Flag of France

The **flag of France** (French: *Drapeau français*) is a tricolour flag featuring three vertical bands coloured blue (hoist side), white, and red. It is known to English speakers as the **French Tricolour** or simply the **Tricolour** (French: ***Tricolore***).

The royal government used many flags, the best known being a blue shield and gold fleur-de-lis (the Royal Arms of France) 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,[*Citation needed*] the city's traditional colours. According to French general Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, white was the "ancient French colour" and was added to the militia cockade to create a tricolour, or national, cockade. This cockade became part of the uniform of the National Guard, which succeeded the militia and was commanded by Lafayette.[*Citation needed*] The colours and design of the cockade are the basis of the Tricolour flag, adopted in 1790.[*Citation needed*] The only difference was that the 1790 flag's colours were reversed. A modified design by Jacques-Louis David was adopted in 1794. The royal white flag was used during the Bourbon restoration from 1815 to 1830; the tricolour was brought back after the July Revolution and has been used ever since 1830.

## Design

The colours adopted by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, which replaced a darker version of the flag. It has been in used from 1974 to 1981. The French constitution of 1946 mention in its article 2 that "the national emblem is the tricolour flag, blue, white, red, with three vertical stripes of equal dimensions." Nowadays, the darker blue is in use on national monuments, military buildings as well as for ships. Some diplomatic services abroad still use the light blue (reflex blue) version of the flag.[*Citation needed*]

Flag colour scheme
 CMYK | 100.92.43.52
 RGB | (5,20,64)
 HEX | #051440
 NCS | S 2565 R80B

Currently, the flag is one and a half times 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 now continues to use, as the flapping of the flag makes portions farther from the halyard seem smaller.

## Symbolism

 File:Drapeaux français.jpg
Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, used on the city's coat of arms. Blue is identified with Saint Martin,[*Citation needed*] red with Saint Denis.[*Citation needed*] 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. White was added to the "revolutionary" colours of the militia cockade to "nationalise" the design, thus creating the tricolour cockade. Although Lafayette identified the white stripe with the nation, other accounts identify it with the monarchy. Lafayette denied that the flag contains any reference to the red-and-white livery of the Duc d'Orléans. Despite this, Orléanists adopted the tricolour as their own.

Blue and red are associated with the Virgin Mary, the patroness of France, and were the colours of the oriflamme. 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.

 File:Brandenburg Gate in French flag colours after Paris attack (23028317551).jpg
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.

The French government website states that the white field was the colour of the king, while blue and red were the colours of Paris.

The three colours are occasionally taken to represent the three elements of the revolutionary motto, *liberté* (freedom: blue), *égalité* (equality: white), *fraternité* (brotherhood: red); this symbolism was referenced in Krzysztof Kieślowski's three colours film trilogy, for example.

In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks, many famous landmarks and stadiums were illuminated in the flag colours to honour the victims.

## History

### Kingdom 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 royal banner under 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.". Joan's standard led to the prominent use of white on later French flags.

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.

Oriflamme.svgThe Oriflamme, the banner of the CapetiansFrance Ancient Arms.svg"France ancien", the early coat of arms of the French kings appeared circa 1211Flag of France (XII-XIII).svgBanner of the Kingdom of France during 12th to 13th centuryFrance moderne.svg"France moderne", a simplified coat of arms adopted in 1376Pavillon royal de la France.svgBlue Capetian flag was still used during the French Renaissance. It is now the flag of present-day Île-de-France.Pavillon royal de France.svgStandard of the French royal family prior to 1789 and from 1815 to 1830.Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svgFlag of the Kingdom of France from 1814 to 1830 (Bourbon Restoration) also naval ensign prior to 1789 and then from 1814-1830Royal Standard of the King of France.svgAfter the end of the French Wars of Religion (1598), the white Bourbon flag was commonly used.Naval Flag of the Kingdom of France (Civil Ensign).svgNaval Flag of the Kingdom of France.Royal Standard of King Louis XIV.svgFlag of New France.Flag of Royalist France.svgOne of the flags used by Royalists during the French Revolution.Flag of France (1790-1794).svgFlag used by the Kingdom of France and the First French Republic from 1790 to 1794.
### The *Tricolore*

 File:The national flag of France & Arch of Triumph.ogv
 File:Lar7 cogniet 001z.jpg
 File:Lar9 philippo 001z.jpg
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. The blue and red cockade was presented to King Louis XVI at the Hôtel de Ville on 17 July. Lafayette argued for the addition of a white stripe to "nationalise" the design. 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.

