The coat of arms of France is an unofficial emblem of the

French Republic France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. It depicts a lictor's fasces upon branches of laurel and oak, as well as a ribbon bearing the national motto of . The full achievement includes the star and grand collar of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

. This composition was created in 1905 (during the Third Republic) by heraldic painter-engraver Maurice de Meyère, and it has been used at the Foreign Ministry during state visits and for presidential inaugurations. The country is traditionally associated with the fleurs-de-lis design, which came into use by French kings during the

High Middle Ages The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the periodization, period of European history between and ; it was preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended according to historiographical convention ...

. This design still represents France and the

House of Bourbon The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a dynasty that originated in the Kingdom of France as a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Kingdom of Navarre, Navarre in the 16th century. A br ...

in the form of marshalling, such as in the arms of

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. The fleur-de-lis was also the symbol of

Île-de-France The Île-de-France (; ; ) is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France, with an official estimated population of 12,271,794 residents on 1 January 2023. Centered on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the cou ...

, the core of the French kingdom, and the arms of many French communes. The only national symbol specified in the present constitution is the tricolour flag in Article 2.

Devices

The

blazon In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct an accurate image. The verb ''to blazon'' means to create such a description. The visual d ...

ing is:

Coat of arms: charges

Motto

(; "

liberty Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...

, equality,

fraternity A fraternity (; whence, "wikt:brotherhood, brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club (organization), club or fraternal order traditionally of men but also women associated together for various religious or secular ...

", is the national motto of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, and is an example of a tripartite motto. Although it finds its origins in the French Revolution, it was then only one motto among others and was not institutionalized until the Third Republic at the end of the 19th century. (abridged translation, ''Realms of Memory'', Columbia University Press, 1996–98).

Fasces

Fasces are a bundle of birch rods containing a sacrificial axe. In Roman times, the fasces symbolized the power of magistrates, representing union and accord with the Roman Republic. French architects began to use the Roman fasces (''faisceaux romains'') as a decorative device during the reign of Louis XIII (1610–1643), and the imagery of the French Revolution used references to the ancient

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( ) was the era of Ancient Rome, classical Roman civilisation beginning with Overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom (traditionally dated to 509 BC) and ending in 27 BC with the establis ...

to an even greater extent. During the First Republic, topped by the Phrygian cap, the fasces is a tribute to the Roman Republic and means that power belongs to the people. It also symbolizes the "unity and indivisibility of the Republic", as stated in the French Constitution.

Branches

*The oak is France's national tree, and a common

symbol A symbol is a mark, Sign (semiotics), sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, physical object, object, or wikt:relationship, relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by cr ...

of strength and endurance. *A bay laurel () branch, an aromatic broadleaf evergreen, or later from spineless butcher's broom ('' Ruscus hypoglossum'') or cherry laurel ('' Prunus laurocerasus''). It is a

of triumph, which traces back to

Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the Ancient Greece, ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories conc ...

Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

is represented wearing a laurel wreath on his head, and wreaths were awarded to victors in athletic competitions, including the ancient Olympics — for which they were made of wild olive-tree known as ''" kotinos"'' (), (sc. at Olympia)—and in poetic meets. In

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

they were symbols of martial victory, crowning a successful commander during his triumph.

External devices

*Star and grand collar of the

, which is the highest French order of merit for

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...

and civil merits, established in 1802 by

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

and retained by all later French governments and régimes. The achievement includes the order's grand collar, which is worn only by the President, as Grand Master of the order.

History

Background

13th century – 1870: Arms of dominion / French Revolution

French kings and emperors had personal arms of dominion, which by extension also represented France. The ''

fleur-de-lis The ''fleur-de-lis'', also spelled ''fleur-de-lys'' (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a common heraldic charge in the (stylized) shape of a lily (in French, and mean and respectively). Most notably, the ''fleur-de-lis'' ...

'' was used by French kings since the Middle Ages, which were followed by the Napoleonic eagle designs after the French Revolution. The

is still popular, and used by overseas people of French heritage, like the

Acadians The Acadians (; , ) are an ethnic group descended from the French colonial empire, French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, most descendants of Acadians live in either the Northern Americ ...

, Québécois or Cajuns. The Napoleonic eagle is also used by Swedish royal house. Coronation of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile 1223.jpg, Baldachin, banners and mantles (1223) Bust of Charlemagne.png, Bust of Charlemagne (1349) Prise de Tours en 1189.jpg, Caparison and banners () Lothar RichardNormandie.jpg, Tent (15th century) Louis XIV of France.jpg, Cushion, mantle, upholstery and Joyeuse's scabbard (1701) Chateau de Blois 38.jpg, Baldachin (2010) Blois Château de Blois Louis-XII-Flügel Innen Salle des États 7.jpg, Ceiling (2018) Orn ext Maréchal de France.svg,

Marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used fo ...

