France is one of the largest states in Europe; it has a centuries-old history of its existence both as a monarchy and as a republic. Moreover, in the modern world it is the only European power that does not have a state emblem. Its role is played by the emblem, which also has no official status. The absence of a coat of arms is explained by the fact that the French, who committed the Great French Revolution, overthrew the monarchy and proclaimed freedom, equality and fraternity, are not ready to return to the heraldic symbols associated with the power of the monarchy.

French emblem

A modern alternative to the coat of arms today is the emblem of France. It looks like a crescent-shaped shield (pelta), on one side of which is the head of a lion, on the other - an eagle. On the pelt there is a monogram “RF”. Behind the shield, perpendicular to it, are placed fascia - bundles of elm or birch twigs, tied with belts. An ax (axe) is inserted into their middle. The fictions are surrounded by oak and olive branches. The main color of the emblem is gold.

In 2018, the cross of Lorraine (a cross with two crossbars at the top) appeared on the fasces.

Historical coats of arms of France

The modern emblem, which is now used as an analogue of the coat of arms, is an unofficial sign of the Fifth Republic. In the history of French symbolism, there are many coats of arms, as well as emblems. The chronology of their existence is as follows.

Before 1305 and from 1328 to 1376 - an azure shield and a large number of heraldic lilies on it. Blue (azure) color is a symbol of the country's patron saint, St. Martin, and the lily is the flower of the Virgin Mary, denoting purity and purity. The lily was the emblem of the third dynasty on the French throne - the Capetians. Since the fleur-de-lis (lily flower) was subsequently present on all the royal coats of arms of France of different dynasties, it began to be perceived by the French as a symbol of the monarchy as a whole.

With the coat of arms of Navarre

1305-1328 - during the reign of Philip V the Long, the left half of the coat of arms was the same - blue with gold lilies, and the right part was the coat of arms of Navarre, which the king inherited from his mother, Joanna I of Navarre - on a red shield field around the perimeter and in the form oblique and straight cross gold chains. At the place of their intersection, in the middle of the shield, there is a green emerald. The shield is decorated with a crown in the form of a hoop with five lily-shaped teeth.

Under Charles V

1376-1515 - in the coat of arms of the Valois dynasty (under Charles V or under his son Charles VI the Mad) there are three golden lilies on a blue shield field as a sign of the triplicity of the Holy Trinity. Above the shield is the same royal crown with five prongs in the form of lilies.

Under Francis I and Henry III

1515-1589, during the period in power of the Valois dynasty during the time of Francis I, the French coat of arms was decorated with the crown and the Order of St. Michael, and under Henry III - also the Order of the Holy Spirit, approved by him. Above the shield is a royal crown with five lilies at the base and one crowning the headdress. The crown is decorated with pearls.

Under Henry IV of Navarre

1589-1792 - for more than 200 years, the coat of arms featured a blue and gold shield with three lilies and a red shield of Navarre with gold chains, placed on a mantle topped with a crown. Later the Navarrese shield was removed. Above the shields (one shield in the future) there was a knight's helmet, and they were united by the orders of the Holy Spirit and St. Mikhail. On both sides of the shields/shields stood angels in tabard capes as holders. The motto "Montjoie Saint Denis!" (Saint Denis is with us!) is inscribed on a blue ribbon, the ends of which develop near the crown. At first, this heraldic sign also contained the coat of arms of 12 major provinces of France, but they were later removed.

Under Napoleon

1804-1815 on the blue disk of the First Empire during the era of Napoleon Bonaparte there was an eagle with golden plumage. The bird of prey held a bundle of lightning in its talons. Surrounded by the chain of the Legion of Honor, the shield sits on a mantle with a crown and crossed sceptres. The royal robe is strewn with bees (the personal symbol of the famous Corsican), which symbolize immortality, resurrection, and hard work. The eagle here is a symbol of military glory.

Restoration of the monarchy

1814-1830, during the restoration of the monarchy, the previous royal coat of arms was returned, only the shield took on the shape of an oval.

Under Louis Philippe I

1830-1831 - the family coat of arms of the House of Orleans and its representative Louis Philippe, who became king, became a symbol of France for one year. This coat of arms is the same traditional shield with three fleurs-de-lises, and the angels on it have been replaced by French banners.

