The law of primogeniture is a great example of just how destructive and alien the Norman conquest was. Holding of land in Kent by gavelkind, rather than the feudal-Norman laws of primogeniture, lasted until the 20th Century standardisation laws. Its origin has also been said to have been because Dover was not besieged or defeated on William’s march through Kent, but instead agreed to a conditional surrender to him, on its own terms, and was therefore not conquered by him. Their request was granted and from that day the motto of Kent has been INVICTA meaning Unconquered. They offered peace if he would grant their ancient rights and liberties otherwise war and that most deadly. Near this spot by ancient tradition the men of Kent and Kentish men carrying boughs on their shoulders and swords in their hands met the invader William Duke of Normandy. It is now located in the church yard of Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Church in Swanscombe. The monument was moved in the early 1960s due to the construction of the A2 dual carriageway. Kent Invicta monument © Copyright Robin Webster and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons LicenceĪ different version of the legend above is depicted on a monument at Swanscombe in Kent, where legend states this meeting took place on the Old Roman Road to London (Watling Street). As the people of Kent felt that they had chased William away, they adopted “ Invicta” as a county motto. Outnumbered, scared and on enemy territory, William and his army took flight and took a different route to London. While passing through Kent, the local people picked up branches and marched at William’s men. Legend has it that, while marching from the 1066 battle site at Hastings, William marched on to London on his way to the (then) capital Winchester. The Invicta motto for Kent however really goes back to the invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066. Kent was also targeted by various other empires and nations right up to The Battle of Graveney Marsh – The last battle on British soil. fell under the rule of various groups, Kent became settled by the often forgotten Jutes. Kent for a time saw off the Romans and whereas other parts of England and the U.K. The official motto of Kent is Invicta which is a Latin phrase often used in the latter days of the Roman Empire to keep morale up illustrating no matter how bad things were, Rome had never been conquered!Īt first glance, it might not make much sense for the county that comes closest to continental Europe and as such seemingly the natural invasion route but there is something to it and like other corners of England there is a definite strong local identity here. Today Kent is often known as the garden of England with its kind climate and multitude of fruit, beer and wine related industries but for all that, Kent has some steel. My last post on the re-discovery of Eanswythe of Kent ended with a mention of the proud tradition of the county of Kent.
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