page_title: Military colours, standards and guidons
section_title: Rifle battalions (chasseurs à pied)
hierarchical_section_title: Military colours, standards and guidons / Colours / Europe / France / Rifle battalions (chasseurs à pied)
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Le fameux drapeau des chasseurs .
context_page_description: In military organizations, the practice of carrying colours, standards or guidons, both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. The Roman Empire also made battle standards a part of their vast armies. It was formalized in the armies of Europe in the High Middle Ages, with standards being emblazoned with the commander's coat of arms.
context_section_description: By tradition, all the Army's rifle battalions (the bataillons de chasseurs à pied together with the chasseurs alpins) share a single collective colour. Individual battalions have pennants (fanions) and the flag of the Rifles (Drapeau des chasseurs) is given to be held each year in turn to a different rifle battalion. As a result, the single flag displays all the battle honours earned by every rifle battalion.
caption: The Drapeau des chasseurs
exif: {}