City of Hartford Conn.

City of Hartford

City of Oxford

The coat of arms of Oxford shows an ox fording

the River Thames.

It has bearers that

represent two members of the court of Elizabeth

I who spent a week at Christ Church in 1566,

namely:

• Left: a black elephant representing Sir Francis Knollys, High Steward of the City, Lord Lieutenant, and MP for the County
• Right: a green beaver representing Henry Norreys of Rycote, Captain of the City Militia and MP for the County

The leopard on top, which is dotted with blue fleurs de lys, was a unique crest granted to

the city by Queen Elizabeth I. It wears the royal crown and holds the Tudor Rose in its

paws.

The Latin motto "Fortis est Veritas" means "The truth is

strong".

Archdiocese of Hartford

The arms of the Archdiocese of Hartford are called canting arms or armes parlantes, which speak or proclaim the name of the bearer. It displays a hart (deer) crossing a ford (hart+ford = Hartford), and is analogue to the ancient arms of the City of Oxford in England which displays an ox crossing a ford in the same manner. The hart bears a Paschal banner, a symbol of Jesus Christ. The wavy silver and blue lines at the base of the shield are the heraldic convention for water and are an allusion to the Connecticut River which flows through the state. These arms were designed by Pierre de Chaignon Larose and have been used since Bishop John J. Nilan's term as seventh Ordinary of the See, 1910-1934.