The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-02-16
FLEUR-DE-LIS OF THE BOURBONS.

The heraldic device Of the Bourbons of
France was called tleur-de-lis, from the
fancy that it represented three flowers of
the white lily, as in England it was called
Aower-de-luce. on the hypothesis that it
was a representation OF the white IRIS,
But TIE t1eur-de-lis is not, properly speak
ing, a lily, nor even flower. The resem-
blance 10 lily is very remote, even if
you call the lily a conventional one.
Some historians hold that it is the figure
Of reed in blossom, used instead Of a
scepter at the proclamation OF Frankish
kings. Others, with more likelihood, in
sist that it is neither reed, a lily nor any
other member of the floral family, but
the extremity OF the francisque, a kind of
javelin anciently used in France. A ia. al
objection to any purely French origin of
the symbol is that it was early an orna-
ment Of scepters, robes and seals, not
only of the Meroving1an, but OF Greek,
Roman, Spanish and English kings, and
symbol employed by many noble fami-
lies Of the twelfth and thirteenth centur-
les. 1t is also said that it occurs very
perfectly sculptured in head dresses of
Egg pt1an sphinxes. The use of heur-de
liz as symbol of royalty in France can.
not be traced further back than the
twelfth century.
There are many complicated legends as
to the origin of the fleur-de-lis One of
the prettiest tells how an aged hermit in
the reign of good King Clovis saw one
night a miraculous light stream into his
an azure shield, on which were stars.
The celestial visitor commanded the her
NIT to give the shield to the pious Clo-
thlld. By her it was presented to her new
ly married husband, who discarded in
its favor the three black toads which had
hitherto been his device. AS result the
armies of CLOVIS were victorious over ali
his enemies.
Another legend which probably has q
substratum Of historical fact, tells how
the tleur-de-lIs is corrupted from heur-de,
Louis. In A. d. 1877 Louis VII, setting
out on crusade, chose the purple iris as
his heraldic emblem. Thus 1t became
the tieur-de-Lou1s Louis hower,) which
was first contracted into hower-de-luce
and afterward into heur-de-lls, or lily
flower, although it has no affinity with
the lily. The iris is still called the tleur-
de-lis IL the French provinces. 1t is SAID
that after a certain battle fought by the
crusaders their white banner was found
to be covered with thsse white flowers.
At first the national flag and the arms
of France were thlckly sown with heur-
de-l1s, but the number was reduced to
three IN the reign of VII, about the year
1891. Ths latter monarch is also said to
have added the supporters to the French
arms In consequence of an adventure
that happened to HIM. Hunting in the
forest OF Senlis he aroused an enormous
stag, which eluded the dogs, but was fin
ally secured in the tolls of the net, when
a collar of copper guilt was found around
his neck, with the inscription: "Hoc mihi
Caesar donavit" ("Caesar gave this 10
me.') Subsequently the young king
dreamed that he was carried through the
air on winged stag, from which he add
ed two winged stays for supporters Of the
arms of France.
The tieur-de-lis appeared on the arms
of England from the time Edward III.
who claimed to be the righful heir to the
French throne. In the year 1900 Ireland
was join.d to England and notifications
were called for both in the kings title
and in the national arms. The title of
king OF France was then dropped and the
tieur-de-lis expupged from the royal
quarterings.
Since the French revolution the feur-
de-lis has been associated With the royal
ist party and the Bourbons. It was pro-
scrlbed during the reign Of terror, and
hundreds of persons found wearing it
were condemned to death. Whenever it
was conspicuously seen in public walks
1t was effaced by popular fury. Napoleon
substituted the bee in its stead (some his
torlans toll US that 1t was three bees and
not three toads, which Clovis originally
bore on his shield but this emblem has
given way before the violet, which is the
flower OF to-day. Elk.