royal mottos of Danish monarchs

The use of a royal motto ({{langx|da|valgsprog}}) is an old tradition among Danish monarchs, dating back at least 500 years. The use of such a motto was a way for a monarch of Denmark to emphasize values or beliefs they held dear. In earlier times, these mottos were often shown on Danish coinage, often in a Latin form.

Before 1839

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Monarch ! Reign ! Royal motto (in Danish) ! Latin or other version ! English translation
Christian I \| 1448–1481 \| Dyden viser vejen \| {{small\|VIRTUTI MONSTRANTE VIAM}} \| Virtue leads the way
Hans (John) \| 1481–1513 \| For lov og flok \| {{small\|PRO LEGE ET GREGE}} \| For law and herd
Christian II \| 1513–1523 \| Så var det beskikket \| {{small\|SIC ERAT IN FATIS}} \| Thus it was ordained
Frederick I \| 1523–1533 \| Intet uden Gud \| {{small\|NIHIL SINE NUMINE}} \| Nothing without God
Christian III \| 1536–1559 \| Ske Herrens vilje \| {{small\|SPES MEA SOLUS DEUS}} Zu Gott mein Trost allein {{in lang\|de}} \| The Lord's will be done
Frederick II \| 1559–1588 \| Mit håb er Gud alene \| {{small\|DEUS REFUGIU ET FIDUSIA MEA}} Mein Hofnung zu Godt allein {{in lang\|de}} \| My hope is God alone
Christian IV \| 1588–1648 \| Fromhed styrker rigerne \| {{small\|REGNA FIRMAT PIETAS}} \| Piety strengthens the realms[http://www.frederiksborg-slotskirke.dk/index.php?id=8036 Frederiksborg Palace Church - History] {{in lang\|da}}
Frederick III \| 1648–1670 \| Herren være mit forsyn \| {{small\|DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT}} \| The Lord will be my guide
Christian V \| 1670–1699 \| Med fromhed og retfærdighed \| {{small\|PIETATE ET IUSTITIA}} \| With piety and justice
Frederick IV \| 1699–1730 \| Herren være min hjælper \| {{small\|DOMINUS MIHI ADIUTOR}} \| The Lord be my helper
Christian VI \| 1730–1746 \| For Gud og folket \| {{small\|DEO ET POPULO}} \| For God and the people
Frederick V \| 1746–1766 \| Med klogskab og standhaftighed \| {{small\|PRUDENTIA ET CONSTANTIA}} \| By prudence and steadfastness
Christian VII \| 1766–1808 \| Fædrelandets kærlighed er min berømmelse \| {{small\|GLORIA EX AMORE PATRIÆ}} \| The love of the fatherland is my reward
Frederick VI \| 1808–1839 \| Gud og den retfærdige sag \| {{small\|DEO ET JUSTAE CAUSAE}} \| God and the just cause

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

Monarch

! Reign

! Royal motto (in Danish)

! Latin or other version

! English translation

Christian I

| 1448–1481

| Dyden viser vejen

| {{small|VIRTUTI MONSTRANTE VIAM}}

| Virtue leads the way

Hans (John)

| 1481–1513

| For lov og flok

| {{small|PRO LEGE ET GREGE}}

| For law and herd

Christian II

| 1513–1523

| Så var det beskikket

| {{small|SIC ERAT IN FATIS}}

| Thus it was ordained

Frederick I

| 1523–1533

| Intet uden Gud

| {{small|NIHIL SINE NUMINE}}

| Nothing without God

Christian III

| 1536–1559

| Ske Herrens vilje

| {{small|SPES MEA SOLUS DEUS}}

Zu Gott mein Trost allein {{in lang|de}}

| The Lord's will be done

Frederick II

| 1559–1588

| Mit håb er Gud alene

| {{small|DEUS REFUGIU ET FIDUSIA MEA}}

Mein Hofnung zu Godt allein {{in lang|de}}

| My hope is God alone

Christian IV

| 1588–1648

| Fromhed styrker rigerne

| {{small|REGNA FIRMAT PIETAS}}

| Piety strengthens the realms[http://www.frederiksborg-slotskirke.dk/index.php?id=8036 Frederiksborg Palace Church - History] {{in lang|da}}

Frederick III

| 1648–1670

| Herren være mit forsyn

| {{small|DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT}}

| The Lord will be my guide

Christian V

| 1670–1699

| Med fromhed og retfærdighed

| {{small|PIETATE ET IUSTITIA}}

| With piety and justice

Frederick IV

| 1699–1730

| Herren være min hjælper

| {{small|DOMINUS MIHI ADIUTOR}}

| The Lord be my helper

Christian VI

| 1730–1746

| For Gud og folket

| {{small|DEO ET POPULO}}

| For God and the people

Frederick V

| 1746–1766

| Med klogskab og standhaftighed

| {{small|PRUDENTIA ET CONSTANTIA}}

| By prudence and steadfastness

Christian VII

| 1766–1808

| Fædrelandets kærlighed
er min berømmelse

| {{small|GLORIA EX AMORE PATRIÆ}}

| The love of the
fatherland is my reward

Frederick VI

| 1808–1839

| Gud og den retfærdige sag

| {{small|DEO ET JUSTAE CAUSAE}}

| God and the just cause

Since 1839

Since the time of Christian VIII, Danish monarchs have only used mottos in the Danish language.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Monarch ! Reign ! Royal motto (in Danish) ! English translation
Christian VIII \| 1839–1848 \| Gud og fædrelandet \| God and the fatherland
Frederick VII \| 1848–1863 \| Folkets kærlighed, min styrke \| The people's love, my strength
Christian IX \| 1863–1906 \| Med Gud for ære og ret \| With God for honour and justice
Frederick VIII \| 1906–1912 \| Herren er min hjælper \| The Lord is my helper
Christian X \| 1912–1947 \| Min Gud, mit land, min ære \| My God, my country, my honour
Frederick IX \| 1947–1972 \| Med Gud for Danmark \| With God for Denmark
Margrethe II \| 1972–2024 \| Guds hjælp, folkets kærlighed, Danmarks styrke \| God's help, the people's love, Denmark's strength
Frederik X \| {{nowrap\|2024–present}} \| Forbundne, forpligtet, for Kongeriget Danmark \| United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

Monarch

! Reign

! Royal motto (in Danish)

! English translation

Christian VIII

| 1839–1848

| Gud og fædrelandet

| God and the fatherland

Frederick VII

| 1848–1863

| Folkets kærlighed, min styrke