's baton (royal) File:Bastoni da maresciallo, 1851-65.jpg,

's baton (imperial) Constable of France sword-J 26-IMG 1795-gradient.jpg, Grand Constable of France's scabbard Arms of Spain.svg, Coat of arms of Spain Arms of Canada (shield).svg ,

Coat of arms of Canada The coat of arms of Canada, also known as the Royal Coat of Arms of Canada or, formally, as the Arms of His Majesty The King in Right of Canada is the arms of dominion of the Monarchy of Canada, Canadian monarch and, thus, also the official ...

Coat of arms of Quebec.svg,

Coat of arms of Quebec The coat of arms of Quebec () was adopted by order-in-council of the Government of Quebec on 9 December 1939,Coat of arms of Sweden The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sweden () is the arms of dominion of the Monarchy of Sweden, King of Sweden. It has a greater and a lesser version. The shield displays the "Three Crowns of Sweden" quartering the "Lion of Bjälbo", with an ine ...

1870–1905: Period without any national coat of arms

The state was left without a coat of arms after the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1870. Consequently, the façade and balconies of French embassies and consulates were sometimes decorated with quasi-heraldic emblems, such as a simple RF monogram or a lictor's fasces topped with a Phrygian cap. This was lamented by diplomats, as it neither reflected the country's rich heraldic tradition nor matched other European countries' emblems. In 1881 Foreign Minister Charles de Freycinet sought to address this issue by proposing arms. This first attempt was not successful. Count Horace de Choiseul, undersecretary of state in this department, invited the sculptor Francia to submit a proposal to him, which this denier executed on the drawing of Émile Bin.

1905–present: Adoption and modifications in external devices

King

Alfonso XIII Alfonso XIII (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Alfonso León Fernando María Jaime Isidro Pascual Antonio de Borbón y Habsburgo-Lorena''; French language, French: ''Alphonse Léon Ferdinand Marie Jacques Isidore Pascal Antoine de Bourbon''; 17 May ...

of Spain's official visit to France in 1905, as well as preceding visits from king

Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until Death and state funeral of Edward VII, his death in 1910. The second child ...

and Victor Emmanuel III of the United Kingdom and Italy, respectively, once again brought attention to the fact that France had no coat of arms. The Foreign Ministry responded by consulting the Grand Chancellery, which in turn asked the heraldists to propose national heraldic devices. Among about twenty proposals which were approved by the government, heraldic painter-engraver Maurice de Meyère's composition was formally adopted as the new coat of arms of France. This design was to be used by embassies and consulates abroad, instead of previous quasi-heraldic emblems. Coat of arms of the French Republic (1905).svg, de Meyère's 1905 design Official visit by King Alfonso XIII of Spain to France in 1905.jpg, The arms adorning the Foreign Ministry in 1905 In de Meyère's composition, the escutcheon was framed by an artistic

console Console may refer to: Computing and video games * System console, a physical device to operate a computer ** Virtual console, a user interface for multiple computer consoles on one device ** Command-line interface, a method of interacting with ...

, whereas the

's star featured as the sole external heraldic device. The entire achievement was depicted upon an oval background with the words "French Republic" on the edge, a non-heraldic element. The console and oval background were mentioned as late as February 1914, but generally omitted after World War I, while the star of the Legion of Honour had been accompanied by the 1881 version of the grand collar. In 1924/1925, a greater version of the arms was invented for a decorative tapestry commissioned by the city of

Strasbourg Strasbourg ( , ; ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est Regions of France, region of Geography of France, eastern France, in the historic region of Alsace. It is the prefecture of the Bas-Rhin Departmen ...

to Gustave Louis Jaulmes. It was never formally adopted. File:Middle coat of arms of the French Republic (1905–1953).svg, Actually used version In 1953, the collar was redesigned.

Usage

A list of notable depictions: *1905: A watercolour reproducing de Meyère's design was sent to each member of the government, and the arms adorned the two entrances of the French foreign ministry (37 Quai d'Orsay) at the occasion of king Alfonso's visit. *1922: The arms was emblazoned on the bronze (), awarded to inhabitants of the two border regions of Alsace and Lorraine, who had been either imprisoned or exiled by the occupying Germans during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

because of their loyalty to France. *1924/1925: A greater version of the arms was depicted on a painted tapestry by Gustave Louis Jaulmes, titled "Les armes de France". Commissioned by the city of

, this piece was to be installed at the ''Commissariat General of the Republic'' in the city. *1928: German encyclopedias gave a color reproduction of Jaulmes' greater arms. *1929: On 10 May the German embassy in France inquired what was the official coat of arms of France was. The French

