Every self-respecting state hasofficially approved national symbols: flag, emblem and national anthem. France is not an exception to this proud list. But few people know that the current emblem of the country still has no official status. That is, there are different options, but at the gate of the embassies you often will not see a coat of arms. After all, the final model has not been approved by the State Parliament. But the flag and anthem have the official status of national symbols. Why did it happen so? Probably, because the anthem, the coat of arms and the flag of France have their long and intricate history.
The first coat of arms of the French King Cloviswas a blue field, dotted with heraldic golden lilies. This flower was traditionally the symbol of the Virgin Mary, which, as the French monarchs believed, patronized the Merovingian dynasty. The succeeding rulers of the Kapetings and Valois sorted out the emblem in every way, adding to it their heraldic colors, symbols, and lilies. In the middle of the fourteenth century, the Roman Catholic Church imposed on the lands of the kingdom faith in the triune God. Therefore, on the blue field there are only three "fleur de lis" - a flower of a lily. With the ascent to the throne of Henry the Fourth, the coat of arms changed again. Now he was supplemented 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 he was replaced by the Napoleonic coat of arms - clutching in the claws of lightning a golden eagle on a blue background. About the same metamorphosis experienced and the flag of France.
The current coat of arms of France is already the ninth in itsstories. It was adopted in 1953, but so far its official status has not been confirmed. Maybe the French are already tired of developing and changing their coat of arms indefinitely? One way or another, but one of the most common options is a pelt, in which one side shows the head of a lion, and on the other - an eagle. In the center of this curl, monogram "RF" flaunts, which means "Republic of France". The branches of oak and olive trees symbolize wisdom, stamina and peace. In the middle of an intricate design, canes (fascia) and axes can be seen, which embody justice. But can an ax symbolize justice in a country that abolished the death penalty? The flag of France is more in line with the ideological values of the Republic.
The first king, Clovis I everywhere, took me on a hiking tripA white cloth with three golden toads. When he converted to Christianity, it was decided to change the oriflammum. The king chose another "liveried" color - deep blue. It also appeared lily flowers, replacing amphibians. For centuries, the flag of France has changed many times. There were centuries when the banner was red, lavishly decorated with red-yellow-blue roses. Sometimes the banner was a copy of the coat of arms, printed on matter - golden royal lilies on a blue background. And sometimes the royal army went into battle against the enemy with white oriflamme, on which was written "Most Holy Mary" and "Jesus Christ".
Unlike the coat of arms, this national symbolhas an official status. It was formed during the period of the French Revolution. Patriotically-minded Parisians then wore the colors of their city on the cockades - blue and red ribbons. After the victory, a white band was added to them, as a sign of reconciliation. In 1814, the banner was decided to be changed to oriflamme milky. But since the white color of the French was associated with the royal family and the monarchy as a whole, after the June Revolution the country returned its tricolor. So how does the flag of France look like? Photo allows us to see it in full detail. This is a rectangular panel divided by equal vertical widths. The one at the shaft, blue in color, in the middle white, and at the free edge - red.
The combination of blue, red and white is not uncommonin heraldry. Exactly the same color set is on the flag of the Russian Federation, on the banner of the Netherlands, and on the banner of Luxembourg. What is so different about the "French tricolor" (Le drapeau tricolore) from others? In the Republic, both the number of bands and their colors are of great importance. The figure of "three" symbolizes the three fundamental principles on which the French society strives to live: freedom, equality and brotherhood. The blue color refers us to the myth of Martin Turski. This saint cut off half of his cloak to give to the beggar. Martin replaced Saint-Denis and began to be considered the patron of France. White color is associated with the "Orleans Maiden" Jeanne d'Arc, a national heroine, red is traditionally the sign of the blood shed by the people for freedom from invaders .This is the symbolic meaning of these colors of the national flag.
