The Cadillac Crest

DETROIT - The Cadillac Crest, one of the most prominent symbols in the automotive industry, is derived from the coat of arms of Le Sieur Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, who founded the City of Detroit in 1701. In adopting the Cadillac name in 1902, the fledgling auto company hoped to bring to the automotive industry the courage, enterprise and ability that the French explorer displayed.

First used on Cadillac cars in 1905 and registered as a trademark the following year, the coat of arms symbolizes pioneering and leadership in the automotive industry.

The coat of arms is divided into two parts, a coat and shield.

The couronne, or Coronet, symbolizes the six ancient courts of France. The pearls, which have varied in number on both the family and automotive crests, signify that the family is descended from the royal counts of Toulouse.

The shield denotes the courageous origins of a noble family, being taken from the shape of shields used by the crusaders. It is composed of four quarters.

The first and fourth quarterings display the arms of the Mothe family. The birds, called "merlettes," are adaptations of the martin, but without legs or beaks.

According to the ancient historian Guillame, the merlettes were "given for a difference, to younger brothers to put them in mind that in order to raise themselves they are to look to the wings of virtue and merit, and not to the legs, having but little land to set their feet on."

When appearing as a trio, the merlettes are a reference to the Holy Trinity. They were usually awarded by the ancient School of Heralds to knights who made significant contributions during the crusades.

The color scheme - black against gold - denotes wisdom and riches. The "fess," or lateral bar, also was an award for valiant conduct during the Crusades, and symbolized that the holder always would be ready to stand up for the public welfare.

The second and third quarterings are believed to have been added to the Mothe coat of arms after a favorable marriage which increased the family's estates. The colors indicate "prowess and boldness in action" (red), "purity, charity, virtue and plenty" (silver) and knightly valor (blue). The repetition of the cross bar or "fess" indicates more knightly valor during the Crusades.