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Flag of France

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France
Tricolore
UseNational flag, civil and state ensign
Proportion2:3
Adopted15 February 1794
DesignA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red.
UseNaval ensign
Proportion2:3
Adopted17 May 1853
DesignAs above, but with bars in proportion 30:33:37. (See French ensigns.)

The national flag of France (known in French as drapeau tricolore, drapeau français, and in military parlance, les couleurs) is a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured royal blue (hoist side), white, and red. It is known to English speakers as the French Tricolour or simply the Tricolour.

The royal government used many flags, the best known being a blue shield and yellow fleur-de-lis on a white background, or state flag. Early in the French Revolution, the Paris militia, which played a prominent role in the storming of the Bastille, wore a cockade of blue and red, the city's traditional colours. According to Lafayette, white, the "ancient French colour", was added to the militia cockade to create a tricolour, or national, cockade.[1] This cockade became part of the uniform of the National Guard, which succeeded the militia and was commanded by Lafayette. The colours and design of the cockade are the basis of the Tricolour flag, adopted in 1790. A modified design by Jacques-Louis David was adopted in 1794. A solid white flag was used during the Bourbon restoration in 1815–30, but the tricolour has been used since.

Design

The colours adopted by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, which replaced a darker version of the flag.

Scheme Blue White Red
Pantone[2] Reflex Blue Safe Red 032
CMYK 100.70.0.5 0.0.0.0 0.90.86.0
RGB[2] (0,85,164) (255,255,255) (250,60,50)
HTML[2] #0055A4 #FFFFFF #EF4135
NCS S 2565 R80B N/A S 0580 Y80R

Currently, the flag is 50 percent wider than its height (i.e. in the proportion 2:3) and, except in the French navy, has stripes of equal width. Initially, the three stripes of the flag were not equally wide, being in the proportions 30 (blue), 33 (white) and 37 (red). Under Napoleon I, the proportions were changed to make the stripes' width equal, but by a regulation dated 17 May 1853, the navy went back to using the 30:33:37 proportions, which it continues to use, as the flapping of the flag makes portions farther from the halyard seem smaller.

Symbolism

Flag of France

Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, used on the city's coat of arms. Blue is identified with Saint Martin, red with Saint Denis. At the storming of the Bastille in 1789, the Paris militia wore blue and red cockades on their hats. White had long featured prominently on French flags and is described as the "ancient French colour" by Lafayette.[1] White was added to the "revolutionary" colors of the militia cockade to "nationalise" the design, thus creating the tricolour cockade.[1] Although Lafayette identified the white stripe with the nation, other accounts identify it with the monarchy.[3] Lafayette denied that the flag contains any reference to the red-and-white livery of the Duc d'Orléans. However, this myth did allow Orléanists to adopt the tricolour as their own.

Blue and red are associated with the Virgin Mary the patron saint of France, and were the colours of Charlemagne's ensign and war cry, "Montjoie". The colours of the French flag may also represent the three main estates of the Ancien Régime (the clergy: white, the nobility: red and the bourgeoisie: blue). Blue, as the symbol of class, comes first and red, representing the nobility, comes last. Both extreme colours are situated on each side of white referring to a superior order.[4]

Lafayette's tricolour cockade was adopted in July 1789, a moment of national unity that soon faded. Royalists began wearing white cockades and flying white flags, while the Jacobins, and later the Socialists, flew the red flag. The tricolour, which combines royalist white with republican red, came to be seen as a symbol of moderation and of a nationalism that transcended factionalism.

History

Middle ages

A tricolour band surrounds this 14th century image of the King of France

During the early Middle Ages, the oriflamme, the flag of Saint Denis, was used—red, with two, three, or five spikes. Originally, it was the personal flag of Charlemagne, given to him by the Pope in the ninth century. Over time, it became the royal banner under the Carolingians and the Capetians. It was stored in Saint-Denis abbey, where it was taken when war broke out. French kings went forth into battle preceded either by Saint Martin's red cape, which was supposed to protect the monarch, or by the red banner of Saint Denis.