After the revolution

1831-1848 - on the Orleans coat of arms, the shield with lilies was replaced by a tablet with the inscription “Constitutional Charter. 1830".

Under Napoleon III

1852-1870 Napoleon II slightly changed the coat of arms of the times of Napoleon Bonaparte: the eagle was now placed on the shield.

Unofficial emblems

After 1870, France did not have a coat of arms; from this year, the era of unofficial emblems began, in which the lictor's bun occupied a central place.

1905-1953 - the emblem looks like a blue oval with a gold lictor's tuft (fasces with an ax) surrounded by gold olive and oak branches.

The fasces are intertwined with a ribbon with the words “Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite” (Liberty. Equality. Fraternity).

The emblem is decorated with the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Blue and gold as the historical heraldic French colors are preserved, which emphasizes the continuity of historical traditions.

Since 1953, the emblem has been changed and remains in effect to this day.

The reluctance of the French to officially accept an emblem may also be explained by the fact that throughout the history of its existence the country has changed a huge number of coats of arms and emblems, with changes in forms of government, rulers, and political regimes.

Data

A number of interesting facts are associated with the country’s emblem:

• This symbol is considered an emblem because the heraldic norms were violated during its design. It has existed since 1953.
• This sign has not been officially adopted, although it is used everywhere, for example, decorating the covers of French passports and the building of the French Foreign Ministry.

The current emblem is not a constant value, since its appearance is not formally legalized, therefore changes and additions to the emblem are possible.

In particular, in 2018, the Lorraine cross appeared on it. This change is timed to coincide with the upcoming celebration of a number of events in 2020:

• Eightieth anniversary of Charles de Gaulle's call to resist Hitler's Germany.
• Sixtieth anniversary of the Fifth Republic.
• Fiftieth anniversary of the death of Charles de Gaulle, general, politician and president of France in 1959-1969.

Rationale and meaning of the emblem symbols

Although the emblem of France does not meet the requirements of heraldry, the objects depicted on it are deeply symbolic:

• Pelta. A type of shield of a peculiar shape (sickle-shaped) was used by the infantrymen of Thrace (Balkan Peninsula). The emblem is used as a sign of the French readiness to defend their homeland from enemies, both external and internal.
• A lion. One of the most common symbols of world heraldry. He personifies strength, perseverance, prudence. This is a symbol of the power of the state. In this case, if you look at the image, the left side of the pelta represents the head of a lion.
• Eagle head. A symbol of equal importance to a lion, which is why they are placed at the two ends of the pelta. This figure is the second most common in heraldry after the lion. Denotes dominance, power, state sagacity. The eagle's head is turned towards the center, like the lion's. Both animals are drawn conventionally, schematically, there is no detailed drawing.
• Oak branches on the coat of arms of France denote power, strength, endurance, and also wisdom.
• Olive branches are present here as a symbol of peace and the desire to live in harmony with representatives of other countries and peoples inhabiting our planet.
• Fasces and an ax (axe) appear here as a symbol of justice and protection of statehood. This is an attribute of the ancient Roman kings, and later of the republican high masters, who had the right to use force in the execution of their decisions.
• The monogram "RF", where the "R" is superimposed on the "F", stands for the French Republic (République française), i.e. denotes the current form of government in France (mixed democratic republic).
• The Lorraine cross, which appeared on the coat of arms later than all the elements, is a symbol of the French Resistance and France during the time of Charles de Gaulle.

Oddly enough, the emblem of France did not become a popular symbol of the country recognized by the French. More popular national symbols are Marianna, the Phrygian cap, the Gallic rooster, and the lily.. But everything is changing. Who knows, maybe someday the freedom-loving French will develop their own coat of arms, corresponding to the heraldic canons, which will become a symbol of modern France.

France, how much this word has brought together for my heart... Perhaps this is what a classic would have said, having seen the romantic country with his own eyes. That is why I say this, admiring French culture, history, language and, of course, French cities and attractions.

Did you know that every country has its own symbols that reflect the very essence of the people?

If you didn't know, now you know. And if you knew, then great!

