Legend behind uprising, but no leader (5)

I believe the answer is:

motto

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'legend' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for motto that I've seen before include "(Family) maxim" , "Adage (found in a cracker?)" , "cry" , "Words often found on coat of arms" , "Short sentence adopted as rule of conduct" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.

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