Mississippi State Motto: Virtute et Armis
Fact-checked • Updated December 2, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Virtute et Armis"
By Valor and Arms
About This Motto
Mississippi adopted Virtute et Armis in 1894 as part of coat of arms legislation. Latin phrase translates to By Valor and Arms. Legislature appointed committee February 7, 1894 to design state coat of arms. James Rhea Preston, state superintendent of education, proposed motto. Mississippi became 20th state December 10, 1817.
What the Motto Means
Virtute et Armis translates to By Valor and Arms. Latin words carry military connotations. Virtute comes from virtus, meaning courage or excellence. Armis means weapons. Together they express achieving goals with both courage and military strength.
Why this motto? Historians suggest James Rhea Preston drew inspiration from Lord Gray De Wilton's family motto: Virtute Non Armis Fido. Translation: I trust in virtue not arms. Mississippi's version reversed the emphasis. Where De Wilton rejected arms in favor of virtue, Mississippi combined both concepts.
Coat of arms design mirrors U.S. Great Seal. Blue shield contains eagle with extended wings. Right talon holds palm branch. Left talon grasps bundle of arrows. Word Mississippi appears in gold above eagle. Two cotton stalks cross below shield. Red scroll curves around bottom and sides with motto in white letters on gold spaces.
Historical Background
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Statehood December 10, 1817
President James Monroe signed the admission resolution on December 10, 1817, bringing Mississippi into the Union as the 20th state. Convention met in Washington, Mississippi that summer. Governor David Holmes presided. Early statehood saw rapid cotton agriculture expansion across the state.
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Coat of Arms Committee February 7, 1894
Legislature appointed a committee on February 7, 1894, with the purpose of designing an official state coat of arms. Mississippi had used a seal since 1817 statehood but lacked formal heraldic description. Committee worked during 1894 to develop design. James Rhea Preston, serving as state superintendent of education, proposed the motto Virtute et Armis for inclusion.
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Design Specifications
Committee recommended specific design elements. Blue shield containing eagle at center displaying extended wings. Right talon grasping palm branch and left talon holding bundle of arrows. Word Mississippi appeared in gold lettering above eagle. Two cotton stalk branches crossed below shield. Red scroll extended along sides with motto printed in white letters on gold spaces.
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Adoption 1894 Extraordinary Session
Legislature convened in extraordinary session during 1894 and considered the committee's coat of arms proposal. Design gained approval without major changes. Body enacted it as state coat of arms. Law described complete design including motto. Governor authorized steel plate procurement for printing and engraving. Design has remained unchanged since 1894 adoption.
Meaning & Significance Today
Motto appears on state coat of arms and official seal. You find it on government documents, legal papers, and official correspondence. Governor's office displays coat of arms. State agencies incorporate design into letterhead and publications. Red scroll bearing motto wraps around shield bottom. White letters on gold spaces spell phrase.
Historical context matters when examining 1890s Mississippi symbols. Coat of arms adopted four years after 1890 constitution. That document systematically disenfranchised Black voters through poll taxes and literacy tests. Same 1894 legislative session adopted Confederate-themed flag. State symbols emerged during post-Reconstruction period. Modern Mississippi grapples with this legacy. Flag changed 2020 after sustained pressure. Coat of arms and motto remain from 1894.
Latin military terminology connects motto to broader American heraldic tradition. Many states use martial imagery. Eagles, shields, arrows appear frequently. By Valor and Arms emphasizes both moral courage and military readiness. Veterans dominated political leadership in 1890s. Military service carried prestige. Motto conveyed values of that era's establishment.
Mississippi never separately designated motto apart from coat of arms statute. Phrase exists only as heraldic element. Other states passed standalone motto legislation. Mississippi integrated motto into arms description. State treats Virtute et Armis as official motto. Phrase appears on official publications. Functions as de facto state motto regardless of statutory status.
Cultural Context in Mississippi
James Rhea Preston Role
Preston served as state superintendent of education during 1890s. Position gave him voice in state symbol discussions. Sources credit Preston with proposing Virtute et Armis motto. Records provide limited detail about Preston's reasoning. No contemporary documents explain his choice. State adopted his motto suggestion without recorded debate.
Cotton Economy Context
Cotton dominated Mississippi economy from statehood through 1960s. State led nation in cotton production before Civil War. After emancipation, sharecropping system replaced slavery. Cotton prices fluctuated wildly. Boll weevil devastated crops in early 1900s. Cotton stalks on coat of arms indicated state's primary crop.
Current Law
Mississippi Code governs coat of arms design. State statute describes complete coat of arms including motto. Shield blue in color with eagle at center. Eagle extends wings while holding palm branch in right talon and arrows in left. Word Mississippi appears in gold above eagle. Two cotton stalk branches cross below shield. Red scroll curves around sides and bottom. Motto Virtute et Armis printed in white letters on gold spaces.
Statute specifies design adopted in 1894 extraordinary session. Governor authorized to procure steel plate for printing coat of arms. Plates preserved in Secretary of State office. Law hasn't changed since original 1894 enactment. Motto exists only within coat of arms description. No separate statute designates Virtute et Armis as standalone state motto.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 9
Mississippi's motto was never adopted separately, existing only in the coat of arms statute.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Comprehensive history of coat of arms design, committee appointment, and motto adoption in 1894. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Complete state history including statehood date and historical context. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Official state documentation of coat of arms specifications and motto text. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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