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.

On 25 February 1848 Lamartine, during the Revolution of 1848, said about the Tricoloured Flag :"I spoke as a citizen earlier, Now listen to me, your Foreign Minister. If I remove the tricolor, know it, you will remove me half the external force of France! Because Europe knows the flag of his defeats and of our victories in the flag of the Republic and of the Empire. By seeing the red flag, they'll see the flag of a party! This is the flag of France, it is the flag of our victorious armies, it is the flag of our triumphs that must be addressed before Europe. France and the tricolor is the same thought, the same prestige, even terror, if necessary, for our enemies! Consider how much blood you would have to make for another flag fame!
Citizens, for me, the red flag, I am not adopting it, and I'll tell you why I'm against with all the strength of my patriotism. It's that the tricolor has toured the world with the Republic and the Empire with your freedoms and your glory, and the red flag was that around the Champ-de-Mars, dragged into the people's blood".

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 as his personal standard a version of the flag with, in the white stripe, an axe made with a star-studded marshal's baton. This axe is called the "Francisque" in reference to the ancient Frankish throwing axe. During this same period, the Free French Forces used a *tricolore* with, in the white stripe, 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.svgFlag of Paris, source of the tricolour's blue and red stripes.The french tricolor cockade.svgThe tricolour cockade, created in July 1789. White was added to "nationalise" an earlier blue and red design.Flag of France.svgThe flag of France since 1794 (interruption 1815–30).Flag of the Constitutional Kingdom of France (Proposed).svgThe French *tricolore* with the royal crown and fleur-de-lys was possibly designed by the Count of Chambord in his younger years as a compromiseFrench-roundel.svgFrom 1912 onwards to today, the French Air Force originated the use of roundels on military aircraft shortly before World War I. Similar national cockades, with different ordering of colours, were later adopted as aircraft roundels by their allies.VichyFlag.svgPersonal standard of Philippe Pétain, as Chief of the French State.Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svgFlag used by the Free French Forces during World War II; in the centre is the Cross of Lorraine; later, the personal standard of President Charles de Gaulle.
## Regimental flags

Vigiles du roi Charles VII 32.jpgThe French soldiers started to use white crosses, during the Hundred Years' War, to distinguish themselves from the English soldiers wearing red crosses (battle of Formigny).Rég d Auvergne 1635.pngA white-crossed regimental flag during the Ancien Régime (here, *Régiment d'Auvergne*).Rég de La Sarre 1685.pngLa Sarre Regiment (*Régiment de la Sarre*)Rég du Roi 1757.pngKing's Regiment (*Régiment du Roi*)Rég de La Reine 1661.pngQueen's Regiment (*Régiment de la Reine*)Flag of Levis.svgGeneral Lévis's Regiment Flag in North America. Now official flag of the city of Lévis, QuebecFranche de la Marine1.jpgThe pre-revolutionary regimental flags inspired the flag of Quebec (here, the *Compagnies Franches de la Marine*).Grenadier Pied 1 1812 Revers.pngRegimental flag of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard (1812).Drapeaux 1RE et 2REI Paris 2003.jpgCurrent regimental flags of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the French Foreign Legion
## Colonial flags

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

Flag of Colonial Annam.svgFlag of Annam, French IndochinaFlag of French Laos.svgFlag of Laos, French IndochinaFlag of Togo (1957-1958).svgFlag of the Autonomous Republic of Togo (1957–1958)Flag of Gabon 1959-1960.svgFlag of Gabon (1959–1960)Flag of French Tunisia.svgFlag used by some military units based in the French protectorate of TunisiaFlag of the French Mandate of Syria (1920).svgFlag of the French Mandate of Syria in 1920Flag of Syria French mandate.svgFlag of the French Mandate of SyriaLatakiya-sanjak-Alawite-state-French-colonial-flag.svgFlag of the State of Alawites, later Sanjak of Latakia, in the French Mandate of SyriaFlag of the State of Aleppo.svgFlag of the State of Aleppo, in the French Mandate of SyriaFlag of the State of Damascus.svgFlag of the State of Damascus, in the French Mandate of SyriaFlag of Jabal ad-Druze (state).svgFlag of Jabal ad-Druze, in the French Mandate of SyriaFlag of the Madagascar Protectorate (1885-1896).svgFlag of Madagascar under French protection (1885–1895)Civil ensign of French Morocco.svgMerchant flag of the French protectorate of Morocco (1912–1956)Flag of the Republic of Independent Guyana (1886-1887).svgFlag of Republic of Independent Guyana (1886–1887)Flag of Franceville.svgFlag of New Hebrides (Vanuatu) under the Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission (1887–1906)Flag of the Society Islands Protectorate.svgFlag of French Polynesia under the Protectorate of France (1845–1880)Flag of Lebanon during French Mandate (1920-1943).svgFlag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate 1920–1943Flag of Tay Dam.pngFlag of the Sip Song Chau Tai, French Indochina (1948-1955)Drapeau du Royaume de Uvéa (1860-1886).pngFlag of the French Protectorate of Wallis and Futuna (Uvea) (1860–1886)Flag of French Sudan.svgFlag of French Sudan (1958–1959)Drapeau Protectorat Français RuRutu (1858-1889).pngFlag of the French protectorate of Rurutu in French Polynesia (1858–1889)Flag of French Governor in French Colony.svgFlag of French Governor
## Other