So France also has its own list of symbols, which can be continued almost indefinitely. Here he is:

Let's get to know each other better!

Marianne. Who is she, this beautiful stranger? She is the personification of France itself, an allegorical image of the Republic in the image of a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap (such caps were given to freed slaves). A romantic reflection of the French national motto: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.

Gallic rooster with a bright, almost combat coloring, he reminded the Romans of the Gauls with his red crest, because the Gauls had red hair. And from the Gauls the French people came to eat 😉

Oriflamme- the banner of the French kings, which was raised during military campaigns.

Marseillaise- the anthem of the Great French Revolution, which became the anthem of the whole country - France.

Eiffel Tower- perhaps the most replicated and recognizable image of France in the very center of Paris. Want to know more about your favorite French symbol? Then read.

Croissants. And why do I remember Bednyakov and his parody of Burda from one issue of “Heads and Tails” - “as Burda says, this is yum, yum”???

It's really yum, yum, whatever. Especially when you buy them in the morning from a cute bakery. And, any gourmet will tell you exactly in which country this delicacy originated. Of course, in France. Here's a little story about how Monsieur Croissant came to be...

But no, our Monsieur was originally a Kraut! After all, bakery products in the shape of a crescent were invented in Austria in the 17th century. According to legend, Austrian bakers raised the alarm in time when the troops of the Ottoman Empire tried to penetrate through the secret entrance to Vienna, and thereby saved the city. In honor of the victory, baker Peter Wendler created a bagel in the shape of a month, apparently wanting to ridicule the main symbol of Islam - the crescent moon.

And they already gained popularity in France. They were brought there by the infamous Queen Marie Antoinette, because she was Austrian by birth. The French modified the brought recipe by adding butter. And so the already familiar Monsieur Croissant appeared.

This is how the culinary traditions of different countries come together, connect and intertwine, creating something new and so beloved. I advise everyone to try croissants in France. They are very tasty!!!

Cheese - Fromage. A word commonly used when taking photos to “make a smile”. And in France it is a real haven for gourmets and gourmands. Dozens, hundreds of varieties, mouth watering... Everyone will find something suitable. Well, what names! Camembert, Brie, Roquefort... mmm, it's pleasing to the ear. Although their taste is not for everyone. I personally liked Brie cheese with white mold better. Although I am more of an expert on pies and ice cream)))

Wine, it’s not for me to talk about it, because I prefer non-alcoholic drinks. And I rarely make exceptions for drinking. Ugh, what a terrible word for great French wines!

Recently I made such an exception for a bottle of red wine that I brought from France. I was traveling from Nice and brought wine from Bordeaux, it just so happened =)

What can a person incompetent in this matter say? Overall, not bad. Pleasant aroma, slightly tart taste with a barely noticeable alcoholic aftertaste, which I detect in all alcoholic drinks and therefore do not drink them.

So French wine can impress even me.

I’ve also heard very flattering reviews about rose wine, they say it’s very tasty. Perhaps someday I will make an exception for him.

Here's a short article. Very little is said here about each symbol compared to what could be said. But now you have a general idea of ​​the world of the main French symbols. In addition, you can continue the list of symbols with others - baguette, champagne, haute couture, July 14...

the 14 th of July- National holiday, Bastille Day, which reflects the freedom-loving spirit of the French.

The conclusion is very simple! The culture of France is rich in important events and objects; getting to know it leaves a lot of emotions and impressions that will allow you to create your own list of symbols. And it will already be your France !

Symbols of France
Each country has its own symbols - these can be certain objects, images, dates... Everyone knows them and, most importantly, in the minds of any civilized, educated person, not only a citizen of this country, they are immediately associated with it. This is a word or words that mean certain realities that immediately arise in the mind when a particular country is mentioned. There are many national symbols of France. Let's get acquainted with the main ones. These are the flag of France, Marianne, Fleur-de-lis, Eiffel Tower, Marseillaise, Gallic rooster, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, Joan of Arc and the Cross of Lorraine. So, what do they mean and where exactly did they come from?

Flag of France.
It is the national emblem of France in accordance with Article 2 of the French Constitution of 1958. It consists of three vertical equal stripes: blue - at the pole edge, white - in the middle, and red - at the free edge of the panel. Introduced into use on May 20, 1794 What do these three colors mean?

