The flag of the French Republic is a rectangular panel divided into three vertical stripes - blue, white and red (blue at the hoist). This banner owes its appearance to the French Revolution of 1789. Then, during the Parisian uprising, which led to the capture of the Bastille, units of the revolutionary “civil militia” (the future National Guard of Paris) sewed blue and red cockades. The choice of these particular colors is due to their correspondence with the colors of the city of Paris coat of arms, adopted back in 1385. (On the coat of arms of the French capital, a ship is depicted on a red field, and the blue field is dotted with golden lilies, as on the state royal coat of arms). King Louis XVI agreed to satisfy all the demands of the rebels and on July 17, 1789, visited the Paris City Hall, where the new mayor of Paris presented the monarch with a blue and red cockade, with white added to it (the color of the royal banner of France). From now on, the combination of blue, white and red colors was supposed to symbolize the unity of the French king and the people. However, after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1791, the tricolor banner was retained. It was officially introduced in 1794.

The banner remained the state banner even after General Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor in 1804. This flag was abolished only a decade later, when, in connection with the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, the white royal banner was restored.

But in 1830, after the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, King Louis Philippe I again approved the blue-white-red flag as the state flag. And since then, this flag has been recognized by all subsequent French regimes.

Paradoxically, France, a country with a rich heraldic tradition, does not have its own coat of arms today. The French abandoned it after each successive overthrow of the monarchy. Instead of the coat of arms in present-day France, the state emblem, approved in 1953, is used. It is a blue oval shield depicting a golden lictor's tuft against a background of golden oak and olive branches, intertwined with a ribbon with the motto: "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite" ("Liberty, Equality and Fraternity"). The shield is surrounded by a chain of the Legion of Honor. The lictor's bundle (a bundle of rods with an ax stuck into it) first appeared as an emblem during the French Revolution of 1789. Such bundles (Latin "fascio") were an indispensable attribute of special officials in Ancient Rome- lictors (rods and an ax were used to punish criminals), and later became a symbol state power. Since the French revolutionaries believed that they were creating their own republic on the model of the Roman one, they used the fasces as an emblem.

The famous motto “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity” also dates back to the revolution. Oak and olive branches are symbols of dignity and glory. The blue and gold colors correspond to the historical royal coat of arms of France (the blue shield has golden lilies). The same coloring was preserved in the coat of arms of the Napoleonic Empire (a golden eagle on a blue shield). In this way, the continuity of historical tradition is always emphasized. Order of the Legion of Honor - highest award France. It was approved by Napoleon I in 1802 and has not been repealed since then, either during the restored royal power or during the subsequent republics. The modern emblem depicts, of course, precisely the republican version of the order of 1871. The monogram "RF" on the order chain means "Republic of France". On the order itself there is the inscription “French Republic” and the date “1870” (the year when the republican system was finally established). And instead of the profile of Emperor Napoleon, the profile of Marianne is depicted in the center of the order - a symbolic female image personifying France, which also first appeared during the French Revolution of 1789.

The flag and coat of arms of France, along with the national anthem, are considered the main national symbols of the state. These signs have deep historical roots and have undergone various transformations more than once. Let's take a closer look at them.

French flag

After the adoption of Christianity under Clovis, the first flag of the country became a blue banner. It had a purely religious significance and was established in 496.

The blue banner was the sacred sign of the patron saint of France, Saint Martin..

In 800, Charlemagne came to power. He changed the color of the flag to red. Under the red sign, French troops managed to conquer many lands.

Louis the Sixth in the 12th century again changed the color of the flag to blue, and also added the emblem of golden lilies to it.

In 1789, Lafayette (an active figure in the revolution) came up with a tricolor banner for France. The colors stood for freedom, universal equality and brotherhood. So the flag began to be painted with blue, white and red vertical stripes.

In addition, the Parisian fighters for the revolution had red and blue cockades in their costume. The tricolor canvas was officially approved as a national symbol in 1794. The naval flag of France has the same shades as the state symbol.

History of the French coat of arms

Before the final version was adopted, the coat of arms of France was changed almost eight times. Latest version was approved in 1953. The two letters on the modern coat of arms stand for "Republic of France" (RF).

Branches olive tree on the main symbol of the state are interpreted as peace. The oak pattern can be described as longevity. The base of the coat of arms is decorated with Roman fasces, signifying justice.

In the 5th century, King Clovis' personal banner featured three toads. Later, with the adoption of Christianity by the country, heraldic lilies served as the coat of arms. Lilies denoted the patronage of the Virgin Mary and were also the emblem of the Capetian dynasty.

During the Hundred Years' War, the French had a hard time. They often lost to the British until the famous Joan of Arc joined their ranks. Then the coat of arms of France changed again. The lilies, as before, remained on one side, and on the other side Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, God and two angels were depicted.

