I often have the Latin phrase si vis pacem, para bellum as an away message and today someone inquired as to it's meaning. The phrase is believed to have been coined in the year 390 AD by the Roman military strategist Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus. Translated into English the phrase has the following meanings:
- Who desires peace should prepare for war.
- If you wish for peace, prepare for war.
- If you want peace, prepare for war.
- If you seek peace, prepare for war.
- In time of peace prepare for war.
In 1898 Georg Luger created the pistole parabellum, or the German Luger. In 1902 Luger built an adaptation of the original Luger in 9mm at the request of the German Navy. Today 9mm goes by many names; 9mm, 9mm parabellum, 9mm Luger parabellum, 9x19, 9x19 parabellum and after being adapted by NATO it also became known as 9mm NATO. 104 years later 9mm is one of the most common handgun calibers in use.
Si vis pacem, para bellum.