The color white is traditionally associated with the French monarchy. This association dates back to the end of the 16th century. The “royal” color was first recorded when King Henry IV adopted a white scarf as the emblem of the royal army. In fact, it was the color of the Huguenot party, to which the king belonged before his wedding to the queen. Henry came to the throne in 1589 as a Huguenot and did not convert to Catholicism until 1593. Thus, the color white was introduced when he was not yet officially a Catholic. The Huguenots considered their faith pure, and therefore wore white clothes, white scarves, and had white banners. Thus, the appearance of this color as a royal symbol becomes natural.

In 1590, a white canvas without any designs became the banner of France. Later, golden lilies were embroidered on the royal standard. On clothing and flags, the white cross became the symbol of the French army and remained so until the Revolution.

The colors of the modern French flag were finally formed during the Revolution. This happened after the white badge of the royal family was added as a sign of reconciliation to the blue and red, symbolizing not only the heraldic colors of Paris, but also the revolutionary cockades. The resulting tricolor flag became a real visual embodiment of the slogan “Freedom! Equality! Brotherhood!” Since that time, red has symbolized the flame of the hearts of the French, white has been associated with the national heroine Joan of Arc, and blue with Saint Martinius of Tours, who, according to legend, gave his blue cloak to a freezing beggar. Martinius is considered the patron saint of the French Republic.

Marianne.
Also a nickname for France since 1792. The symbol is depicted as a young woman wearing a Phrygian cap (a soft, rounded cap with the top hanging forward). This headdress has been known since the times of the Roman Empire, it was worn by freed slaves. Since then, the Phrygian cap has become a symbol of freedom.

Marianne is the personification of the French national motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity". Her sculptural images are an indispensable attribute of government institutions, courts, and municipalities. Her profile appears on the French state seal; she is depicted on French standard postage stamps.

Why this name? According to one version, Barras (founder of the Directory) was looking for a beautiful name for the female symbol of the Republic. One day he had dinner with his friend Jean Rebel. It was a family dinner attended by Madame Rebel, who had beauty and charm. Her name was Marie-Anne. Barras decided that there was no better name for the symbol of the republic.

The history of the symbol itself is interesting - the National Assembly of France in September 1792 decided that the new seal of the state should be an image of a standing woman with a spear, wearing a Phrygian cap on her head. Many French artists and sculptors depicted her in their works. One of the most famous works is Delacroix's painting "Freedom on the Barricades", written under the influence of the 1830 revolution.

Since about 1875, images of Marianne began to be widely distributed in official institutions: departments, municipalities, courts. At first these were busts depicting a collective female image, but since 1970 a new tradition was introduced. The committee of mayors of French cities began to select one of the country's famous beautiful women as the prototype of Marianne:
1968 - Brigitte Bardot - film actress

1978 - Mireille Mathieu - singer

1985 - Catherine Deneuve - film actress

1989 - Ines de la Fressange - fashion model

2000 - Laetitia Casta - top model

2003 - Evelyn Toma - TV presenter

2012 - Sophie Marceau - film actress
Fleur-de-lis.
This is the so-called fleur-de-lis. Fleur-de-lys – “fleur de lys”, literally translated as “lily flower”. The lily is a symbol of France; its coat of arms features three crossed lilies, which symbolize mercy, justice and compassion. The image of a stylized lily signifies perfection, light and life and traditionally represents the kings of France. According to French legend, Clovis I, king of the Franks, while still a pagan, saw that he was losing the battle and offered a prayer to the Christian God for victory. An angel appeared to him with a branch of lilies, telling him that from now on he should make the lily his weapon and bequeath it to his descendants.

Clovis won this battle, and he and all his Franks, their wives and children were baptized. Another version of the legend claims that Clovis took the lily as his emblem after the water lilies in the Rhine told him a safe place to ford the river, thanks to which he won a battle. In the twelfth century, the heraldic symbol fleur-de-lis became the symbol of French kings. Louis VII used it on his shield, and it is also believed that the French "lys" is a shortening of "Louis".

