imitation of her own motto, Semper eadem, "Ever the same"). John Hooker's map of Exeter of around 1586 shows the city's coat of arms without the motto, suggesting that the city's use of the motto is no older than this. * The motto is also used by the Royal Navy warship HMS Exeter, which is named after the City of Exeter. * There is a Masonic Lodge in Exeter, called "Lodge Semper Fidelis." Sep 17 07, 8:12 PM

M3rr

The words "Semper fidelis" were applied to the Polish city of Lwów (in Latin, "Leopolis"; now Lviv, in western Ukraine) in 1658 by Pope Alexander VII in recognition of the city's key role in defending Europe from Muslim invasion. That same year, the Sejm (parliament) of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth passed the Semper fidelis Poloniae ["Ever Faithful to Poland"] Act (as most people construed the Latin phrase). "Semper fidelis" is the motto of the town of St. Malo, in Brittany, France. Semper fidelis is also the motto of the cadetscorps from the Dutch Royal Military Academy. The corps was founded in 1879. The Devonshire Regiment of the British Army, the 11th of foot, adopted the motto "Semper fidelis" on its formation in 1881. The motto was already in use by at least some of the Devon militia units from which the regiment was formed, the Illustrated London News reporting its use on a cap badge in its 7th January 1860 issue, and it is thought that it had been in use for many years before that. The motto was continued on the badges of the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment when the Devonshires were amalgamated into them in 1958. This use of the motto evidently derives from the regiments' close connection with the city of Exeter, where they had a base for many years. The United States Marine Corps adopted the motto, Semper Fidelis in 1883, on the initiative of Colonel Charles McCawley (January 29, 1827 – October 13, 1891), the 8th Commandant of the Marine Corps. "Semper fidelis" (Meaning "Always faithful") signifies the dedication and loyalty that individual Marines are expected to have for "Corps and Country", even after leaving service. The Marines frequently shorten the motto to "Semper Fi." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semper_Fidelis Sep 17 07, 8:13 PM

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