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Flags of France

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Flags of France

Before 1789 the royal colour of France was white and the royal banner was blue with golden fleurs-de-lis; the tricolour began as a cockade in July 1789, became the navy’s flag in 1790 and took its present order, blue at the hoist, by a decree of 15 February 1794. It has flown over two empires and several republics, was replaced by the white flag from 1814 or 1815 to 1830, and was kept by both Vichy and Free France in 1940–1944.

Unlike most pages in this atlas, every era below was written from the sources named under it, and the panel beneath each one says what they establish and what they leave open. Where the two main sources, Wikipedia and Flags of the World, disagree, both are given.

Scope of this page: metropolitan France, from Roman Gaul to the present, with the eras that changed the flag over the mainland. The overseas empire, Algeria and the colonies are not covered, and there is no interactive map yet on this page.
How we know this. 14 of 14 eras on this page carry an evidence panel (10 attested, 2 placeholder image, 2 not yet checked). Only the ones marked attested are confirmed by the sources named under them; where sources disagree or a claim could not be confirmed, the panel says so.
blue–white–red, vertical, blue at the hoist
1958 – present

Fifth Republic

RepublicSecular (laïcité)

Who & why: the constitution of the Fifth Republic names the flag in its Article 2: the national emblem is the tricolour flag, blue, white, red (Wikipedia, quoting the article; Flags of the World, citing the Société française de vexillologie, gives the same wording for 1958). The shade of the blue has moved: President Giscard d'Estaing had it lightened in the 1970s (1974 in Wikipedia and the SFV, 1976 in a Flags of the World contributor), and on 13 July 2020 the Élysée Palace went back to the darker navy, without an announcement and without orders for other institutions.

What it represents: the same blue-white-red tricolour whose order the Convention fixed on 15 February 1794 — blue at the hoist, white in the middle, red at the fly. The 1958 text does not set a shade, and the swatches below are approximations of the commonly shown colours, not a specification.

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia says the constitutions of 1946 and 1958 named the blue, white and red flag as the national emblem, quoting Article 2 of 1958: «the national emblem is the tricolour flag, blue, white, red»; that President Giscard d'Estaing introduced a lighter blue in 1974; and that on 13 July 2020 President Macron reverted the Élysée Palace to the darker hue without a statement. FOTW, citing the Société française de vexillologie, gives the same Article 2 wording for 1958, 1974 and 1976 for the lightening (Sache gives 1976), and 13 July 2020 for the darker blue, which it says was not officially announced and was mainly seen on state buildings.

Not established: The sources date the lightening to 1974 or 1976. Neither names a shade, so the swatch colours are approximations. This is a start-year check only for the constitutional text; the flag itself dates from 1794.

Paint guide
ProportionsThree equal vertical bands; the ensign uses 30:33:37 “optical” widths (regulation of 17 May 1853).
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the same tricolour, restored over Paris
1944 – 1958

Provisional Government & Fourth Republic

Republic

Who & why: a tricolour that had been the last to fly over Paris in June 1940, from the PFG building on boulevard Richard-Lenoir after a German flag went up over the Arc de Triomphe on 14 June, was raised again on 19 August 1944, according to Flags of the World. Wikipedia says the constitutions of 1946 and 1958 both named the blue, white and red flag as the national emblem.

What it represents: the same tricolour continuing through the change of regime; the sources read describe no change to its design in these years.

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia: the constitutions of 1946 and 1958 instituted the blue, white and red flag as the national emblem of the Republic (1958 art. 2: 'the national emblem is the tricolour flag, blue, white, red'). Flags of the World (Third Republic page): a tricolour that had been the last flown in Paris in 1940 was raised again on 19 August 1944; its Fourth Republic page shows the tricolour and gives no dated change in these years.

Not established: No source read describes a Provisional Government flag distinct from the tricolour, and the Fourth Republic is covered only by the 1946 constitution reference; the abbreviation 'PFG' in FOTW's account is unexpanded.

