The famous French flag tricolor has long been a symbol of the country. What historical events influenced this, as well as what the colors of the flag mean?
French tricolor prototype
The concept of "tricolor"Comes from the French word tricolore and means" tri-color ", that is, a flag that consists of 3 stripes of different colors. But in fact, the first tricolor appeared not in France, but in the Netherlands, and this happened around the 16th century.
The first three-color flag served as a symbol of the independent unification of the Seventeen Provinces with the monarchical system of government, which fought in the war for their independence. It consisted of stripes of orange, white and blue. It was under such a banner that the army of Prince William I of Orange, who led the Seventeen Provinces, entered the battle.
Inherited tricolor (with slight modifications) countries such as Luxembourg and the Netherlands. It is also widely believed that it was the prince’s flag that inspired the French and Russian tricolors.
Flag History in France
The history of the French flag dates back to 496. It was in this year that Clovis I adopted Christianity, and instead of a white banner, the kingdom began to use blue. In the 800s, the country was proclaimed the Frankish Empire led by Charlemagne. The symbol of the empire was the flag with the image of multi-colored roses.
In the 12th century, under Louis VI, the famous banner appeared - golden heraldic lilies depicted on a blue background.This flag acquired its official name - “Banner of France”.
Interesting fact: heraldic lily - one of the most common coat of arms (along with a lion, eagle, cross). In the Middle Ages, the image denoted the Blessed Virgin. Flowers have been considered sacred since the 12th century.
In the 14th century, under Charles V, the flag changed minimally - the number of lilies was reduced to 3. The probable reason is the desire for Christian traditions, in which the number three denotes the Trinity.
The 15th century became difficult for the country due to wars, famines, epidemics. The most important role in the Hundred Years War for France was played by Joan of Arc. With its appearance and achievements, the people returned to white again. Also on the flag were golden lilies, a coat of arms, church inscriptions. Later, the flag regained its former appearance - a blue canvas with three lilies.
In the Renaissance, the Bourbons came to power. Significant changes affected the coat of arms, and the white flag with the coat of arms and lilies became the state flag.
In 1789, the Bastille was taken during the French Revolution. The then king Louis XVI decorated his hat with multi-colored bows: blue, white and red. The white bow was clinging to tradition, and the blue-red one was in honor of the people's militia of Paris.
At the request of the king, these colors became a symbol of the unity of all the French. Then, the people's militia was transformed into the national guard. Thus, thanks to the symbols of the French National Guard, a modern tricolor appeared.
What does tricolor mean?
The modern flag is presented in the form of three vertical stripes.For some time there were no strict rules regarding the location of stripes and colors. The stripes were located either horizontally or vertically. The flag of the modern type was officially approved on May 20, 1794 as the state one.
Colors from left to right (from the pole to the free edge): blue, white, red. Each shade has a specific meaning:
- Blue. Color is directly related to the period of the reign of the first king - Clovis I. The patron saint of the state is considered to be Saint Martin of Tours, who wore a blue cloak. According to legend, once he gave half a cloak to a poor man. Clovis I, after the adoption of the Christian faith, ordered the flag to be changed to blue.
- White. It was a symbol of the Frankish kingdom for many years - from 1638 to 1790, and was also used on sea banners. He was elected in order to remind everyone - the royal power is of divine origin.
- Red. The color is dedicated to the oriflamme of St. Dionysius - a special symbol in red tones that the French rulers had during Hugo Capet (king of the Franks in 987-996).
Interesting fact: according to another version, the colors of the flag symbolize the motto: “Freedom, equality, fraternity”.
The word "tricolor" comes from tricolore (French - tricolor) and applies only to the French flag. Blue is selected in honor of St. Martin of Tours, patron saint of France. White is the color of divine origin. Red is a shade of the French standard of Oriflamma. The tricolor became the symbol of France in 1789 under King Louis XVI.During the French Revolution, the king decorated his hat with white and blue-red (revolutionary) bows, and also declared these colors a symbol of the unity of the people.
