FERT
FERT is the motto of the House of Savoy, the dynasty that ruled the Duchy of Savoy, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Kingdom of Italy from the 14th century until 1946, as well as the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, a chivalric order founded by Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, in 1364.[1]
The acronym's most frequently cited expansion is the Latin phrase Fortitudo eius Rhodum tenuit ("His fortitude held Rhodes" or "His valiancy won and possessed Rhodes"), evoking themes of bravery and defense, though this etymology links tenuously to Savoyard history as the phrase's adoption predates direct House of Savoy involvement in Rhodian events and may instead commemorate Knights Hospitaller exploits.[2][1]
Alternative interpretations include Foedere et religione tenemur ("We are bound by treaty and religion"), emphasizing the knightly oaths of the Order of the Collar (later Annunciation), whose members swore fidelity symbolized by a collar adorned with the Savoy knot; other proposals such as Fides est regni tutela ("Faith is the safeguard of the realm") underscore dynastic resilience and religious devotion.[1]
Prominently displayed on the lesser coat of arms of the Kingdom of Italy, coins, seals, and the order's insignia, FERT embodied the House of Savoy's identity of endurance and sovereignty, evolving from a 14th-century emblem of personal and institutional loyalty to a national symbol during Italy's unification under Victor Emmanuel II.[1]