The lily is also found in the coat of arms of Saint Louis IX, but only together with the daisy, which he added in memory of his beloved wife Margaret. The shape of a lily was also given to the end of the scepter, and France itself was called the kingdom of lilies, and the French king was called the king of lilies. The French expression “etre assis sur des lys”, that is, “to sit on the lilies,” meant having a high position, since not only all the walls of the rooms, but also all the seats of the chairs were decorated with lily flowers. The lily was generally considered a very honorable sign on coats of arms and was even found on coins. Louis XIV put into circulation coins that even bore the names of gold and silver lilies. On one side of such a coin there was an image of a king or a cross decorated with lilies and crowned at both ends, and on the other - the coat of arms of France, supported by two angels.

Lily was very popular in France. In aristocratic families, it was customary for the groom to send the bride every morning, until the wedding, a bouquet of fresh flowers, which must certainly contain at least a few white lilies. From 1340 to 1801, English kings used the fleur-de-lis on their coats of arms to indicate their claim to the French throne. Since the emblem consists of a triple fleur-de-lis, the fleur-de-lis can also represent the Trinity, the Virgin Mary, the trinity of God, creation and royalty, as well as the trinity of the body, mind and soul of man. Fleur-de-lis is also a symbol of Italian Florence, which is known as the “city of lilies.”

Eiffel Tower.
World famous symbol of France. Named after its creator, architect Gustav Eiffel. The French authorities decided to organize a world exhibition in memory of the centenary of the French Revolution (1789). The Paris city administration asked the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel to make a proposal. At first, Eiffel was a little puzzled, but then, rummaging through his papers, he submitted drawings of a 300-meter iron tower, to which he had previously paid almost no attention. After its construction, it remained for a long time the tallest building in the world (317 meters). In 1986, the tower's external night lighting was replaced by a system of lighting from within the tower itself so that after dark it appears magical and mysterious. The tower has three floors. The first is at an altitude of 57 meters, the second is at an altitude of 115 meters and the third is at 276 meters.

Now it is a television tower for the whole of Paris and the region. On the third floor there is a showcase-office of Gustave Eiffel. At the time of its construction, the Eiffel Tower defied all traditional rules of architecture. 12 thousand iron parts are held together with 2.5 million rivets to create a smooth curve. Everyone believed that it would not last long and would soon collapse, so it was initially planned to leave it for only 20 years, but this period was extended by 70 years by a government decision in 1910.

The height of the tower is currently 318.7 meters, weight - about 10 thousand tons. The sway of the top of the Eiffel Tower in the strongest wind is no more than 12 centimeters. The number of steps of the staircase leading to the lower observation deck is 1652 pieces. The frequency of cosmetic repairs is every 7 years (workers have to use 60 tons of paint in three shades). 10,400 people can be on the tower at the same time.

Marseillaise.
The La Marseillaise became the national anthem of France on July 14, 1795. This military revolutionary song was written in 1792 after France declared war on Austria. While serving in Strasbourg, the French officer Rouget de Lisle composed the "War Song of the Army of the Rhine." The song instantly won love and respect. Quickly spreading throughout the Republican army, it penetrated into Marseille, receiving the name “March of the Marseilles” (or “Marseillaise”), then to Paris. On November 24, 1793, the Convention chose La Marseillaise as the national anthem of France. Marseillaise survived periods of disgrace and rule by different regimes. In Russia in the 80-90s of the 19th century, a revolutionary song sung to the melody of “Marseillaise” and called “Workers’ Marseillaise” was widespread among workers and intellectuals. The most famous singer performing La Marseillaise is Mireille Mathieu.

Gallic rooster.
The Gallic rooster has become a symbol of Gaul and the Gauls, since translated from Latin “gallus” has two meanings - “rooster” and “gaul”. The ancient Romans called the Celtic ancestors - today's French - Gauls. In ancient Rome, the rooster was considered a symbol of arrogance and cockiness. Calling the barbarian tribes that lived on the territory of modern France the word “Gallus,” the Romans put both meanings into it, since they considered the Gauls to be bullies. \The image of a Gallic rooster appeared on ancient coins. During the Middle Ages, the rooster disappeared and appeared already in the 14th century in Germany to represent the national emblem of France, but then it was rejected by Napoleon Bonaparte.