Later during the Middle Ages, these colours came to be associated with the reigning house of France. In 1328, the coat-of-arms of the House of Valois was blue with gold fleurs-de-lis bordered in red. From this time on, the kings of France were represented in vignettes and manuscripts wearing a red gown under a blue coat decorated with gold fleurs-de-lis.

During the Hundred Years' War, England was recognised by a red cross, Burgundy, a red saltire, and France, a white cross. This cross could figure either on a blue or a red field. The blue field eventually became the common standard for French armies. The French regiments were later assigned the white cross as standard, with their proper colours in the cantons.

The French flag of a white cross on a blue field is still seen on some flags derived from it, such as those of Quebec and Martinique.

The flag of Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War is described in her own words, "I had a banner of which the field was sprinkled with lilies; the world was painted there, with an angel at each side; it was white of the white cloth called 'boccassin'; there was written above it, I believe, 'JHESUS MARIA'; it was fringed with silk.".[5] Joan's standard led to the prominent use of white on later French flags.[5]

  • The Oriflamme, the banner of Charlemagne. An inspiration for the use of red on French flags
    The Oriflamme, the banner of Charlemagne. An inspiration for the use of red on French flags
  • Joan of Arc's banner led the use of white as a symbol of the French nation.
    Joan of Arc's banner led the use of white as a symbol of the French nation.
  • The flag of medieval France, still used for present-day Île-de-France. Bleu royal was the colour of the king.
    The flag of medieval France, still used for present-day Île-de-France. Bleu royal was the colour of the king.
  • Pre 1792: Flag in presence of the Royal Family, the Bourbon dynasty. After 1815: Flag of France during the Bourbon Restoration[6]
    Pre 1792: Flag in presence of the Royal Family, the Bourbon dynasty.
    After 1815: Flag of France during the Bourbon Restoration[6]
  • The King's Standard, France had no official flag and national identity was loyalty to the King, as in other autocratic monarchies.
    The King's Standard, France had no official flag and national identity was loyalty to the King, as in other autocratic monarchies.
  • Merchant flag of the Kingdom of France
    Merchant flag of the Kingdom of France
  • The flag of New France (1663-1763)
    The flag of New France (1663-1763)
  • A flag used by royalists during the revolution.
    A flag used by royalists during the revolution.

The Tricolore

From the accession of the Bourbons to the throne of France, the green ensign of the navy became a plain white flag, the symbol of purity and royal authority. The merchant navy was assigned "the old flag of the nation of France", the white cross on a blue field.

The tricolour flag is derived from the cockades used during the French Revolution. These were circular rosette-like emblems attached to the hat. Camille Desmoulins asked his followers to wear green cockades on 12 July 1789. The Paris militia, formed on 13 July, adopted a blue and red cockade. Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, and they are used on the city's coat of arms. Cockades with various colour schemes were used during the storming of the Bastille on 14 July.[7] The blue and red cockade was presented to King Louis XVI at the Hôtel de Ville on 17 July.[1] Lafayette argued for the addition of a white stripe to "nationalise" the design.[1] On 27 July, a tricolour cockade was adopted as part of the uniform of the National Guard, the national police force that succeeded the militia.[8]

A drapeau tricolore with vertical red, white and blue stripes was approved by the Constituent Assembly on 24 October 1790. Simplified designs were used to illustrate how the revolution had broken with the past. The order was reversed to blue-white-red, the current design, by a resolution passed on 15 February 1794. Despite its official status, the tricolore was rarely used during the revolution. Instead, the red flag of the Jacobin Club, symbolizing defiance and national emergency, was flown. The tricolore was restored to prominence under Napoleon.

When the Bourbon dynasty was restored following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815, the tricolore—with its revolutionary connotations—was replaced by a white flag, the pre-revolutionary naval flag. However, following the July Revolution of 1830, the "citizen-king", Louis-Philippe, restored the tricolore, and it has remained France's national flag since that time. Following the overthrow of Napoleon III, voters elected a royalist majority to the National Assembly of the new Third Republic. This parliament then offered the throne to the Bourbon pretender, Henri, comte de Chambord. However, he insisted that he would accept the throne only on the condition that the tricolour be replaced by the white flag. As the tricolour had become a cherished national symbol, this demand proved impossible to accommodate. Plans to restore the monarchy were adjourned and ultimately dropped, and France has remained a republic, with the tricolour flag, ever since.

