| National Emblem of France | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Details | |
| Armiger | The French Republic |
| Adopted | 1912 (1953) |
| Escutcheon | RF, standing for République française |
| Other elements | Fasces, laurel branch, oak branch |
The current emblem of France has been a symbol of France since 1953, although it does not have any legal status as an official coat of arms. It appears on the cover of French passports and was originally adopted by the French Foreign Ministry as a symbol for use by diplomatic and consular missions in 1912 using a design drawn up by the sculptor Jules-Clément Chaplain.
In 1953, France received a request from the United Nations for a copy of the national coat of arms to be displayed alongside the coats of arms of other member states in its assembly chamber. An interministerial commission requested Robert Louis (1902–1965), heraldic artist, to produce a version of the Chaplain design. This did not, however, constitute an adoption of an official coat of arms by the Republic.
Technically speaking, it is an emblem rather than a coat of arms, since it does not respect heraldic rules—heraldry being seen as an aristocratic art, and therefore associated with the Ancien Régime. The emblem consists of:
- A wide shield with, on the one end a lion-head and on the other an eagle-head, bearing a monogram "RF" standing for République Française (French Republic).
- A laurel branch symbolises victory of the Republic.
- An oak branch symbolises perennity or wisdom.
- The fasces, a symbol associated with justice (the bundle of rods and an axe, carried by Roman lictors).
In September 1999, the French government adopted a unique official identifier for its communication, incorporating the Republic's motto, the colours of the flag, and Marianne, the Republic's personification.[1]
 The logo of the French government |
 The symbol is used on plaques marking French consulates |
History
| Coat of Arms of France | Description | Dates Used |
|---|---|---|
 |
France Ancien, the royal coat of arms. | before 1376 |
 |
France Moderne, the royal coat of arms. | 1376–1589 |
 |
The royal arms of the Kingdom of France after the conclusion of the Wars of Religion with the arms of the Kingdom of Navarre impaled with France Moderne, indicating the personal union of the two realms as a result of the ascension of Henry IV to the throne. | 1589–1789 |
.svg) |
The arms of the First French Empire under Napoleon I, featuring an eagle. | 1804–1814 |
 |
After the restoration the royal house of Bourbon once more took up the French crown. These arms are still used by the royal house of France. | 1814–1830 |
 |
During the July Monarchy the arms of Louis-Philippe were used. | 1830–1848 |
.svg) |
The arms of the Second French Empire under Napoleon III, again featuring an eagle. | 1852–1870 |
 |
Informal arms were created for the French Third Republic featuring fasces on a laurel branch and an oak branch per saltire. | 1898–1953 |
 |
Emblem used by Vichy France, officially known as the French State, featuring the motto Travail, Famille, Patrie (Work, Family, Fatherland). | 1940–1944 |
References
- ^ Service d'Information du Gouvernement (24 September 1999). "Charte Graphique de la Communication Gouvernementale" (PDF). http://www.projetsdeurope.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/charte_de_la_communication_gouvernementale_PDF.pdf.
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