In the 15th century, King Charles VIII chose the image of a rooster as the emblem of France. During the period of the monarchy, the emblem with a rooster was white, and after the Revolution of 1789, like the national flag, it became tricolor. Today, the image of the Gallic rooster can be seen on the state seal of France and in the residence of the French president on the fence of the park of the Elysee Palace. As the most lively of birds (it is worth remembering the famous “cockfights”), the rooster serves as a symbol of struggle and combat. The Gauls wore the image of a rooster on their weapons and banners. In France, it is still considered a symbol of independence and freedom, as well as cockiness and arrogance.

Joan of Arc.
National heroine of France, one of the commanders-in-chief of the French troops in the Hundred Years' War. Captured by the Burgundians, she was handed over to the British and burned at the stake as a witch. She was subsequently rehabilitated and canonized - canonized by the Catholic Church. Jeanne symbolizes the national spirit of the French, striving for freedom. The traditional date of birth of Joan is 1412. Jeanne was born in the village of Domremy on the border of Champagne and Lorraine into a peasant family. At the age of 13, Jeanne first heard the voices of the Archangel Michael, St. Catherine of Alexandria and, it is believed, Margaret of Antioch, who revealed to Jeanne that it was she who was destined to lift the siege of Orleans, elevate the Dauphin to the throne and expel the invaders from the country.

When Jeanne turned 17, she went to the captain of the city of Vaucouleurs, Robert de Baudricourt, and announced her mission. But no one believed her, and Zhanna was forced to return to the village, but a year later she repeated her attempt. This time, the captain, amazed by her persistence, was more attentive and sent her to the Dauphin. On March 4, 1429, Jeanne arrived at the residence of the Dauphin Charles. The Dauphin tested her by placing another man on the throne and standing in the crowd of courtiers. However, Jeanne passed the test, recognizing the king, and announced her mission to him. The king gave her numerous tests, which she successfully passed. Then she was given a large detachment of soldiers and armor. Until the end of her life, Jeanne preferred to wear men's armor and a man's suit, so as not to be recognized by the enemy and to protect herself from the claims of soldiers. Jeanne and a small detachment entered the city of Orleans, the first city on her way to liberate France. On May 4, her army won its first victory, taking the Saint-Loup bastion.

Victories followed one after another, and already on the night of May 7-8, the British were forced to lift the siege of the city. Thus, Joan of Arc solved the task, which other French military leaders considered impossible, in four days. After this, military operations were sluggish. Jeanne was constantly disturbed by the royal courtiers. An important event of those days was the coronation of the Dauphin Charles in the cathedral of the city of Reims, vacated by Joan. In May, Jeanne comes to the aid of the city of Compiegne, besieged by the Burgundians. On May 23, as a result of betrayal (the bridge to the city was raised, which cut off Jeanne’s escape route), Jeanne was captured by the Burgundians. King Charles, who owed her so much, did nothing to save Jeanne. Soon the Burgundians sold it to the British for 10,000 gold livres. In December 1430, Joan was transported to Rouen, which was then under British control. The trial began on February 21, 1431.

Despite the fact that Joan was formally tried on charges of heresy, she was kept in prison under the guard of the British as a prisoner of war. The process was led by Bishop Pierre Cauchon, an ardent supporter of the British. In the hope of breaking the prisoner's will, she was kept in terrible conditions, the English guards insulted her in every possible way, the tribunal threatened her with torture, but it was all in vain - Jeanne refused to submit and admit guilt. Cauchon understood that if he condemned Jeanne to death without getting her to admit guilt, he would only contribute to the emergence of an aura of martyrdom around her. On May 24, he resorted to outright meanness - he presented the prisoner with a ready-made pyre for her execution by burning and already near the pyre he promised to transfer her from an English prison to a church prison, where she would be provided with good care if she signed a paper renouncing heresies and obedience to the church. At the same time, the paper with the text read to the illiterate girl was replaced by another, on which there was a text about the complete renunciation of all her “delusions,” on which Zhanna put an end to it.