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

replied that "there is no, in principle, official coat of arms or emblem," but that such a composition was used for the French embassies and consulates. *1933–1942: The arms were depicted on prefects' uniforms. *1935: The annual edition of '' Le Petit Larousse'' reproduced a monochrome reproduction of the arms as a symbol of the French Republic. *1953: The United Nations Secretariat requested that France submit a national coat of arms that were to adorn the wall behind the podium in the General Assembly hall in New York, alongside the other member states' arms. On 3 June, an interministerial commission met at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to select this emblem. It requested Robert Louis (1902–1965), heraldic artist, to produce a version of the Jules-Clément Chaplain

design A design is the concept or proposal for an object, process, or system. The word ''design'' refers to something that is or has been intentionally created by a thinking agent, and is sometimes used to refer to the inherent nature of something ...

. In the end, Louis chose Maurice de Meyère's 1905 design instead, and this was adopted and submitted to the UN. *1975: President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing adopted the charge of the arms in his

presidential standard The presidential standard or presidential flag is the flag that is used in many countries as a symbol of the head of state or president (government title), president. In some countries it may be for exclusive use of the president or only raised w ...

. *6 June 1980: President d'Estaing assumed on him being admitted to the Order of the Seraphim: ''Azure a Fasces Or bindings Argent between two Laurel sprigs disposed orleways of the second and bound together in base by a ribbon of the third.'', based on the republican arms. *1982/1988: The arms were depicted on French space suits during the Franco-Soviet space missions of {{interlanguage link, fr, Mission spatiale franco-soviétique Saliout 7, lt=1982} and 1988. *2009: Used to represent France in the ''Hanseatic Fountain'' in

Veliky Novgorod Veliky Novgorod ( ; , ; ), also known simply as Novgorod (), is the largest city and administrative centre of Novgorod Oblast, Russia. It is one of the oldest cities in Russia, being first mentioned in the 9th century. The city lies along the ...

, Russia. The coat of arms is still used, e.g. in relation to presidential inaugurations, including that of François Mitterrand,

Jacques Chirac Jacques René Chirac (, ; ; 29 November 193226 September 2019) was a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He was previously Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and 1986 to 1988, as well as Mayor of Pari ...

and

Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra since 2017. He was Ministry of Economy and Finance (France), Minister of Economics, Industr ...

in 1981, 1995 and 2017, respectively. Médaille de la Fidélité Française (reverse).png, The arms emblazoned onto the reverse side of the {{interlanguage link, Medal for Fidelity to France, fr, Médaille de la Fidélité Française, instituted in 1922 1952 Trygve Lie Resigns.jpg, Escutcheons in the UNGA hall intended to be emblazoned with national arms, including France's, but removed in 1956{{Cite web, url=https://www.unmultimedia.org/s/photo/detail/783/0078376.html, title=Alterations in the General Assembly Hall, date=3 February 1956 Visites Sarkozy Hollande à l'hôtel de ville de Paris.jpg, The arms depicted on presidential inaugural documents Jean-Loup Chrétien at the Aragatz mission.jpg, The arms depicted on Jean-Loup Chrétien's suit at the 1988 Aragatz mission to the '' Mir'' space station Parione - s Nicola dei Lorenesi fascio repubblicano francese P1030725.JPG, The arms (l.) adorning Rome's Church of Saint Nicholas of the Lorrainers, dedicated to France

References

{{Reflist

External links

{{Commons category, National coat of arms of France *{{FOTW, id=fr), title=Symbols of France
France
at Heraldry of the World

{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705170148/http://www.hubert-herald.nl/FranFrance.htm , date=2018-07-05 — Hubert de Vries website
Les Armes de Strasbourg
— Collection du Mobilier national {{in lang, fr * http://www.languedoc-france.info/06141203_motto.htm *http://musee.sceaualsacien.pagesperso-orange.fr/heraldique.html * http://svowebmaster.free.fr/blason_france.html
Example

Example

Example 1955Le Monde IllustreL'HumanitéLa LibertéBulletin / Société historique du CalaisisJournal des débats politiques et littérairesL'IntransigeantLa Petite PresseLe Collectionneur de Timbres-Poste JournalGil Blas / dir. A. DumontLa Croix, 7 June 1905Le Grand écho du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais, 21 April 1905Le Populaire de Paris, 26 June 1938La Revue Diplomatique, 7 May 1905Le Petit Oranais, 21 April 1905Le Pays : journal des volontés de la France, 11 June 1905Le Pays : journal des volontés de la France, 22 October 1919
{{France topics {{Symbols of the French Republic {{Coats of arms of Europe

French heraldry

National symbols of France