Symbols of France. State symbols. Other symbols of France
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Another famous symbol of the French Republic is Marianne - an allegorical image of the republic itself in the form of a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap. It is the national motto of France known throughout the world: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Marianne's image must be included in all administrative and government institutions countries, as well as on large state and, before the introduction of the euro, on banknotes and coins of the French Republic. The Marianna logo against a tricolor background is used instead of the country's national emblem.
Another symbol of the country has always been the Cross of Lorraine. However, after the advent of the post-religious era, this ancient symbol is found less and less often.
A well-known symbol of France is also the Order of the Legion of Honor, which is accepted only for special military or civilian members of the Fatherland. The ceremony of admitting a new member to the Order is performed personally by the President of the French Republic. The Order is the elite of France.
Other symbols of France
A unique symbol of the country is the so-called Gaalian rooster. The Romans called the Celtic tribes living on the territory of modern France Gauls; the Latin word gallus also means rooster. The Gauls were mostly red-haired, and their hair bristled like cockscombs. During the Revolution, the rooster symbol was reinterpreted as a symbol of revolutionary vigilance, and the image of the bird began to adorn the reverse of twenty penny coins. The French themselves love to be ironic on this topic, saying, who else but a Frenchman would stand in manure, but proudly ruffle his feathers, singing battle songs.Finally, the easily recognizable symbol of France is the Eiffel Tower.
In memory of the centenary of the Great French Revolution, the Parisian authorities asked their chief architect Gustave Eiffel to come up with something unusual and amazing. This is how this tower appeared.Oddly enough, the structure was intended as a temporary arch, and was not demolished only because of the advent of the radio era, when radio antennas were installed on the top of the tower. The Eiffel Tower is the most visited and photographed architectural landmark in the world.
This name makes us smile, but with the French it’s different. By official version this name stuck because the French consider themselves descendants of the Gauls (the same Asterix and Obelix), and in Latin both “Gauls” and “roosters” sound the same - galli.
On the other hand, the national character of the French is best described by the behavior of a rooster. It seems only in France there were such a large number of revolutions. The French themselves, when asked “why a rooster?” Not without irony they answer like this:
– What other animal, standing in the shit, can proudly ruffle its feathers and sing war songs?
The flag of France has three vertical stripes: blue, white and red.
The national motto of France is: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!” His personification is Marianne, as France began to be called during the Great French Revolution. She is usually depicted as a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap. Her sculptural image must appear on government institutions, courts, etc.
Marianne or "Freedom Leading the People."
The Marseillaise, the anthem of France, also appeared during the Great French Revolution and at first was the anthem of the revolutionaries, until it finally reached the state level. They tried to ban Marseillaise more than once, last time this was done by the Vichy regime during World War II (1940 to 1944). But already in 1944 everything returned to normal and La Marseillaise again became the anthem of France.
La Marseillaise, listen online:
Interesting fact: La Marseillaise became the anthem of freedom fighters not only in France, but throughout the world. Even after the 1917 revolution in Russia, it was used for some time as an anthem.
July 14 is a national holiday in France, Bastille Day:
Another rather comic symbol of France is the croissant; it was invented in Vienna after the victory over the Turks and copied from the image on the Turkish flag.
Speaking about the symbols of France, one cannot fail to mention
France is one of the largest states in Europe; it has a centuries-old history of its existence both as a monarchy and as a republic. At the same time, in modern world it is the only European power that does not have a national coat of arms. Its role is played by the emblem, which also has no official status. The absence of a coat of arms is explained by the fact that the French, who committed the Great French Revolution, overthrew the monarchy and proclaimed freedom, equality and fraternity, are not ready to return to the heraldic symbols associated with the power of the monarchy.
French emblem
A modern alternative to the coat of arms today is the emblem of France. It looks like a crescent-shaped shield (pelta), on one side of which is the head of a lion, on the other - an eagle. On the pelt there is a monogram “RF”. Behind the shield, perpendicular to it, are placed fascia - bundles of elm or birch twigs, tied with belts. An ax (axe) is inserted into their middle. The fictions are surrounded by oak and olive branches. The main color of the emblem is gold.
In 2018, the cross of Lorraine (a cross with two crossbars at the top) appeared on the fasces.
Historical coats of arms of France
The modern emblem, which is now used as an analogue of the coat of arms, is an unofficial sign of the Fifth Republic. In the history of French symbolism, there are many coats of arms, as well as emblems. The chronology of their existence is as follows.
Before 1305 and from 1328 to 1376 - an azure shield and a large number of heraldic lilies on it. Blue (azure) color is a symbol of the country's patron saint, St. Martin, and the lily is the flower of the Virgin Mary, denoting purity and purity. The lily was the emblem of the third dynasty on the French throne - the Capetians. Since the fleur-de-lis (lily flower) was subsequently present on all the royal coats of arms of France of different dynasties, it began to be perceived by the French as a symbol of the monarchy as a whole.