Naturally, Cauchon did not even think of fulfilling his promise and sent her back to the previous prison. A few days later, under the pretext that Jeanne had put on men's clothes again (women's clothes had been taken from her by force) and thus “fell into her previous errors,” the tribunal sentenced her to death. On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc was burned in the Old Market Square in Rouen. Nowadays there is a monument to Joan on this site. Only in 1920, the Catholic Church officially cleared all charges against Jeanne, and she was canonized.

Jeanne was immortalized in art. Works of art dedicated to Joan of Arc were created by Friedrich Schiller, Anatole France, Mark Twain, Bernard Shaw, P. Claudel, J. Anouilh and others. In music, the image of Joan was recreated by Giuseppe Verdi (opera "Joan of Arc"), Zinaida Volkonskaya, Pyotr Tchaikovsky (opera "The Maid of Orleans"), Arthur Honegger (oratorio "Joan of Arc at the stake"), Charles Gounod (music for the play Jules Barbier "Joan of Arc"), Henri Tomasi (opera-oratorio "The Triumph of Joan") Artists who dedicated canvases to Joan of Arc: Rubens, Ingres, Gauguin, Nicholas Roerich, etc. At the end of the 19th century, a large number of monuments appeared. Joan of Arc Every city in France wanted to have a monument to Joan: in 1875, a statue by the sculptor Fremier was erected on the Place des Pyramids in Paris; in 1882, a monument was erected in Compiegne, in 1891 - in Domremy. today it is a museum.

Cross of Lorraine.
This is a heraldic figure, representing a cross with two crossbars. The name comes from Lorraine, a region on the border of France and Germany. The Cross of Lorraine, which is also sometimes called the Cross of Anjou. It began to appear in the symbolism of the Dukes of Anjou in the 1430s. The first duke to use the Cross of Lorraine as his official heraldic device was King René, nicknamed the Good. The unusual shape of the cross is explained by a biblical parable, according to which Pontius Pilate ordered the sign “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” to be nailed over the crucified Christ. It is this inscription that is symbolized by the upper crossbar, somewhat smaller in size than the one located below.

The Dukes of Anjou were not the first and not the only secular rulers to include the Cross of Lorraine in their symbolism. It originally served as an emblem for the kings of Hungary and appeared on Hungarian coins and the coat of arms. During the Second World War, the Cross of Lorraine became a symbol of the Free France and the antipode to the fascist cross. The proposal to use the Cross of Lorraine as one of the main symbols of the French fighting the German occupation came from Vice Admiral Emile Muselier, and was approved by General Charles de Gaulle. Muselier developed a standard with the image of the Cross of Lorraine for maritime vessels, and for aviation - a special cockade, on which a cross with two crossbars could also be seen.

In particular, the image of the Lorraine cross can be found on the Order of Liberation, established in November 1940, and on the Resistance medal. The Resistance movement operating in occupied France also actively used the Cross of Lorraine as an emblem. Ultimately, the cross became a symbol of French national unification in the face of the occupiers under the auspices of Charles de Gaulle. After the end of the war and the election of Charles de Gaulle as president (1959), the flag adorning the general’s official car featured an image of the Cross of Lorraine against the background of the French tricolor flag. The Cross of Lorraine often appeared on stamps issued during de Gaulle's reign, as well as on various monuments and memorials. Today, the Cross of Lorraine still adorns the coat of arms of Hungary. In addition, it can be found on the coat of arms and flag of Slovakia. In France, the cross with two bars serves as a symbol of the French resistance and an unofficial symbol of the French Republic.

Bust of Marianne, in the Luxembourg Palace, seat of the French Senate. (Unknown artist)
The image of Marianne - a young woman in a Phrygian cap - has become a national symbol
France in 1792.

It personifies the national motto of the republic: “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.”

Phrygian cap- a soft, rounded cap of red color with the top hanging forward.
The French National Assembly in September 1792 decided that the new seal of the state should be an image of a standing woman with a spear, wearing a Phrygian cap on her head.

Thus, Marianne in the Phrygian cap also became a symbol of free France.
Many French artists and sculptors depicted her in their works.

One of the most famous works is Delacroix’s painting “Freedom on the Barricades”,
written under the influence of the 1830 revolution.