Paint guide
ProportionsAs the Fifth Republic.
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the tricolour, kept by Vichy; Free France added the Cross of Lorraine
1940 – 1944

The French State (Vichy) & Free France

Occupation & divisionPétain

Who & why: in June 1940, after the defeat, most deputies gave Marshal Pétain full powers, and the French State was legally the successor to the Third Republic (Flags of the World). It kept the tricolour as the national flag and replaced the republican motto with Travail, Famille, Patrie; the only new flag was the head of state's standard, prescribed by a decree of 19 March 1942 as a tricolour with seven gold stars on the white stripe below a francisque. Free France had to add a charge to the tricolour because Vichy kept it: Wikipedia says Vice-Admiral Muselier created a naval jack with a red Cross of Lorraine by general order of 3 July 1940, and Flags of the World says a regulation of 5 June 1941 prescribed the cross as the emblem of Free France.

What it represents: the one tricolour claimed by two governments. The image shows the plain tricolour that both started from; neither source read describes the cross of Lorraine flag in enough detail to draw it here.

Attestedhow we know this

FOTW says the French State kept the tricolour (Stilling and Müller), that its only new flag was the head of state's standard, prescribed by a decree of 19 March 1942 as a tricolour with seven gold stars on the white stripe below a francisque (du Payrat and Blanc), and that Free France had to add a charge to the tricolour because Vichy kept it, the cross of Lorraine being prescribed as its emblem by a regulation of 5 June 1941 (Sache). Wikipedia's captions say Pétain used a standard with a francisque in the white stripe and the Free French a cross of Lorraine in the white stripe, and its Free France article says Vice-Admiral Muselier created the naval jack with a red cross of Lorraine by general order no. 2 of 3 July 1940 and that d'Argenlieu suggested the cross.

Not established: The sources differ on when the cross of Lorraine was adopted (June 1940 or July 1940 for the jack, 5 June 1941 for the regulation) and on who proposed it (Muselier, d'Argenlieu). Neither describes the cross-of-Lorraine flags in enough detail to draw, and the image shows the plain tricolour. The star colour on Pétain's standard is gold in the decree and blue in a 1941 scout book.

Paint guide
ProportionsAs the Third Republic.
LayoutPlain tricolour; the Free French variants and Pétain's standard are not drawn.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the tricolour, kept after the monarchists' white flag was refused
1870 – 1940

Third Republic

Republic

Who & why: when the Comte de Chambord, the Bourbon claimant, was offered the throne he made a white flag a condition and refused the tricolour, so the monarchist plan fell through and the Republic kept the tricolour. Wikipedia dates his refusal to 1870 in a caption; Flags of the World dates the flag dispute to 1873 and records compromise ideas, a tricolour with fleurs-de-lis or a white flag with a tricolour cravat, that he rejected.

What it represents: the same tricolour, now kept by default when the one alternative on offer was the Bourbon white flag.

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia says the Comte de Chambord demanded a white flag as a condition of accepting the throne, rejected it when offered the throne in 1870, and that the tricolour was kept. FOTW says Chambord insisted on the white flag with fleurs-de-lis in the dispute of 1873, that compromise ideas were a tricolour with fleurs-de-lis or a white flag with a tricolour cravat, and that he held out.

Not established: The sources differ on the year of the dispute (1870 or 1873). Neither gives a law fixing the flag under the Third Republic.

Paint guide
ProportionsThree equal vertical bands; ensign widths as in 1853.
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the tricolour, under Napoléon III
1852 – 1870

Second Empire

EmpireNapoléon III

Who & why: Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of the French as Napoléon III on 2 December 1852, and the national flag remained the blue-white-red tricolour (Flags of the World, Ivan Sache). A regulation of 17 May 1853 fixed the ensign's “optical” proportions of 30:33:37, and the dark navy blue was firmly established in practice at least from this period.

What it represents: the tricolour continuing under the second Bonaparte; Flags of the World treats the imperial bee, used again under this empire, as an emblem rather than a flag.

Not yet checked against sourceshow we know this

Flags of the World: Louis-Napoleon was proclaimed Emperor as Napoleon III on 2 December 1852 and the national flag was the blue-white-red tricolour; its main France page says a regulation of 17 May 1853 officialised the 30:33:37 optical proportions for the ensign and that the dark navy blue was established at least from the Second Empire. Wikipedia: the navy flag regulation of 17 May 1853 returned the stripes to 30:33:37, and the Third Republic followed the overthrow of Napoleon III.

