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Maryland is the only US state whose flag is a true heraldic banner of arms — a direct descendant of 17th-century English aristocratic heraldry. The Great Seal, first used in the colonial period and restored in 1876 after being set aside during the Revolution, features Lord Baltimore as a knight on horseback on the obverse, and the quartered Calvert and Crossland arms on the reverse, with the Italian motto Fatti Maschii Parole Femine (“Strong deeds, gentle words”). The flag, officially adopted in 1904, quarters the gold-and-black Calvert arms with the red-and-white Crossland cross bottony — a design that first appeared around 1876 and may symbolize the reconciliation of Union and Confederate sympathizers after the Civil War.
| State | Maryland (7th state, ratified Constitution 28 April 1788) |
|---|---|
| State seal | Obverse: Lord Baltimore on horseback. Reverse: Calvert-Crossland arms, farmer, fisherman |
| Seal origins | Colonial seal (1632); set aside post-Revolution; restored 1876 |
| State flag | Quartered heraldic banner: Calvert (gold/black) and Crossland (red/white) |
| Flag adopted | 1904 (design appeared c. 1876) |
| Motto | Fatti Maschii Parole Femine (“Strong deeds, gentle words”) |
| Capital | Annapolis |
| Nickname | The Old Line State |
| State flower | Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) |
| Unique distinction | Only US state flag that is a true heraldic banner of arms |
Great Seal of Maryland — Fatti Maschii Parole Femine — since 1632
Maryland’s seal is unique among US state seals in having two fully distinct sides, both rooted in the heraldry of the Calvert family, the colonial proprietors of Maryland.
The obverse depicts Lord Baltimore as a knight in full armor mounted on a charger, with a drawn sword in hand — a classic equestrian seal in the medieval European tradition.
The reverse shows the quartered Calvert and Crossland arms on a heraldic shield. The 1st and 4th quarters bear the Calvert arms: paly of six Or and Sable, a bend counterchanged (six vertical stripes of gold and black with a diagonal band in reversed colors). The 2nd and 3rd quarters bear the Crossland arms: quarterly Argent and Gules, a cross bottony counterchanged (red and white quarters with a cross whose arms end in trefoils). A farmer with a spade and a fisherman with a fish serve as supporters. The date 1632 and the motto Fatti Maschii Parole Femine appear below.
George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore (1579–1632), received the Maryland charter from King Charles I. The Crossland arms came through his mother Alicia Crossland. His son Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, established the colony and quartered both families’ arms.
After the American Revolution, the heraldry of a British proprietary dynasty was politically uncomfortable for a new republic. Maryland’s colonial seal was set aside. In 1876, the General Assembly voted to readopt the colonial design, restoring the Calvert heraldry in full.
Fatti Maschii Parole Femine is archaic Italian, literally “Deeds are males, words are females.” Maryland’s official translation is “Strong deeds, gentle words.”
Flag of Maryland — Calvert-Crossland heraldic banner, adopted 1904
The Maryland flag is the only US state flag that is a true heraldic banner of arms — the personal banner of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, translated directly into a flag.
The flag is quartered. The 1st and 4th quarters display the Calvert arms: six vertical stripes of gold and black with a diagonal band in reversed colors. The 2nd and 3rd quarters display the Crossland arms: red and white quarters charged with a cross bottony (a Greek cross whose arms end in trefoils) in counterchanged colors.
During the Civil War, the two heraldic designs took on distinct political meanings. Union supporters favored the gold-and-black Calvert arms, while Confederate sympathizers adopted the red-and-white Crossland cross bottony. The combined flag, which first appeared around 1876, may represent the post-war reconciliation of all Marylanders — eleven years after the war ended.
Neither the designer nor the exact date of origin of the combined flag is certain, but a banner in this form was known by at least October 1880. It was officially adopted by the Maryland General Assembly in 1904.
The seal has two sides. The obverse shows Lord Baltimore as a knight on horseback. The reverse shows the quartered Calvert and Crossland arms with a farmer and fisherman, the date 1632, and the motto Fatti Maschii Parole Femine. Colonial seal restored 1876.
The flag is the heraldic banner of the Calvert family. The 1st/4th quarters show the Calvert arms (gold and black), and the 2nd/3rd quarters show the Crossland arms (red and white cross bottony), inherited through Alicia Crossland, George Calvert’s mother.
It is archaic Italian meaning “Strong deeds, gentle words” (literally “Deeds are males, words are females”). It has been the Calvert family motto since the colonial period.
Officially adopted in 1904, but the combined Calvert-Crossland design first appeared c. 1876. During the Civil War, the gold-and-black half represented Union supporters and the red-and-white half Confederate sympathizers. The combined flag may symbolize post-war reconciliation.
Yes — it is the personal heraldic banner of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Maryland’s flag is the only US state flag that is a true banner of arms in the European heraldic tradition.
Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on 2026-06-27.