coat of arms of France
The current coat of arms 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 lion-head terminal bears a monogram "RF" standing for République Française (French Republic).
- An olive branch symbolises peace.
- An oak branch symbolises perenity or wisdom.
- The fasces is a symbol associated with justice (from Roman lictor's axes, in this case not fascism).
In September 1999, the French government adopted a new identifier incorporating the Republican motto, the colours of the flag, and the Republic's personification, Marianne.
History
| Coat of Arms of France | Description | Dates Used |
|---|---|---|
 |
France Ancien, the royal coat of arms. | before 1376 |
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France Moderne, the royal coat of arms. | 1376–1589 |
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The royal arms of the Kingdom of France showed until the revolution the shield of Navarre as well after Henry IV King of Navarre became King of France. | 1589–1789 |
 |
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 |
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During the July Monarchy the arms of Louis-Philippe where used. | 1830–1848 |
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The arms of the Second French Empire under Napoleon III, again featuring an eagle. | 1852–1870 |
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Informal arms where created for the French Third Republic featuring fasces on a laurel branch and an oak branch per saltire. | 1898–1953 |
| Symbols of the French Republic |
|---|
| Marianne • Flag of France • Ensign of France • Coat of arms of France • Great Seal of France |
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