Armorial Bearings of Rhodesia
Arms of the British South Africa Company
The arms of the BSAC were granted under Letters Patent by the College of
Arms on 9 May 1909. The symbols refer to the country's natural resources;
the three galleys in the centre of the shield were taken from the arms of the
second Duke of Abercorn, the first President of the Company.
Personal Arms of Cecil John Rhodes
Personal arms of Cecil John Rhodes, born in Bishop Stortford, England,
5 June 1853, died at Muizenberg, South Africa, 26 March 1902. The original
arms of the Rhodes family had the lion on a blue diagonal, between two
acorns, listed in Burke's Armory, 1884.
Arms of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
The arms of the Federation were designed by M.J. Morris and include
elements from the arms of all three territories. Granted by Royal Warrant on
22 July 1954.
Arms of Rhodesia
The Rhodesian arms were granted by Royal Warrant on 11 August 1924
when the country was still Southern Rhodesia. The lion and thistles were
taken from Rhodes's personal arms (see above). The pick represents
mining and agriculture. The motto "Sit Nomine Digna" means "May she be
worthy of the name".
Arms of Rhodesian Cities
Arms of Salisbury
The arms of Salisbury were granted to the City Council by the College of
Arms in 1939 and replaced an earlier unsuitable design. The green field
and corn represent agriculture, the gold bar represents gold mining, and the
three roundels with fleur-de-lis are from the arms of the Cape Colony, from
which the majority of the first pioneers came. The lion in the crest was
adopted from the arms of Rhodes. The motto "Discrimine Salus" means
"In Discrimination there is Safety", taken from the motto of the Traill family,
from whom Fairbridge was descended, and refers to the careful selection
of the site of Salisbury.
Arms of Bulawayo
The arms of Bulawayo were granted on 19 October 1943. The three rock
rabbits were the totem of the Royal Family of the Matabele, the Kumalo.
The cross below symbolises the bringing of Christianity by the first
missionaries and settlers. The elephant crest is based on the royal seal of
Lobengula, last king of the Matabele. The motto "Si Ye Pambili", in
Sindebele, means "Let us go Forward".
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