Flag of France - Colours, Meaning, History 🇫🇷

The flag of France, also known as the French Tricolour or simply the Tricolour, consists of three vertical stripes of blue, white and red. The blue-white-red tricolour in the flag represents freedom, which resulted from the French revolution in the late 18th century. This flag is among the most inspiring flags in history, with its tricolour system being adopted by nations across Europe as well as the entire world. The blue-white-red tricolour flag was declared as the national emblem of the French Republic during the constitutions of 1946 and 1958.

• History of the Flag of France
• What is the meaning behind the colours of the Flag of France?
• Interesting Facts about the Flag of France

History of the Flag of France

Prior to the adoption of the current national flag, France had a great number of flags, among them being the military and naval flags with intricate artistic variations. During this period, the royal coat of arms, a blue shield, and the three golden fleurs-de-lis, were the national emblems of France. Later in the middle ages, the flag of Saint-Denis (the Oriflame) which featured red and two, three, or five spikes was used, and during the same era, the colours present in the Oriflame were considered to represent the governing house of France. However, during the period of the Hundred Years War, this changed and France was represented by a white cross on either a blue or red field. The blue colour ultimately befitted the common standard for the French armies while the white cross became the standard for the French regiments as part of their colours in the Cantons. The white cross on a blue field design, as represented in the initial flag of France, is still seen in some flags that adopted this design following French rule in these areas, such as those of Quebec and Martinique.

The use of white on the French flag is attributed to the flag of Joan Arc flown during the Hundred Years’ War. Later during the restoration of the Bourbons sovereignty in France, between 1814-1830, the flag of France was a plain white banner or a white banner (which represented purity and royal authority) with the Bourbons coat of arms. Afterwards, following the conclusion of the French wars of religion (thirty years’ war) and prior to the French revolution, the white Bourbon flag was popularly used—this flag featured golden fleurs-de-lis, the coat of arms of Bourbon on a white field.

The origin of the tricolour scheme of the French flag is associated with the French revolution, where a variety of cockade (round rosette-like insignia attached to the hat) was used as uniforms by the revolutionaries. Red and blue were considered to be the traditional colours of Paris in addition to being used in the city’s coat of arms. Therefore, on July 12th, 1989, Camille Desmoulins and his followers wore green cockades while the Paris militia wore blue and red cockades. During the invasion of Bastille on July 14th, cockades with different colour schemes were used and later the blue and red cockades were presented to King Louis XVI on July 17th. Afterward, Marquis de Lafayette campaigned for the inclusion of a white band to nationalize the design. On  July 27th, the national guard, which was the state police force, succeeded the militia and adopted the tricolour cockade as part of their uniform.

On October 24th, 1790, a Drapeau Tricolore, with vertical red, white and blue bands was officially accepted by the Constituent Assembly. The red-white-blue order was later changed to blue-white-red, which is the current design of the flag, on February 15th, 1794. However, despite the Tricolore's official status, it was hardly used during the French revolution, and its prominence was restored under Napoleon. After Napoleon III was conquered, the royalist majority to the national assembly of the new Third Republic were elected. The royalist majority parliament decided to offer the throne to Henri, Comte de Chambord, a Bourbon pretender, who insisted that he would only accept it if the Tricolore was replaced with a white flag: His demand proved impossible, his aim to reinstate monarchy suspended and eventually dropped, which made France a republic and later a state, under the Vichy regime with the tricolour flag.

What is the meaning behind the colours of the Flag of France?

Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris and are also used on the city’s coat of arms, while white has been featured heavily on the flags which earlier represented France. According to Lafayette, white was an ancient French colour. Therefore, it was included in the red and blue cockade to nationalize the design which led to the establishment of the Tricolour scheme.

Colours

There are numerous explanations concerning the meaning behind the colours of the French flag. One such explanation holds that the blue and red are linked to the Virgin Mary, who is considered the patroness of the nation, and were also the colours of the Oriflame. The second explanation holds that the tricolour in the French flag symbolizes the three principles of the Ancien Regime: 

• White: The clergy
• Red: Nobility
• Blue: Bourgeoisie

Based on this explanation, blue being the representation of class precedes the rest and red as the sign of nobility comes at the end, both extreme colours are located on the left and right borders of white which represents a superior order. Occasionally, and also as the third explanation behind the meaning of the colours of the French flag, the colours are considered to represent the three elements of the revolutionary motto:

• Blue: Freedom
• White: Equality
• Red: Brotherhood 

Shape

According to the 1958 French constitution, the tricolour flag of blue, white and red were declared the official emblem of the state of France. There are two versions of the flag, darker and lighter shades, both of which are used equally. However, the darker shade is used in town halls, public buildings, official state buildings and barracks while the lighter one is commonly used for digital displays.

Currently, the ratio of the French flag is in the proportion of 2:3 meaning that the flag is 1.5 times wider than its height with stripes of equal width. During the era of Napoleon I, the three stripes of the flag were not equal since their proportions were based on the ratio proportions of 30:33:37 (blue, white, red respectively), which is similar to the dimensions used by the French Navy.

Interesting Facts about the Flag of France

• The Flag of France plays a significant role, not only in France but across the world. As such the tricolour flag is one of the most recognized flags in the world and is proudly flown in many official state buildings, town halls, public buildings in France as well as during important public and national holidays. The flag of France is considered to be one of the most influential in history and has inspired other flags around the world.
• The flag of France (Drapeau français) is also known as the French Tricolour or Tricolore because of its three vertical stripes of blue, white and red. The three coloured flag is based on the cockades used in the French Revolution period.
• The white in the flag is an ancient colour of France which also represents the Virgin Mary, Joan of Arc, and the Bourbon dynasty which governed France from the 16th century until the French Revolution. The red and blue  colours used in the city’s coat of arms are also considered the traditional colours of Paris.
• When the tricolour was initially adopted in the 1790s, the colours were in a different order which was red-white-blue. 
• In 1794, the colours were modified to blue-white-red to create the current French flag. However, between 1814-1830, following the return of the Bourbon Monarchy into power after the defeat of Napoleon III, a plain white flag was used.
• Canadian provinces and territories such as Acadian, Quebec and Franco-Albertans, Newfoundlanders, Manitobans, Ontarian among others, that have communities that contain French-speaking residents have flags that were inspired by the tricolour flag of France. Other  countries whose national flags were influenced by the flag of France include Belgium, Ireland, Chad, Mexico, Italy, Norway and Romania.
• Before the French Revolution, France was traditionally represented by a plain white flag.
• The French Tricolour and the European flags are traditionally placed behind the president when he gives public speeches on television. Also, mayors and members of parliament wear a sash with colours from the French flag on their right shoulder during public ceremonial events. 
• Although Saint Pierre and Miquelon are a part of France, they do not use France’s current flag. Instead, the islands use a flag that is centred on historical provincial emblems of France which lack official prominence.

Do you know any other interesting facts about the flag of France? Share your thoughts below.