Всякое уважающее себя государство имеет officially approved national symbols: flag, emblem and national anthem. France is not an exception to this proud list. But few people know that the current emblem of the country still has no official status. That is, there are different options, but at the gate of the embassies you often will not see a coat of arms. After all, the final model has not been approved by the State Parliament. But the flag and anthem have the official status of national symbols. Why did it happen so? Probably, because the anthem, the coat of arms and the flag of France have their long and intricate history.
Metamorphoses of the arms
The first coat of arms of the French King Cloviswas a blue field, dotted with heraldic golden lilies. This flower was traditionally the symbol of the Virgin Mary, which, as the French monarchs believed, patronized the Merovingian dynasty. The succeeding rulers of the Kapetings and Valois sorted out the emblem in every way, adding to it their heraldic colors, symbols, and lilies. In the middle of the fourteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church imposed on the lands of the kingdom faith in the triune God. Therefore, on the blue field there are only three "fleur de lis" - a flower of a lily. With the ascent to the throne of Henry the Fourth, the coat of arms changed again. Now he was supplemented by two angels. One of them held the old emblem of France, and the other - the coat of arms of the Duchy of Navarre. This symbol of the French monarchy lasted the longest - two hundred years. In 1789 he was replaced by the Napoleonic coat of arms - clutching in the claws of lightning a golden eagle on a blue background. About the same metamorphosis experienced and the flag of France.
The emblem of the country today
The current coat of arms of France is already the ninth in itsstories. It was adopted in 1953, but so far its official status has not been confirmed. Maybe the French are already tired of endlessly developing and changing their coat of arms? One way or another, one of the most common options is a pelta, in which on one side is depicted the head of a lion, and on the other - an eagle. At the center of this curl is the monogram “RF”, which means “Republic of France”. Pelto is withered by the branches of oak and olive, symbolizing wisdom, fortitude and peace. In the middle of an intricate design, canes (fascia) and the ax are seen, which personify justice. But can an ax symbolize justice in a country that has abolished the death penalty? The flag of France is more in tune with the ideological values of the Republic.
Golden toads and oriflamma Saint-Denis
The first king, Clovis I, drove everywherea white cloth on which stood three golden toads. When he adopted Christianity, it was decided to change the oriflamma. The king chose another “livery” color - deep blue. On it also appeared flowers of lilies, replaced amphibians. Over the centuries, the flag of France has changed several times. There were centuries when the banner was red, generously decorated with red-yellow-blue roses. Sometimes a copy of the coat of arms was applied to the material - gold royal lilies on a blue background. And sometimes the royal army went into battle against the enemy with a white oriflamma, on which was written “Most Holy Mary” and “Jesus Christ”.
Modern france flag
Unlike the coat of arms, this national symbolhas official status. It was formed in the period of the French Revolution. The patriotic Parisians then wore the colors of their city on cockades, blue and red ribbons. After the victory, a white stripe was added to them - as a sign of reconciliation. In 1814, it was thought to change the milky-colored oriflamma. But since the white color of the French was associated with the royal family and the monarchy as a whole, after the June Revolution, the country returned its tricolor. So what does the flag of France look like? Photo allows us to see it in detail. This is a rectangular panel, divided by the same width of vertical stripes. The one on the pole is blue, white in the middle, and red at the free edge.
What do the colors of the flag of France mean
The combination of blue, red and white - not uncommonin heraldry. Exactly the same color set is on the flag of the Russian Federation, and on the banner of the Netherlands, and on the flag of Luxembourg. What is the difference between the “French tricolor” (Le drapeau tricolore) and others? In the Republic and the number of stripes, and their colors are of great importance. The figure "three" symbolizes the three basic fundamental principles by which French society strives to live: freedom, equality and fraternity. The blue color refers us to the myth of Martin of Tours. This saint cut off half his cloak to give it to a beggar. Martin replaced Saint-Denis and became the patron saint of France. White is associated with the “Orlean Virgin” by Jeanne d'Arc, a nationwide heroine. Red is traditionally a sign of blood shed by people for their freedom from invaders. This is the symbolic meaning of these colors of the national flag.