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

Flag of Acadia.svgThe Acadian flag used in Canada is based on the tricolour flag of France, but this flag was never used during French rule of Acadia. It was adopted in 1884, for more see Flag of Acadia. Acadians live mainly in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova ScotiaFlag of Quebec.svgThe current Flag of Quebec. The use of blue and white is characteristic of pre-revolutionary flagsFlag of the Franco Albertains.svgFlag of Franco-AlbertansFranco-Terreneuviens.svgThe flag of Franco-NewfoundlandersFlag of the Franco-Manitobains.svgFlag of Franco-ManitobainsFranco-Ontarian flag.svgThe Franco-Ontarian flag used by Francophone Ontario since 1975 and officially recognised in 2001Bandera dels Fransaskois.svgFlag of Fransaskois or French speaking SaskatchewansFlag of the Franco-Yukonnais.svgFlag of Franco-YukonnaisFlag of the FrancoTenois.svgFlag of Franco-TénoisFlag of the Franco-Colombiens.svgFlag of Franco-ColumbianFlag of the Franco-Nunavois.pngFlag of Franco-Nunavois
Many areas in the United States have substantial French-speaking and ancestral communities:

Flag of Acadiana.svgFlag of AcadianaDrapeau Franco-Américain.svgFlag of United Franco-AmericansDrapeau français-américain.svgFlag of New England Franco-AmericansDrapeau de l'Acadie occidentale.svgFlag of Aroostook county Franco-AmericansDrapeau de la Louisiane septentrionale.svgFlag of Mid-West Franco-AmericansFlag of New Orleans, Louisiana.svgFlag of New Orleans, Louisiana
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.svgFlag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
## See also

* File:Flag of France.svgFrance portal

* List of French flags
* Flags of the regions of France
* National emblem of France

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier Lafayette (marquis de), *Memoirs, correspondence and manuscripts of General Lafayette,* vol. 2, p. 252.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Die Symbole der französischen Republik (German). Embassy of the French Republic in Germany. Retrieved on 28 September 2009.
3. ↑ Le drapeau français (French). Retrieved on 29 February 2012.
4. ↑ France, the tricolour banner. Retrieved on 22 March 2008.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 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."

	* "...the standard of France was white, sprinkled with golden fleur de lis..." (Ripley & Dana 1879, p. 250).
	* On the reverse of this plate it says: "Le pavillon royal était véritablement le drapeau national au dix-huitième siecle...Vue du chateau d'arrière d'un vaisseau de guerre de haut rang portant le pavillon royal (blanc, avec les armes de France)" (*Vinkhuijzen collection* 2011).
	* "The oriflamme and the Chape de St Martin were succeeded at the end of the 16th century, when Henry III., the last of the house of Valois, came to the throne, by the white standard powdered with fleurs-de-lis. This in turn gave place to the famous tricolour"(Chisholm 1911, p. 460).
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. ↑ Alphonse de Lamartine, *Trois mois au pouvoir*, Paris, Michel Lévy, 1848.
10. ↑ La France du Renouveau - Bourbon Royalist design.
11. ↑ Whitney Smith. *Flags through the ages and cross the world*. McGraw-Hill Book Company. 1975. p. 75.
12. ↑ Royal Air Force Museum Archived 2 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine.

## References

* File:Wikisource-logo.svg Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Flag". *Encyclopædia Britannica*. **10** (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 454–463.
* Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Flag". *The American Cyclopædia*. **8**. p. 250.
* The Vinkhuijzen collection of military uniforms: France, 1750-1757. New York Public Library (25 March 2011). Archived from the original on 8 March 2013.

## Further reading

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