With the coat of arms of Navarre
1305-1328 - during the reign of Philip V the Long, the left half of the coat of arms was the same - blue with gold lilies, and the right part was the coat of arms of Navarre, which the king inherited from his mother, Joanna I of Navarre - on a red shield field around the perimeter and in the form oblique and straight cross gold chains. At the place of their intersection, in the middle of the shield, there is a green emerald. The shield is decorated with a crown in the form of a hoop with five lily-shaped teeth.
Under Charles V
1376-1515 - in the coat of arms of the Valois dynasty (under Charles V or under his son Charles VI the Mad) there are three golden lilies on a blue shield field as a sign of the triplicity of the Holy Trinity. Above the shield is the same royal crown with five prongs in the form of lilies.
Under Francis I and Henry III
1515-1589 during the period when the Valois dynasty was in power during the time of Francis I, the French coat of arms was decorated with a crown and the Order of St. Michael, and under Henry III- also the Order of the Holy Spirit approved by him. Above the shield is a royal crown with five lilies at the base and one crowning the headdress. The crown is decorated with pearls.
Under Henry IV of Navarre
1589-1792 - for more than 200 years, the coat of arms featured a blue and gold shield with three lilies and a red shield of Navarre with gold chains, placed on a mantle topped with a crown. Later the Navarrese shield was removed. Above the shields (one shield in the future) there was a knight's helmet, and they were united by the orders of the Holy Spirit and St. Mikhail. On both sides of the shields/shields stood angels in tabard capes as holders. The motto "Montjoie Saint Denis!" (Saint Denis is with us!) is inscribed on a blue ribbon, the ends of which develop near the crown. At first, this heraldic sign also contained the coat of arms of 12 major provinces of France, but they were later removed.
Under Napoleon
1804-1815 on the blue disk of the First Empire during the era of Napoleon Bonaparte there was an eagle with golden plumage. The bird of prey held a bundle of lightning in its talons. Surrounded by the chain of the Legion of Honor, the shield sits on a mantle with a crown and crossed sceptres. The royal robe is strewn with bees (the personal symbol of the famous Corsican), which symbolize immortality, resurrection, and hard work. The eagle here is a symbol of military glory.
Restoration of the monarchy
1814-1830, during the restoration of the monarchy, the previous royal coat of arms was returned, only the shield took on the shape of an oval.
Under Louis Philippe I
1830-1831 - the family coat of arms of the House of Orleans and its representative Louis Philippe, who became king, became a symbol of France for one year. This coat of arms is the same traditional shield with three fleurs-de-lises, and the angels on it have been replaced by French banners.
After the revolution
1831-1848 - on the Orleans coat of arms, the shield with lilies was replaced by a tablet with the inscription “Constitutional Charter. 1830".
Under Napoleon III
1852-1870 Napoleon II slightly changed the coat of arms of the times of Napoleon Bonaparte: the eagle was now placed on the shield.
Unofficial emblems
After 1870, France did not have a coat of arms; from this year, the era of unofficial emblems began, in which the lictor's bun occupied a central place.
1905-1953 - the emblem looks like a blue oval with a gold lictor's tuft (fasces with an ax) surrounded by gold olive and oak branches.
The fasces are intertwined with a ribbon with the words “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite” (Liberty. Equality. Fraternity).
The emblem is decorated with the Order of the Legion of Honor.
Blue and gold as historical heraldic french colors preserved, which emphasizes the continuity of historical traditions.
Since 1953, the emblem has been changed and remains in effect to this day.
The reluctance of the French to officially accept an emblem may also be explained by the fact that throughout the history of its existence the country has changed a huge number of coats of arms and emblems, with changes in forms of government, rulers, and political regimes.
Data
A number of interesting facts are associated with the country’s emblem:
- This symbol is considered an emblem because the heraldic norms were violated during its design. It has existed since 1953.
- This sign has not been officially adopted, although it is used everywhere, for example, decorating the covers of French passports and the building of the French Foreign Ministry.
The current emblem is not a constant value, since formally it is appearance is not legalized, therefore changes and additions to the emblem are possible.
In particular, in 2018, the Lorraine cross appeared on it. This change is timed to coincide with the upcoming celebration of a number of events in 2020:
- Eightieth anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's call to resist Hitler's Germany.
- Sixtieth anniversary of the Fifth Republic.
- Fiftieth anniversary of the death of Charles de Gaulle, general, politician and president of France in 1959-1969.
Rationale and meaning of the emblem symbols
Although the emblem of France does not meet the requirements of heraldry, the objects depicted on it are deeply symbolic:
- Pelta. A type of shield of a peculiar shape (sickle-shaped) was used by the infantrymen of Thrace (Balkan Peninsula). The emblem is used as a sign of the French readiness to defend their homeland from enemies, both external and internal.
- A lion. One of the most common symbols of world heraldry. He personifies strength, perseverance, prudence. This is a symbol of the power of the state. In this case, if you look at the image, the left side of the pelta represents the head of a lion.