The French Revolution also contributed to the change in the symbolism of the monarchy to other signs. This is how an eagle and a blue disc appeared on the French coat of arms. The proud bird held bundles of lightning in its paws.

Bees were also added to the coat of arms, which were reputed to be Napoleon’s personal emblem. In 1832, the country's emblem was changed to a design of a Gallic rooster.

Today, France does not have a personal coat of arms. This choice in favor of abandoning it was made because the French consider the coat of arms to be a relic of the past..

The coat of arms, which was adopted in 1953, has no legal force or official status. The French make another emblem that is much more important than this sign.

Marianne is rightfully considered a national treasure and synonymous with France. This sign is a drawing of a young woman wearing a Phrygian headdress.

Such a symbol directly represents equality and fraternity, as well as the freedom of the French people. The figurine of Marianna is a mandatory attribute of all courts, as well as government bodies.

The profile of this beautiful maiden is on state seal countries. The image of the symbol is minted on French coins. After all, Marianna is loved and significant for all citizens of the state.

The Phrygian cap placed on the woman's head dates back to Roman history. Back then, such a cap was worn by freed slaves. Therefore, the cap was chosen as a symbol of freedom.

In 1970, the image of Marianne ceased to be collective. Since that time, the following people have become living prototypes of women:

• Bardo;
• Morgan;
• Mathieu;
• Deneuve;
• La Fressange;
• Caste;
• Tom;
• Marceau.

Actresses, singers and models were chosen as prototypes for their beauty, as well as for their contributions to cultural heritage France.

The French flag and coat of arms went through a lot before they received the approval of their contemporaries. It is difficult to imagine a country whose symbolism would change as often and rapidly as it did in France. Today, the French have decided on the main signs of the state, and hope that they will bring stability to their native territories.

Every country has a national treasure that passes from generation to generation. These riches arise from historical events and legends. France is very rich in its national heritage, which has become a property not only within one country, but throughout the world. Who among us has not heard about the Gallic rooster, the Marseillaise, the slogan “Freedom. Equality. Brotherhood"! In order to better understand the mentality of a country, you need to learn more about its symbols.

French flag

Today the flag of France is a tricolor, stripes that are directed vertically. The color on the left is blue, the color on the right is red, and in the middle is white. What do these colors mean? White color- This is a symbolic reminder of the monarchy. Since 1590, the flag of France has been monotonously white. Later, lilies were embroidered on white in honor of kings. As a result of the French Revolution, the white flag of the flag changed to three colors. Red symbolized the fiery hearts of the country's patriots, and blue symbolized St. Martinius of Tours. Some people associate white with Joan of Arc.

Anthem "La Marseillaise"

On July 14, 1794, the Marseillaise was approved as the national anthem of France. The song was written in Strasbourg during the revolution in the country. She quickly gained popularity, capturing Marseille (hence the name of the song), and then Paris. At the end of the 19th century, a revolutionary song adapted from the Marseillaise was performed by workers in Russia (“worker’s Marseillaise”). Today it is the most recognizable anthem in the world.

"Gallic Rooster"

Back in the 15th century, the Gallic rooster was chosen as the emblem of France. But the symbol has been known for a long time. The Romans called the local residents Gauls, which meant “rooster”, actually “Gaul”, because of their arrogance and cocky character. This symbol is today applied to the presidential seal and can also be found on the fence of the Champs Elysees.

Fleur-de-lis

Translated it means “lily flower”. According to various legends, this emblem of the country was chosen by the leader of the Franks, Clovis I. The emblem represents three crossed lilies: mercy, justice, compassion. Royal scepters were made in the shape of three lilies, with Louis XIV lilies were applied to coins. For five centuries the English used fleurs-de-lis on their coats of arms to show their views on the throne of France. Fleur-de-lis is also interpreted as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. This sign is the symbol of Florence (“city of lilies”) in Italy.

Cross of Lorraine

The Cross of Lorraine (named after Lorraine, a region in France) is the shape of a cross with two crossbars. It was first used in France in the House of Anjou. In addition to the French, the Hungarians used the cross of Lorraine, applying it to coats of arms and coins. During World War II, the Cross of Lorraine was a symbol of the liberation of France and the struggle led by

First of all, we will inform you amazing fact- modern France does not have a coat of arms! But this does not mean that it does not have an alternative heraldic symbol - the last is the emblem of the Fifth Republic, which was adopted in the last century. And in this article we want to talk about the meaning and history of all the coats of arms of France. Let's start with today's logo.

Modern coat of arms of France

The most famous official symbol of this beautiful country is its flag, consisting of three vertical stripes (from the flagpole) - blue, white and red. But the emblem (coat of arms) of France, which is shown in the photo, is not so popular and widespread.