Not established: Wikipedia does not tie the 1853 regulation to the Second Empire in words, only by date; the imperial bee as an emblem is FOTW's alone.

Paint guide
ProportionsEnsign 30:33:37 (17 May 1853).
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the tricolour, after the red flag was refused
1848 – 1852

Second Republic

Republic

Who & why: Wikipedia says the Second Republic adopted a tricolour variant for a few days, from 24 February to 5 March 1848, and its caption to Philippoteaux's painting says it depicts Lamartine rejecting the red flag in front of the city hall. A decree of 7 March 1848 confirmed the tricolour ensign (Flags of the World, citing Heimer, du Payrat and Gay).

What it represents: the tricolour again, kept at the moment a red flag was on offer.

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia says the Second Republic adopted a tricolour variant for a few days, 24 February to 5 March 1848, and captions Philippoteaux's painting as depicting the rejection of the red flag in front of the city hall. FOTW says a decree of 7 March 1848 confirmed the tricolour ensign.

Not established: Wikipedia does not describe the variant. The painting is cited as depicting Lamartine, not as a document.

Paint guide
ProportionsAs in 1853 for the ensign.
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the tricolour restored after the July Revolution
1830 – 1848

July Monarchy

Constitutional monarchyLouis-Philippe

Who & why: the tricolour had been banned since 1815 and reappeared during Les Trois Glorieuses of 27–29 July 1830. On 30 July Lafayette gave Louis-Philippe a tricolour on the balcony of the city hall, and on 1 August Louis-Philippe, as Lieutenant-General, ordered that France resume its national colours (Flags of the World). He briefly used a fleur-de-lis coat of arms from 13 August 1830 to 16 February 1831 before dropping it under pressure. Wikipedia says the tricolour has been used since 1830 except for 1848.

What it represents: the tricolour restored as the flag of a monarchy: the same flag the Restoration had banned.

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia says Louis-Philippe restored the tricolour in 1830 and that it has been used since except in 1848. FOTW says the tricolour had been banned since 1815, reappeared during the July days of 1830, that on 30 July Lafayette gave Louis-Philippe a tricolour on the city hall balcony, that on 1 August 1830 his ordinance stated that the French nation resumes its colours, and that he used a fleur-de-lis coat of arms from 13 August 1830 to 16 February 1831 before dropping it.

Not established: FOTW's July Monarchy page does not cover the cockade, military flags with the Gallic cock or 1848.

Paint guide
ProportionsThree equal vertical bands.
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the white flag, restored as the national flag
1814 – 1830

Bourbon Restoration (with the Hundred Days)

MonarchyLouis XVIII

Who & why: Flags of the World says the white flag was restored as the national flag in 1814, which it had not been under the Ancien Régime, and calls this a major political mistake because people had accepted the tricolour. Wikipedia says the tricolour was replaced by the pre-revolutionary white naval flag in 1815–1830. In the Hundred Days Napoléon landed on 1 March 1815, had the Elba ensign lowered and the tricolour hoisted, and a decree of 9 March 1815 ordered the tricolour displayed on town halls; he abdicated for the second time on 22 June 1815, and the tricolour was banned again until the revolution of July 1830.

What it represents: a plain white flag standing for the Bourbon monarchy, with the tricolour carried by its opponents.

Attestedhow we know this

FOTW says the white flag was restored as the national flag in 1814, which it had not been under the Ancien Régime (Sache). Wikipedia says the tricolour was replaced by the pre-revolutionary white naval flag in 1815–1830. FOTW says that on landing from Elba in 1815 Napoléon had the tricolour hoisted, that a decree of 9 March 1815 ordered the tricolour displayed on town halls, and that the Hundred Days ended at Waterloo on 18 June 1815.

Not established: The sources differ on 1814 or 1815 for the white flag. FOTW's Restoration page gives no decree and does not cover the white cockade or royal standards. This page draws the plain white flag, without arms.