Buste de Marianne, Dordogne, France

Two images, “Marianne the Fighter” and “Marianne the Wise,” won this competition.
In 1849, a postage stamp with Marianne's image was issued.
During the Second Empire, images of Marianne were prohibited.
Since about 1875, images of Marianne began to be widely distributed in official institutions: departments, municipalities, courts.

Sculptural images of Marianna are a mandatory attribute of administrative institutions,
her profile appears on the French state seal and on postage stamps.

Before the introduction of the euro, images of Marianne were placed on coins and banknotes, respectively on centimes and francs.

Currently, the image of Marianne can be seen on French coined Euro cents.

Since 2003, all public administrative bodies have used the Marianne logo against the background of the French flag as their country's coat of arms.

Le triomphe de la République ((The Triumph of the Republic))

sculptor Aimé-Jules Dalou (1899), Place de la Nation, Paris

It is not known exactly why the name “Marianna” became a household name.

The main version says that in the 18th century, female names Marie and Anna were very common in the country, so the Republic, which proclaimed freedom, equality and fraternity for all the people, was called the popular name Marie-Anna.

Statue of Marianne in the post office of the French National Assembly.

At first these were busts depicting a certain collective image - from Marianne the warrior
to Marianna the Mother.

Marianne in today's France, according to the association of mayors,
should symbolize beauty, luxury and success.

Bust of Marianne by sculptor Theodore Doriot, in the French Senate.
At first it was busts , depicting a certain collective image, but since 1970a new tradition was introduced. The committee of mayors of French cities began to select one of the country's famous beautiful women as the prototype of Marianne:

Brigitte Bardot - film actress

In 1968, the sculptor Aslan sculpted the most popular bust of Brigitte Bardot.

And although 45 years have passed, it is her image that is most often ordered from the Louvre workshop

1978 - Mireille Mathieu - singer

1985 - Catherine Deneuve - film actress

Every country has a national treasure that passes from generation to generation. These riches arise from historical events and legends. France is very rich in its national heritage, which has become a property not only within one country, but throughout the world. Who among us has not heard about the Gallic rooster, the Marseillaise, the slogan “Freedom. Equality. Brotherhood"! In order to better understand the mentality of a country, you need to learn more about its symbols.

French flag

Today the flag of France is a tricolor, stripes that are directed vertically. The color on the left is blue, the color on the right is red, and in the middle is white. What do these colors mean? The color white is a symbolic reminder of the monarchy. Since 1590, the flag of France has been monotonously white. Later, lilies were embroidered on white in honor of kings. As a result of the French Revolution, the white flag of the flag changed to three colors. Red symbolized the fiery hearts of the country's patriots, and blue symbolized St. Martinius of Tours. Some people associate white with Joan of Arc.

Anthem "La Marseillaise"

On July 14, 1794, the Marseillaise was approved as the national anthem of France. The song was written in Strasbourg during the revolution in the country. She quickly gained popularity, capturing Marseille (hence the name of the song), and then Paris. At the end of the 19th century, a revolutionary song adapted from the Marseillaise was performed by workers in Russia (“worker’s Marseillaise”). Today it is the most recognizable anthem in the world.

"Gallic Rooster"

Back in the 15th century, the Gallic rooster was chosen as the emblem of France. But the symbol has been known for a long time. The Romans called the local residents Gauls, which meant “rooster”, actually “Gaul”, because of their arrogance and cocky character. This symbol is today applied to the presidential seal and can also be found on the fence of the Champs Elysees.

Fleur-de-lis

Translated it means “lily flower”. According to various legends, this emblem of the country was chosen by the leader of the Franks, Clovis I. The emblem represents three crossed lilies: mercy, justice, compassion. Royal scepters were made in the shape of three lilies; under Louis XIV, lilies were applied to coins. For five centuries the English used fleurs-de-lis on their coats of arms to show their views on the throne of France. Fleur-de-lis is also interpreted as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. This sign is the symbol of Florence (“city of lilies”) in Italy.

Cross of Lorraine

The Cross of Lorraine (named after Lorraine, a region in France) is the shape of a cross with two crossbars. It was first used in France in the House of Anjou. In addition to the French, the Hungarians used the cross of Lorraine, applying it to coats of arms and coins. During World War II, the Cross of Lorraine was a symbol of the liberation of France and the struggle led by