Like any heraldic symbol, all its elements are not random - each of them has its own meaning and message. The sign was adopted back in 1953, but has not yet acquired official status. It can most often be seen on title pages official documents, covers of French passports.

Description of the coat of arms of France

The image on the French state emblem can easily be divided into several elements:

• Oak and olive branches.
• A shield in the form of a semicircle, crescent - the so-called pelta.
• Bunches of tied twigs are fasces, symbols of power and justice.

The meaning of the heraldic symbol

Now let's move on to the meaning of the coat of arms of France:

• Oak branches and leaves historically personified the wisdom of the ruler of the state.
• Olive branches are symbols of peace. They mean that France strives for good neighborly relations and the absence of conflicts with other states.
• Pelta here acts as a constant readiness to protect native land from enemies - internal and external.
• The lion and eagle in the pelta image are some of the iconic representatives of the fauna. These animals have always personified strength, strong power, power, combined with wisdom and foresight. It must be said that the eagle and lion are the most common elements of European and world coats of arms in general.
• On the shield of the coat of arms of France there is also a noticeable monogram - the letters F and R. It is not difficult to guess that they mean the phrase French Republic.

The creators of the emblem deliberately refused to use traditional symbols of French power - lilies - in the image. This is due to the fact that the state moved from royal rule to a more advanced form - a republic.

And now it’s time to delve into the history of the coat of arms of France - fortunately, it is very diverse and interesting.

First French characters

The very first pages of French history speak about heraldic symbolism. It is known that on the snow-white banner of Clovis (founder Frankish state) three toads were drawn.

The story was then presented like this:

1. In 496 Clovis converted to Christianity. The cloth was changed to blue - the symbol of St. Martin. The Bishop of Tours (later called Saint Martin), according to legend, cut off half of his blue cloak with a sword and gave the cloth to a beggar he met on the road. The Franks used as their banner a blue banner, which was attached to the pole with a red cord.
2. In 800, Charlemagne proclaimed the Frankish Empire. Its symbol was a red three-tailed banner with six roses - yellow, red and blue. However, then the Franks returned to their previous line.
3. IN beginning of XII century, the blue banner was supplemented with many golden fleur-de-lis. In the next century, an azure-colored shield with such an image appeared. It became the first coat of arms of France.

Medieval history

Until 1328, the royal French coat of arms featured fleur-de-lis. Why this particular flower? Essentially, the fleur-de-lis was a stylistically depicted yellow iris. In the Middle Ages, the flower was a symbol of the Blessed Virgin. It also became the emblem of the French royal family of the Capetians. By the end of the 14th century, only three flowers could be seen on a blue background - perhaps the number spoke of a connection with the Holy Trinity.

And then the Hundred Years' War began. The French with their blue and gold symbol suffered more than one significant defeat - the battle of Poitiers (1356), at Agincourt (1415). The result of the failures was the seizure of a significant part of French territory by the British.

Only the peasant armed movement led by Joan of Arc managed to achieve a turning point. The patriots had their own banner - a white banner with the French coat of arms of the lilies on one side and with God, two angels, the signatures “Christ” and “Mary” on the other.

Distinctive color liberation movement became white - a symbol of purity and purity, holiness and the Virgin Mary. He showed up and signed french war for freedom. But, as soon as the war was over, the blue cloth with three golden flowers was returned again.

However, in 1498, when the Orleans family came to power, white again became the state color. It was he who was the symbol of this dynasty.

Bourbon France

By 1598, the Bourbons took the throne:

• Under the founder of the dynasty, Henry of Navarre, one half of the coat of arms remained traditional with lilies, the second was supplemented with a red shield with a chain. The emblem was also “crowned”.
• Then the Navarre part disappeared. The crowned blue shield began to be surrounded by chains of the Orders of the Holy Spirit and St. Michael. In the image, he was supported by two angels.

Emblems of the New Age

The ancient coats of arms of France were forgotten during the revolution (1789):

• The national French symbol was the golden eagle, which held bundles of lightning in its paws. He was depicted on a blue shield, which was framed by the chains of the Legion of Honor. The image was drawn against the background of crossed scripters and a mantle with a crown dotted with bees - Napoleon's personal sign.
• After the restoration of the monarchy in 1814, the previous royal coat of arms was returned, but with a number of changes - the shield holders were removed, and the shield itself became oval.
• In 1830, for one year, the coat of arms of the Orleans dynasty became the national sign.
• Symbol of the French Republic from 1848 to 1852. turned out to be a Gallic rooster - a carved figurine that adorned the flagstaff. And, of course, red revolutionary flags.
• With the coming to power of Napoleon II, the already slightly forgotten Napoleonic coat of arms with an eagle was returned.
• In 1870, a new emblem of the French Republic appeared - a gold monogram of initial letters on a blue background, surrounded by a gold laurel wreath, national flags, the Legion of Honor, oak and olive branches, and an announcer's bun.