Paint guide
ProportionsNot fixed in the sources read.
LayoutPlain white field; the royal arms are not drawn.
White#F4EFE1
the tricolour, under Napoléon I
1804 – 1814

First Empire

EmpireNapoléon I

Who & why: Napoléon Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor of the French on 2 December 1804, and Flags of the World says the national flag during the First Empire was the blue-white-red tricolour. The eagle and the bee were imperial emblems rather than the national flag; the same page says Napoléon had no personal standard before Elba, and that the eagle-on-thunderbolt standard sometimes shown is alleged and rests on a cigarette card.

What it represents: the tricolour carried over from the Revolution into the empire, with the imperial emblems beside it.

Not yet checked against sourceshow we know this

Flags of the World: Napoleon was proclaimed Emperor on 2 December 1804, the national flag during the First Empire was the blue-white-red tricolour (Sache), the bee served as an imperial symbol from 1804 to 1814 and in the Hundred Days, and Napoleon had no personal standard before Elba. Wikipedia: 'Under Napoleon I, the proportions were changed to make the stripes' width equal', and after his defeat the Bourbon restoration (1815) replaced the tricolour with a white flag.

Not established: Wikipedia gives no date for the change of proportions under Napoleon I and does not mention eagle standards or the bees; the 'imperial emblems beside it' rest on FOTW alone, and no decree confirming the flag was read.

Paint guide
ProportionsThree equal vertical bands.
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly.
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the tricolour in its present order, from the decree of 15 February 1794
1789 – 1804

Revolution & First Republic

Revolution & Republic

Who & why: in July 1789 the Paris militia, formed on 13 July, wore blue and red and white was added to make the tricolour cockade, which was part of the National Guard uniform from 27 July (Wikipedia); Flags of the World says the cockade existed by 12 July and that Lafayette formalised it without inventing it. In 1790 the navy's jack and ensign were the first vertical tricolours, with red at the hoist; a decree of 24 October 1790, made law on 31 October, set three vertical bands in red-white-blue order. A decree of 26 June 1793 ordered tricolour flags on Paris public buildings, and the decree of 15 February 1794 (27 Pluviôse, Year II) reversed the order to blue at the hoist, the design in use today.

What it represents: the flag the Revolution made from a cockade, in its present order from 1794; the earlier red-hoist form of 1790 is not the one drawn.

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia says the cockade was adopted in July 1789, Paris militia wearing blue and red with white added, that it became part of the National Guard uniform on 27 July 1789, that the Constituent Assembly approved a vertical red-white-blue tricolour on 24 October 1790, and that a resolution of 15 February 1794 reversed the order to blue-white-red. FOTW says the cockade existed by 12 July 1789, that the navy's jack and ensign of 1790 were the first vertical tricolours with red at the hoist, that a decree of 24 October 1790 became law on 31 October, that a decree of 26 June 1793 ordered tricolour flags on Paris public buildings, and that the decree of 15 February 1794 (27 Pluviôse, Year II) set blue at the hoist.

Not established: Wikipedia says the attribution of the white is disputed, and FOTW calls the story of the king pinning the cockade a legend. The 1790 decree was about the flag generally, not only ships. The drawing shows the 1794 order.

Paint guide
ProportionsThree equal vertical bands.
LayoutBlue at the hoist, white centre, red at the fly (1794).
Blue#002395
White#F4EFE1
Red#ED2939
the white flag of the Bourbon kings
1589 – 1789

Bourbon Kingdom

Kingdom

Who & why: Wikipedia says the House of Bourbon ruled France in 1589–1792 and 1815–1848 and that the white Bourbon banner was used. Flags of the World says white was the royal and military colour before 1789, that the King's vessels carried plain white flags (Pierre Gay), and that a decree of 3 March 1781 prescribed the white flag on French consulates in the Levant, the first reported use of a white flag on land.

What it represents: a white flag for the king and his ships, not yet a national flag: Flags of the World says the white flag was made the national flag only in 1814.

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia says the House of Bourbon ruled France in 1589–1792 and 1815–1848 and that the white Bourbon banner was used (image caption). FOTW says white was the royal and military colour, that the King's vessels carried plain white flags (Gay), and that a decree of 3 March 1781 prescribed the white flag on French consulates in the Levant, the first reported use of a white flag on land.

