# Why is the Purple Heart purple?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-purple-heart-purple/491741
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [April 2, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-purple-heart-purple/491741 "2009-04-02T18:44:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2009, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-purple-heart-purple/491741/1 "2009-04-02T18:44:54Z")
I looked it up in a couple of places and what I found was that it was because purple was the “color of courage.” Where does this come from? Also, the idea of the Purple Heart being purple because it was the color of courage seems a bit, well, bogus. I would think there would be a better reason.
---
### Author:  [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-purple-heart-purple/491741/2 "2009-04-02T19:30:16Z")
The Purple Heart is a purple heart because George Washington designed it that way - the only award designated by the Continental Army, and granted (so far as is known) only three times.
> [@](#):
>
> “The General ever desirous to cherish a virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military Merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward”.
[Link.](http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/PH1.html)
It was revived shortly before WWII and soon became an award granted solely for battlefield injury and death.
---
### Author:  [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-purple-heart-purple/491741/3 "2009-04-02T20:47:55Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#):
>
> The Purple Heart is a purple heart because George Washington designed it that way
. I understand that, but why purple? Is there nothing that tells us why Washington chose that color?
---
### Author:  [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-the-purple-heart-purple/491741/4 "2009-04-02T20:54:40Z")
Purple’s a color with a [long history](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple#Historical_development_of_purple)of association with nobility, and by extension, with the virtues of royalty thereof. This is because for a long time, it was very difficult to make dyes that rendered anything like the purples that we’re familiar with today. THe link goes to the Wiki article which discusses this, although I’m already familiar with the search for Tyrian purple from reading elsewhere (which is fascinating in and of itself).
Due to this rarity, several civilizations such as the Romans, I believe, had sumptuary laws as did Europeans in the Middle Ages, which decreed that only certain classes could wear purple clothes.
So it isn’t too surprising to me that G.W. would have selected a royal color to use in the Purple Heart design.