Pactum Serva

[David Amicus]

I've been reading online about King Edward I of England. I found out that his motto was PACTUM SERVA.

I read two different translations for it "Keep the Faith" and "Keep the Vow". Which is the correct one or is there a better translation?

[n***@gmail.com]

Post by David Amicus
I've been reading online about King Edward I of England. I found out that his motto was PACTUM SERVA.
I read two different translations for it "Keep the Faith" and "Keep the Vow". Which is the correct one or is there a better translation?

Serva is the imperative of servo/servire which means to keep or preserve. Pactum is an adjective that means agreed/stipulated/etc. So "pactum serva" is an order preserve something that was agreed.

So "keep the vow" is a more literal translation. If you are in come sort of culture which describes it's faith as a vow "keep the faith" would work to.

Nick

[David Amicus]

Post by n***@gmail.com

Post by David Amicus
I've been reading online about King Edward I of England. I found out that his motto was PACTUM SERVA.
I read two different translations for it "Keep the Faith" and "Keep the Vow". Which is the correct one or is there a better translation?

Serva is the imperative of servo/servire which means to keep or preserve. Pactum is an adjective that means agreed/stipulated/etc. So "pactum serva" is an order preserve something that was agreed.
So "keep the vow" is a more literal translation. If you are in come sort of culture which describes it's faith as a vow "keep the faith" would work to.
Nick

Thanks!