Not established: FOTW says the white flag was a command flag and was not the national flag until 1814. Neither source describes a specific Bourbon royal standard.

Paint guide
ProportionsNot fixed in the sources read.
LayoutPlain white field; the royal arms are not drawn.
White#F4EFE1
a blue banner with three golden fleurs-de-lis, as the arms stood after Charles V
987 – 1589

Capetian & Valois Kingdom

Kingdom

Who & why: Wikipedia says the red oriflamme, the banner of Saint Denis, was the royal banner under the Capetians; that the Valois arms of 1328 were blue with gold fleurs-de-lis bordered in red; that Charles V changed the scattering of lilies to three about 1376; that the blue field became the common standard of French armies in the Hundred Years' War; and that Joan of Arc's standard led to the prominent use of white. Flags of the World says the lilies first appear on Louis VIII's seal and on Philip II's banners, that Charles V reduced them to three in 1365, and that in 1422 Charles VII adopted a white cross as his emblem and a white flag as his banner.

What it represents: the blue banner of gold lilies that stands for the kings of this long period; the oriflamme before it and the white flag after it are not drawn. The dates for the reduction to three lilies differ (1365 or about 1376).

Attestedhow we know this

Wikipedia says the red oriflamme, the banner of Saint Denis, was the royal banner under the Capetians; that the Valois arms of 1328 were blue with gold fleurs-de-lis bordered in red; that Charles V reduced the lilies to three about 1376; and that the blue field became the common standard of French armies in the Hundred Years' War. FOTW says the lilies first appear on Louis VIII's seal and on Philip II's banners (Gay), that Charles V reduced them to three in 1365, that a blue pendon with three gold fleurs-de-lis is described in 1350, and that in 1422 Charles VII adopted a white flag as his banner.

Not established: The date of the reduction to three lilies differs (1365 or about 1376). The oriflamme, which Wikipedia says was the royal banner under the Capetians, is not drawn, and the image shows the later blue banner for the whole span.

Paint guide
ProportionsNot fixed in the sources read.
LayoutBlue field; three gold fleurs-de-lis, two over one, as drawn schematically here.
Blue#1E3D9A
Gold#C9A13C
NO FLAGDOCUMENTED
placeholder maroon field — no flag documented for the Frankish kingdoms
c. 481 – 987

Francia (Merovingian & Carolingian)

Kingdom

Who & why: the Frankish kings ruled Gaul from the late fifth century, first the Merovingians and then the Carolingians, until the Capetian dynasty took the throne in 987. This page has not read a source for any banner of the period.

What it represents: no flag is claimed for this period. The maroon field is a placeholder, not evidence that none existed.

Placeholder imagehow we know this

This page's own caption calls the image a placeholder: «placeholder maroon field — no flag documented for the Frankish kingdoms».

Not established: Whether a flag, banner or standard existed in this period was not checked. The colour shown is not evidence of one.

Paint guide
ProportionsN/A — nothing documented.
NO FLAGDOCUMENTED
placeholder maroon field — no flag documented for Gaul
c. 58 BCE – c. 481 CE

Gaul (Celtic peoples & Roman rule)

Roman province

Who & why: Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars (58–50 BCE) ended the independence of the Celtic peoples of Gaul, which Rome then governed until the Frankish kingdoms took over in the late fifth century. This page has not read a source for any standard of the period.

What it represents: no flag is claimed for this period. The maroon field is a placeholder, not evidence that none existed.

Placeholder imagehow we know this

This page's own caption calls the image a placeholder: «placeholder maroon field — no flag documented for Gaul».

Not established: Whether a flag, banner or standard existed in this period was not checked. The colour shown is not evidence of one.

Paint guide
ProportionsN/A — nothing documented.

Reading the tags

Kingdom / monarchy — a crowned head of state
Republic — no monarch
Empire — an emperor, or a Roman province
Occupation & division — wartime foreign administration
Leader — the ruler most associated with the era
State religion — the official stance on faith

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Written from Wikipedia and Flags of the World; each era’s panel names the pages read. Colours are approximations for reference, not specifications.