What do the arms and the flag of France

Every self-respecting state has 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 Clovis was 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 coat of arms in every way, adding to it their own 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 succeeded 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 these days

The current coat of arms of France is the ninth in its history. It was adopted in 1953, but so far its official status has not been confirmed. Perhaps the French are already tired of developing and changing their coat of arms indefinitely? One way or another, but one of the most common variants is a pelte, in which the head of a lion is depicted on one side and the eagle on the other. In the center of this curl, monogram "RF" flaunts, which means "Republic of France". Peltu can see the branches of oak and olive trees, symbolizing wisdom, fortitude and peace. In the middle of the intricate design, canes (fascia) and ax are visible, which embody justice. But can an ax symbolize justice in a country that abolished the death penalty? The flag of France is more in line with the ideological values of the Republic.

Golden toads and oriflamme Saint-Denis

The first king, Clovis I everywhere, drove a white cloth for campaigns, on which were three golden toads. When he converted to Christianity, it was decided to change the oriflammum. The king chose another "liveried" color - deep blue. It also appeared lily flowers, replacing amphibians. For centuries, the flag of France has changed many times. There were centuries when the banner was red, lavishly decorated with red-yellow-blue roses. Sometimes the banner was a copy of the coat of arms, printed on matter - golden royal lilies on a blue background. And sometimes the royal army went into battle on the enemy with white oriflamme, on which was written "Most Holy Mary" and "Jesus Christ".

The modern flag of France

Unlike the coat of arms, this national symbol has an official status. It was formed during the period of the French Revolution. Patriotically adjusted Parisians then wore on the cockades of the colors of their city - blue and red ribbons. After the victory, a white band was added to them, as a sign of reconciliation. In 1814, the banner was decided to be changed to oriflamme milky. 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 how does the flag of France look like? Photo allows us to see it in full detail. This is a rectangular panel divided by equal vertical widths. The one at the shaft, blue in color, in the middle white, and at the free edge - red.

What do the colors of the flag of France mean?

The combination of blue, red and white - not uncommon in heraldry. Exactly the same color set is on the flag of the Russian Federation, on the banner of the Netherlands, and on the banner of Luxembourg. What is so different about the "French tricolor" (Le drapeau tricolore) from others? In the Republic, both the number of bands and their colors are of great importance. The figure "three" symbolizes the three fundamental principles on which the French society strives to live: freedom, equality and brotherhood. The blue color refers us to the myth of Martin Turski. This saint cut off half of his cloak to give to the beggar. Martin replaced Saint-Denis and began to be considered the patron of France. White is associated with the "Orleans Virgin" Jeanne d'Arc, a national heroine. Red is traditionally a sign of blood shed by the people for freedom from invaders. This is the symbolic meaning of these colors of the national flag.