The Vichy régime, which dropped the word "republic" in favour of "the French state", maintained the use of the tricolore but Philippe Pétain used a version of the flag defaced with fasces and stars as his personal standard. This flag is called the "Francisque". During this same period, Free French Forces used a tricolore defaced with a red Cross of Lorraine.

The constitutions of 1946 and 1958 instituted the "blue, white, and red" flag as the national emblem of the Republic.

  • Flag of Paris, source of the tricolour's blue and red stripes.
    Flag of Paris, source of the tricolour's blue and red stripes.
  • The tricolor cockade, created July 1789. White was added to "nationalise" an earlier blue and red design.
    The tricolor cockade, created July 1789. White was added to "nationalise" an earlier blue and red design.
  • The flag of France since 1794 (interruption 1815–30).
    The flag of France since 1794 (interruption 1815–30).
  • The French tricolore with the royal crown and fleur-de-lys was possibly designed by the Count of Chambord in his younger years as a compromise[9][10]
    The French tricolore with the royal crown and fleur-de-lys was possibly designed by the Count of Chambord in his younger years as a compromise[9][10]
  • During the First World War, the French Air Force originated the use of roundels on military aircraft. Similar national cockades, with different ordering of colours, were later adopted as aircraft roundels by their allies.[11]
    During the First World War, the French Air Force originated the use of roundels on military aircraft. Similar national cockades, with different ordering of colours, were later adopted as aircraft roundels by their allies.[11]
  • Flag of Vichy, in particular Marshall Pétain, President of the French State.
    Flag of Vichy, in particular Marshall Pétain, President of the French State.
  • Flag used by the Free French Forces during World War II; in the center is the Cross of Lorraine; later, the personal standard of President Charles de Gaulle.
    Flag used by the Free French Forces during World War II; in the center is the Cross of Lorraine; later, the personal standard of President Charles de Gaulle.

Regimental flags

Colonial Flags

Further information: French colonial flags and French Colonial Empire

Most French colonies either used the regular tri-colour or a regional flag without the French flag. There were some exceptions:

Other

Many provinces and territories in Canada have French speaking communities with flags representing their communities:

Three regions in the United States have substantial French speaking and ancestral communities:

Although part of France, the flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon does not incorporate the current national flag. The island's flag is based on the historic regional emblems of France. This flag lacks official status.

  • Flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
    Flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier Lafayette (marquis de), Memoirs, correspondence and manuscripts of General Lafayette, vol. 2, p. 252.
  2. ^ a b c "Die Symbole der französischen Republik" (in German). Embassy of the French Republic in Germany. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  3. ^ "Le drapeau français" (in French). Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  4. ^ "France, the tricolour banner". Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  5. ^ a b Whitney Smith, Flags through the ages and across the world, McGraw-Hill, England, 1975 ISBN 0-07-059093-1, pp. 66-67, The Standard of Joan of Arc,after quoting her from her trial transcript he states: "it was her influence which determined that white should serve as the principal French national colour from shortly after her death in 1431 until the French Revolution almost 350 years later."
  6. ^ http://www.fotw.net/flags/fr_rest.html
  7. ^ Crowdy, Terry, French Revolutionary Infantry 1789–1802, p. 42 (2004).
  8. ^ Clifford, Dale, "Can the Uniform Make the Citizen? Paris, 1789-1791," Eighteenth-Century Studies, 2001, p. 369.
  9. ^ La France du Renouveau - Bourbon Royalist design.
  10. ^ Whitney Smith. Flags through the ages and cross the world. McGraw-Hill Book Company. 1975. p. 75.
  11. ^ Royal Air Force Museum

Further reading

  • Flags Through the Ages and Across the World, Smith, Whitney, McGraw-Hill Book Co. Ltd, England, 1975. ISBN 0-07-059093-1.
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