National emblem of France

State symbol of France
Versions
Official state symbol (mainly used from 1953 to 1995)
Details
Introduced	1912 and 1953
Heraldic shield	Bundle of Lictors
Orders and decorations	Grand Masters Chain of the Legion of Honor (1953 version only)

The national emblem of France has been used since 1953. An official national coat of arms has not existed since 1912.

description

The official national symbol of France was determined in 1953 as follows: It is a blue oval on which there is a golden bundle of lictors ( fascis ). This is tied with golden ribbons and the golden ax inside it is turned to the left . A golden ribbon is placed on it, which shows France's motto Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité ( freedom, equality, brotherhood ). The bundle of lictors is surrounded by oak and laurel branches . The blue oval is bordered by the Grand Master's Chain ( Collane ) of the Legion of Honor . This form was first used in 1905 on the occasion of the state visit of Alfonso XIII. used in Paris.

However, state authorities now rarely use this official state symbol. Instead, an unofficial emblem is used, which only shows the bundle of lictors with oak and laurel branches and a plaque with the inscription RF ( République française ). It can also be seen on passports.

In addition, a logo for authorities was designed, which shows a stylized form of the emblem. In 2018, the Lorraine cross was added there (see here ). Another shows the French flag with the silhouette of Marianne .

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  French passport with new emblem

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  Logo with Marianne

Great seal

The Great Seal of the French Republic was introduced in 1848 and is still affixed to particularly important official documents (such as constitutional amendments) to this day. It is kept by the keeper of the seal of France - an office that still exists today and is now carried out by the Minister of Justice. The seal shows on the front a seated Libertas (similar to the depiction of the Statue of Liberty ) with a fascis , a tiller and a Gallic cock . At her feet is an urn with the inscription "SU" (for Suffrage Universel , French for universal suffrage ). Next to her are symbols of art, architecture, education and agriculture. The motto " RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, DÉMOCRATIQUE, UNE ET INDIVISIBLE" means "French Republic, democratic, united and indivisible". On the back of the seal is “ AU NOM DU PEUPLE FRANÇAIS” (in the name of the French people), framed by oak leaves and the national motto “ LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ ” .

Front (left) and back (right) of the Great Seal of the French Republic

history

After the French Revolution, all emblems related to the monarchy were removed. As a result, France is the only European state that does not have a national coat of arms. The current state symbol was introduced in 1905 and supplemented in 1953 by the Grand Master's Chain of the Legion of Honor.

coat of arms	Remarks	Period
	Medieval coat of arms, royal escutcheon in blue studded with golden lilies. Between 1305 and 1328, Louis X. for a time also kept a two-part shield with the Navarre coat of arms .	before 1376
	Early modern coat of arms, royal escutcheon in blue with three golden fleurs de lys (stylized lilies) on blue shields.	1376-1469
	With the establishment of the Ordre de Saint-Michel , its collar was added to the coat of arms, followed by the Order of the Holy Spirit in 1578 . In the meantime, Franz I had inserted a new, closed crown in 1515.	1469-1589
	The coat of arms of the Ancien Régime as it was used until the Revolution, since the accession of Henry IV , King of Navarre and King of France .	1589-1792
	Alternative royal coat of arms	1790-1792
	Emblem of the First French Republic	1791-1804
	The coat of arms of the first French republic under Napoleon Bonaparte with a golden eagle in Roman style, holding thunderbolts and lightning bolts in his claws, in blue heraldic shields.	1799-1804
	The coat of arms of the first empire under Napoleon Bonaparte .	1804-1814
	With the restoration , the Bourbon house came with Louis XVIII. and Charles X again to power.	1814-1830
	At the beginning of the July monarchy , Louis-Philippe I established the coat of arms and seal of France by order of August 13, 1830 : “À l'avenir le sceau de l'État représentera les armes d'Orléans surmontées de la couronne fermée, avec le scepter et la main de justice en sautoir, et des drapeaux tricolores derrière l'écusson. "	1830-1831
	Coat of arms of the July Monarchy until the February Revolution of 1848 .	1831-1848
	Coat of arms of the Second French Republic under Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (until today the Great Seal of France).	1848-1852
	The coat of arms of the Second Empire under Napoleon III. based on the model of the first empire.	1852-1870
	National emblem for diplomatic missions of the Third Republic	1880-1898
	State symbol as it was newly created for the Third Republic.	1898-1905
	Revised state symbol of the Third and later the Fourth Republic	1905-1953
	State symbol of the Vichy regime	1940-1944
	Emblem of Philippe Pétain , the head of state of Vichy France (here in the variant with the regime's motto: “Work, family, fatherland”). Although the Franziska was only a personal emblem, it was used by the regime on official documents such as a coat of arms.	1940-1944
	State symbol of the Fifth Republic	1953 – today ( de jure )

See also

• Flags and coats of arms of the regions of France
• Flags and coats of arms of the French overseas territories
• Coat of arms of the departments of France

literature

• Karl-Heinz Hesmer: Flags and coats of arms of the world. History and symbolism of the flags and coats of arms of all states . Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, Gütersloh 1992, ISBN 3-570-01082-1 .