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Dieu Et Mon Droit




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 .

''Dieu et mon droit'' was the inspiration for The Beatles joke motto ''Duit On Mon Dei'', later adopted as an album title by Harry Nilsson .


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