- Eagle head. A symbol of equal importance to a lion, which is why they are placed at the two ends of the pelta. This figure is the second most common in heraldry after the lion. Denotes dominance, power, state sagacity. The eagle's head is turned towards the center, like the lion's. Both animals are drawn conventionally, schematically, there is no detailed drawing.
- Oak branches on the coat of arms of France denote power, strength, endurance, and also wisdom.
- Olive branches are present here as a symbol of peace and the desire to live in harmony with representatives of other countries and peoples inhabiting our planet.
- Fasces and an ax (axe) appear here as a symbol of justice and protection of statehood. This is an attribute of the ancient Roman kings, and later of the republican high masters, who had the right to use force in the execution of their decisions.
- The monogram "RF", where the "R" is superimposed on the "F", stands for the French Republic (République française), i.e. denotes the current form of government in France (mixed democratic republic).
- The Lorraine cross, which appeared on the coat of arms later than all the elements, is a symbol of the French Resistance and France during the time of Charles de Gaulle.
Oddly enough, the emblem of France did not become a popular symbol of the country recognized by the French. More popular national symbols are Marianna, the Phrygian cap, Gallic rooster, lily. But everything is changing. Who knows, maybe someday the freedom-loving French will develop their own coat of arms, corresponding to the heraldic canons, which will become a symbol of modern France.
Every self-respecting state has an officially approved national anthem. France is no exception to this proud list. But few people know that the current emblem of the country still does not have official status. That is, they meet different variants, but at the same time you will often not see a coat of arms on the gates of embassies. After all, the final layout was never approved by the State Parliament. But the flag and anthem have official status national symbols. Why did it happen so? Probably because the anthem, coat of arms and flag of France have their own long and complicated history.
Metamorphoses of the coat of arms
The first coat of arms of the French king Clovis was a blue field dotted with golden fleurs-de-lis. This flower was traditionally a symbol of the Virgin Mary, who, as the French monarchs believed, was the patron of the Merovingian dynasty. Subsequent rulers from the Capetian and Valois families modified the coat of arms in every possible way, adding to it their own heraldic colors, symbols, and lilies. In the middle of the fourteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church imposed the belief in the trinity of God on the lands of the kingdom. Therefore, on the blue field there were only three “fleur de lis” - lily flowers. With the accession of Henry the Fourth to the throne, the coat of arms changed again. Now it was completed 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, it was replaced by the Napoleonic coat of arms - clutching lightning in its claws on a blue background. The flag of France experienced approximately the same metamorphoses.
The emblem of the country today
The current coat of arms of France is the ninth in its history. It was adopted in 1953, but its official status has not yet 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 a lion's head is depicted on one side and an eagle on the other. In the center of this curlicue is the monogram “RF”, which means “Republic of France”. The peltu is entwined with oak and olive branches, symbolizing wisdom, perseverance and peace. In the middle of the intricate design are canes (fasces) and axes, which represent justice. But can an ax symbolize justice in a country that has abolished death penalty? The flag of France is more consistent with the ideological values of the Republic.
Golden toads and the oriflamme of Saint Denis
The first king, Clovis I, carried a white cloth everywhere on his campaigns, on which three golden toads adorned. When he converted to Christianity, it was decided to change the oriflamme. The king chose a different “livery” color - deep blue. Lily flowers also appeared on it, replacing amphibians. Over the centuries, the flag of France has changed several times. There were centuries when the banner was red, lavishly decorated with red, yellow and blue roses. Sometimes the banner was a copy of the coat of arms, applied to the material - gold on a blue background. And sometimes royal army went into battle against the enemy with a white oriflamme on which was written “Holy Mary” and “Jesus Christ”.
Modern flag of France
Unlike the coat of arms, this national symbol has official status. It was formed during the period French Revolution. Patriotic Parisians then wore the colors of their city on their cockades - blue and red ribbons. After the victory, a white stripe was added to them - as a sign of reconciliation. In 1814, they decided to change the banner to a milky oriflamme. But since the French associated white with the monarchy as a whole, after the June Revolution the country returned its tricolor. So what does the French flag look like? The photo allows us to see it in all details. This is a rectangular panel divided by vertical stripes of equal width. The one at the shaft is blue, white in the middle, and red at the free edge.
What do the colors of the French flag mean?
The combination of blue, red and white is not uncommon in heraldry. The exact same color set is on the flag Russian Federation, and on the banner of the Netherlands, and on the banner of Luxembourg. How is the “French tricolor” (Le drapeau tricolore) so different from others? In the Republic, both the number of stripes and their colors have great importance. The number "three" symbolizes the three main fundamental principles by which French society strives to live: freedom, equality and fraternity. Blue color refers us to the myth of Martin of Tours. This saint cut off half of his cloak to give it to a beggar. Martin succeeded Saint-Denis and began to be considered the patron saint of France. White color is associated with the “Maid of Orleans” Joan of Arc, a national heroine. Red is traditionally a sign of the blood shed by the people for freedom from invaders. This is the symbolic meaning of these colors of the national flag.