History of the last century

In the 20s of the 20th century, the French coat of arms was again modified - the monogram began to be depicted on the shield in the colors of the French flag, the branches of oak and olive, as well as the announcer's bun, remained the same.

During World War II in France, Hitler's protege Marshal Pétain formed a puppet state with its “capital” in Vichy. Its emblem is a double-edged ax with a marshal's baton at the base.

And the patriots, participants in the Free French movement led by General de Gaulle, used their symbol. It became a tricolor French flag with a red Lorraine cross placed in the middle.

In 1953, the modified coat of arms of the 1929 model was approved as the country’s emblem - we have already given its description and meaning at the beginning of the article.

Thus, the symbol modern France the coat of arms does not appear. Somewhere it is replaced by a stylized emblem. The roots of this go back to history - every change of power to monarchical in the country was associated with a new coat of arms. Therefore, the people, who honor republican freedoms, consciously renounced a symbol that would testify to the past.

The symbols of modern France are a complex of several emblems that are related to the republican tradition in the country. Some have official status, others are not officially recognized, but are widespread and known to all French people. Residents of France today do not recognize the old symbols associated with the monarchical system of government. Many European countries left their emblems as a symbol of continuity, but in France they are forgotten. Although the old coat of arms with lilies is a symbol French kings- is still used in heraldry and refers to this country.

The main emblems of the country are the national flag, the national anthem “Marseillaise”, Marianne, the Gallic rooster, the motto “Liberty, equality, fraternity”, Bastille Day and the unofficial emblem symbol in the form of a shield with branches.

French flag consists of three stripes of blue (at the shaft), white and red (the free edge of the panel). The blue banner has been frequently used in France since the time of the first king, and is associated with the shade of the cloak of the country's patron saint, Martin of Tours. White was used in some of the banners of kings and navies and symbolizes the divine order in France. The red hue was chosen in honor of St. Dionysius during the reign of Hugh Capet. During the French Revolution, soldiers wore red and blue cockades, and after the storming of the Bastille, new versions of tricolor cockades with white in the middle appeared.
In 1790, the first flag for the French Republic was adopted, three vertical stripes surrounded by a border of red and blue colors. Modern look The flag was acquired in 1894, at which time it was proclaimed the national emblem. For a long time, the stripes were unequal on the flag, until Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the creation of flags with stripes of the same width. In this case, the length of the flag should be 2/3 of the width.

French national anthem- "La Marseillaise", the former anthem of the revolutionaries. It was written by Claude de Lisle in 1792 under the title "Military March of the Army of the Rhine". This song was performed by the Marseille battalion at the entrance to Paris, after which the march was called “La Marseillaise,” that is, the “Marseille” song.

Another famous symbol of France - Marianne. This is a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap - the headdress of freed slaves in the Roman Empire. Marianne personifies freedom, her sculptural images used in government organizations and authorities, and the profile can be seen on postage stamps and eurocents minted in France. This symbol fell into disgrace and was banned during the Second Empire, then it was revived again and became a common emblem and even a nickname for France. Since the 60s, Marianne is not a collective image, but a prototype of a certain woman, one of the most beautiful and famous Frenchwomen. So, in 2012, Sophie Marceau was chosen for the role of Marianne; before that, it was Matrine Deneuve, Laetitia Casta, Brigitte Bardot and other actresses, singers, and models.

Gallic rooster- a symbol of France completely different from Marianne, but of no less importance. The Gauls were the name given to the Celtic tribes that lived on the territory of modern France. In addition, this Latin word meant “rooster”, there is an assumption that the Romans called the Celts this way because of their red hair. During the French Revolution, the rooster began to be depicted on coins as a symbol of vigilance, and the French, who associated themselves with the Gauls, gave it the nickname “Gallic rooster.” Since then, it has become a national emblem; the image of a rooster has been used on banners, coins, and weapon handles.

Motto of France known throughout the world, this is the phrase “Liberty, equality, fraternity”, to which in earlier times was added “or death!” The date can also be considered a symbol of the country. July 14 is a national holiday in honor of the storming of the Bastille during the French Revolution. This is a symbol of the overthrow of the absolute monarchy. On Bastille Day, holiday sales, concerts, and parades are held throughout the country.

France does not have its own coat of arms, since such a symbol is considered monarchical. However, the country has an unofficial emblem that is often used to mark French consulates and other occasions. This is an image of a light shield in the shape of a crescent with olive and oak branches, symbolizing wisdom and peace, and fasces - bundles of connected rods that are symbols of national unity and protection of statehood.