The French flag is a tricolour that consists of three vertical stripes of equal width, coloured in royal blue, white, and red. It is the only official French emblem, according to article 2 of the current Constitution of France, adopted in 1958.
Marianne is the national personification of the French Republic. An embodiment of liberty and reason, and a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty, her bust is present in every city hall in France. Her face is also drawn on stamps. The name Marianne enabled the French people to take over the newborn republic, by creating a popular figure with whom French people could easily identify.
The choice of the Gallic rooster as a symbol for France dates to the Middle Ages. It finds its origin in a play on the word gallus (Latin for rooster) and Gallus (Gallic). Despite its frequent use as a symbol for France, in particular by sports federations, the rooster has never been an official emblem. Cocorico! (French for 'cock-a-doodle-doo') is often used as an affirmation of French patriotism.
The Great Seal of France (French: Grand sceau de la République française) is the official seal of the French Republic. The seal features Liberty personified as a seated Juno wearing a crown with seven arches. She holds a fasces and is supported by a ship's tiller with a cock printed on it. At her feet is a vase with the letters "SU" (Suffrage Universel', French for 'universal suffrage'). At her right, in the background, are symbols of the arts (painter's tools), architecture (Ionic order), education (burning lamp), agriculture (a sheaf of wheat) and industry (a cog wheel). The scene is surrounded by the legend RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE, DÉMOCRATIQUE, UNE ET INDIVISIBLE (French Republic, democratic, one and indivisible) and 24 FEV.1848 (24 February 1848) at the bottom.
The reverse bears the words AU NOM DU PEUPLE FRANÇAIS (In the name of the French people) surrounded by a crown of oak (a symbol of perennity) and laurel (a symbol of glory) leaves tied together with weed and grapes (for agriculture and wealth), and the circular national motto LIBERTÉ, ÉGALITÉ, FRATERNITÉ.
The cockade of France is the national ornament of France, obtained by circularly pleating a blue, white and red ribbon. It is composed of the three colors of the French flag with blue in the center, white immediately outside and red on the edge.
Other RF and tricolour-based emblems
Shield on the Senate entrance
Sometimes used on a semi-official basis, but having no official status as the arms of the French Republic
Historical emblems
1940–1944
Official Cartouche of the French State (Vichy France; 1940–1944)
Unofficial Emblem of Philippe Pétain, chief of state of the French State, featuring the motto Travail, Famille, Patrie (Work, Family, Fatherland). The Francisque was only Pétain's personal emblem but was also gradually used as the regime's informal emblem on official documents (Vichy France; 1940–1944).
Unofficial Alternate version of the Francisque emblem of Philippe Pétain, chief of state of the French State
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