The Flag of France - Description of the French Flag
As the above picture of the French Flag indicates the overall background is Red, white and blue
The description of the French Flag is as follows:
Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor)
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the French flag represent the following:
White - peace and honesty
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the French flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The Meaning & History of the French Flag
The French Revolution inaugurated the French tricolor flag
On 14 July 1790, the Champ de Mars was decked with the tricolor flags to celebrate the federation and became the symbol of the nation
July 14 is celebrated as Bastille Day in France
The Bastille was a little-used Paris prison which the people stormed in 1789
The storming of the Bastille was a symbolic act and initiated the French Revolution and the downfall of the French King and the aristocracy
In 1848 the motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" was adopted by the French nation
Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
Flag History & Evolution:
The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms were born
These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a modern flag
French Flag Etiquette
French Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including French as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of French
State Flag of French
Military Flag of French (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of French
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the French Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of French should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
The French flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of French should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the French flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of French, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in French Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the French flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the French flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the French flag to the top, then lowering the French Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the French flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The French flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the French flag
The French flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
The French flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The French flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to French Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding French Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource.
France
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
French Land Size : land: 545,630 sq km
French Climate / Weather : generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
French Population : 60,424,213 (July 2004 est.)
French Capital City: Paris
French GDP: $1.654 trillion (2003 est.)
French Main Industries : machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
French Agricultural products : wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
French Currency : euro (EUR)
Main Colors of the French Flag : Red, white and blue
The Celts and Ancient French History
Bronze and Iron Age - The emergence of the Celts across Europe
400BC - By this time the ancient culture of the Celts had settled in many European countries including Austria, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Western Germany, Northern Spain, Turkey and Hungary
The Celts were people from various tribes and were called Galli by the Romans and Galatai or Keltoi by the Greeks. These terms all had one meaning in common - barbarian
It is from the Greek word Keltoi from which the word Celt is derived
Despite the name of Barbarian the Celtic society was based almost entirely on pastoralism and the raising of cattle or sheep
15 BC The Romans had begun to extend their empire. Gallia (in English Gaul) is the Roman name for the region of Europe occupied by the Celts. The word Gaul commonly refers to a Celt inhabitant of that region in ancient times
224 - 220 BC - Rome conquered the Celts
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
280 BC - The Celts sacked many Greek cities
390 BC - The Celts sacked Rome
50-100AD - The spread of Christianity
476 AD The Roman Empire collapsed
Middle Ages - Various different cultures emerged in the lands of the Celts and the history of each country changed accordingly
The above information provides a concise background to the Ancient French civilisations
Concise French History its Flag
768-814 - Charlemagne rules as King of the Franks and is crowned as Holy Roman Emperor
987 - Hugh Capet starts Capetian dynasty
1066 - William, Duke of Normandy, invades England and wins the Battle of Hastings
1189 - 1192 - Crusaders capture Constantinople
1337 - 1443 - Hundred Years' War
1494 - 1559 - Italian Wars- France and Austria fight over Italian lands
1515 - François I crowned French King
1547 - 1559 - Reign of Henry II
1572 - Massacre of Protestants in Paris on St. Bartholomew's Eve. 200,000 Huguenots fled France
1589 - 1593 - Henri IV becomes 1st French Catholic Bourbon King
1608 - Founding of Quebec
1617 - Louis XIII crowned at the age of 17
1624 - Cardinal Richelieu becomes French principal minister
1643 - 1715 - Louis XIV becomes king with Mazarin as French Prime Minister
1715 - Louis XV accedes the throne on 5 May 1789 King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General at Versailles to obtain support for new taxes - this prompted the seeds of the French Revolution as the nobles and church were not subjected to taxes
June 1789 The French commoners declared themselves a National Assembly giving themselves the power to write a new French constitution
14 July 1789 The Bastille was stormed by the people of Paris
1792 King Louis and Queen Marie-Antoinette were executed and a republic was set up in France
1793 Napoleon Bonaparte was named a general during the war with Prussia and Austria
1799 - 1814 Napoleon seized control of France and began building a French empire
1815 Napoleon defeated at Waterloo and was exiled
1815 The Bourbons were returned to the French throne
1824 Charles X became king
July 1830 Charles X was overthrown during the July Revolution of 1830
1848 Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, a nephew of Napoleon, was elected to a four-year term as French president
1851 Louis Napoleon Bonaparte seized power
1852 Louis Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself Emperor Napoleon III
1870 France declared war on Prussia and Emperor Napoleon III is overthrown
1914-1918 World War I - Germany invades France
3 September 1939 France and the United Kingdom declare war on Germany starting World War II
14 June 1940 German troops enter Paris
25 August 1944 Allied troops regain Paris and Charles De Gaulle becomes head of a provisional government
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1956 Morocco and Tunisia granted their independence
3 July 1962 Algeria became independent
"Around the World in 80 minutes!"
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In just a short period of time this concise information with specific facts will improve your overall understanding of the great countries of the World
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The French Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the French Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
