Some of the

colonies In modern parlance, a colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule. Though dominated by the foreign colonizers, colonies remain separate from the administration of the original country of the colonizers, the '' metropolitan state'' ...

, protectorates and mandates of the

French Colonial Empire The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas colonies, protectorates and mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "First French Colonial Empire", that exist ...

used distinctive colonial flags. These most commonly had a

French Tricolour The national flag of France (french: link=no, drapeau français) is a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured blue ( hoist side), white, and red. It is known to English speakers as the ''Tricolour'' (), although the flag of Ireland ...

in the canton. As well as the flags of individual colonies, the governors-general of French colonies flew a square flag with a blue field and the French ensign in the canton. This flag was flown beneath the national ensign. Colonial governors used a rectangular swallow-tailed version of this flag.

Colonial flags with a tricolour canton

The flags with the French flag in the canton, which on many occasions were already existing flags without the tricolour, resembled the British colonial flags, which originated as

defacement Defacement or disfigurement may refer to: *Defacement (vandalism), the vandalism of physical objects, like buildings, books, paintings and statues * Website defacement, an attack on a website that changes the visual appearance of the site *Defaceme ...

s of the

British ensigns In British maritime law and custom, an ensign is the identifying flag flown to designate a British ship, either military or civilian. Such flags display the United Kingdom Union Flag in the canton (the upper corner next to the staff), with eith ...

, which have the British

Union Jack The Union Jack, or Union Flag, is the ''de facto'' national flag of the United Kingdom. Although no law has been passed making the Union Flag the official national flag of the United Kingdom, it has effectively become such through precedent. ...

in the canton, and a red, white or blue fly. Naval sources show flags such as those used in the French Mandate of

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

as having the tricolour with unequal stripes, as in the French ensign, but it is likely that these versions of the flags were used at sea, and on land the tricolour had the standard equal stripes. While for the sake of simplicity French colonial ensign are on this page classified by appearance, this should not be taken to imply common origins or the existence of undefaced ensigns used by the French government unless otherwise noted.

Red field

Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...

, French Indochina: Laos was part of

French Indochina French Indochina (previously spelled as French Indo-China),; vi, Đông Dương thuộc Pháp, , lit. 'East Ocean under French Control; km, ឥណ្ឌូចិនបារាំង, ; th, อินโดจีนฝรั่งเศส, ...

from 1893. The tricolour was added to the flag of the

Kingdom of Luang Prabang The Kingdom of Luang Prabang was formed in 1707 as a result of the split of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. When the kingdom split, Muang Phuan became a tributary state of Luang Prabang. Over the years the monarchy weakened even more, and was force ...

, which was red with a white image of a three headed

elephant Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae an ...

on a stand with a

parasol An umbrella or parasol is a folding canopy (building), canopy supported by wooden or metal ribs that is usually mounted on a wooden, metal, or plastic pole. It is designed to protect a person against rain or sunburn, sunlight. The term ''umbr ...

. *

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

: The

Protectorate A protectorate, in the context of international relations, is a State (polity), state that is under protection by another state for defence against aggression and other violations of law. It is a dependent territory that enjoys autonomy over m ...

of Morocco from 1919 to 1953, used the

national flag A national flag is a flag that represents and symbolizes a given nation. It is flown by the government of that nation, but usually can also be flown by its citizens. A national flag is typically designed with specific meanings for its colours ...

with a tricolour in the canton as a civil ensign. *

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

: From 1881–1956, Tunisia was a French protectorate. It has been reported that the tricolour was added to the

Tunisian flag The flag of Tunisia is a rectangular panel of red color with an aspect ratio of 2:3. In the center of the cloth in a white circle is placed a red crescent, surrounding a red five-pointed star on three sides. Bey Tunisia Hussein II decided to crea ...

for use as a civil ensign, as in Morocco, but it seems that such a flag was never official. *

Wallis and Futuna Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands (; french: Wallis-et-Futuna or ', Fakauvea and Fakafutuna: '), is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific, situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji ...

: The unofficial, but commonly used

flag of Wallis and Futuna The official flag of Wallis and Futuna is the French national flag, as it is a French territory. Wallis and Futuna has a locally used unofficial flag which bears the French flag in the canton. Description The unofficial flag of Wallis and Fut ...

is red with four white triangles arranged in a square and the tricolour in the canton with a white fimbriation.

Blue field

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

: This part of the French Mandate of Syria from 1922–25 used a blue flag with a white disk in the centre and the tricolour in the canton. *

(1920): The French Mandate of Syria may have originally used a sky blue flag with a white crescent and star and French tricolour in the canton. * In 1939, the

governor-general Governor-general (plural ''governors-general''), or governor general (plural ''governors general''), is the title of an office-holder. In the context of governors-general and former British colonies, governors-general are appointed as viceroy t ...

's flag, was a square blue flag with a French ensign in the canton. With a swallow-tail, this flag was the colonial governors' flag.

White field

Aleppo )), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black". , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , image_map1 = ...

: This part of the French Mandate of Syria from 1920–25 used a white flag with tricolour in the canton and three yellow five-pointed stars in a triangle in the fly. *

Latakia , coordinates = , elevation_footnotes = , elevation_m = 11 , elevation_ft = , postal_code_type = , postal_code = , area_code = Country code: 963 City code: 41 , geocode ...

: This part of the French Mandate of Syria used a white flag, ratio 2:3, with the tricolour in the canton taking up 1/9 of the area of the flag, red triangles in the other three corners, and a golden sunburst in the centre of the flag. *The first banner of the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

had a white field with a tricolour in the canton, although the order of the colours has since been reversed.

Green field

Togo Togo (), officially the Togolese Republic (french: République togolaise), is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, where its c ...

: The flag used in 1957–8 had two white five-pointed stars in the green field, one at the lower left-hand corner, the other in the upper right-hand corner.

Yellow field

* Annam, part of the Union of

from 1886 until 1954, used a flag with a plain yellow background, in two shapes one with the ratio 2:3 and the other 1:1 (square).

Multicolour field

Jebel Druze Jabal, Jabel, Jebel or Jibal may refer to: People * Jabal (name), a male Arabic given name * Jabal (Bible), mentioned in the Hebrew Bible Places In Arabic, ''jabal'' or ''jebel'' (spelling variants of the same word) means 'mountain'. * Dzhebel, ...

. From 1924 until 1936, this part of the French Mandate of Syria had a flag with a white vertical strip beneath the tricolour in the canton, with the rest of the flag made up of green, red, yellow, blue and white horizontal stripes. *

: In 1922, the French Mandate was made a federation, with a federal flag made up of green-white-green horizontal stripes and the tricolour in the canton. This flag was also used when Aleppo and Damascus merged.

Colonial flags with other designs

Modified tricolours

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

: The

French Mandate The Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon (french: Mandat pour la Syrie et le Liban; ar, الانتداب الفرنسي على سوريا ولبنان, al-intidāb al-fransi 'ala suriya wa-lubnān) (1923−1946) was a League of Nations mandate fou ...

Greater Lebanon The State of Greater Lebanon ( ar, دولة لبنان الكبير, Dawlat Lubnān al-Kabīr; french: État du Grand Liban), informally known as French Lebanon, was a state declared on 1 September 1920, which became the Lebanese Republic ( ar, ...

(1920–43) used as a flag the

French tricolour The national flag of France (french: link=no, drapeau français) is a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured blue ( hoist side), white, and red. It is known to English speakers as the ''Tricolour'' (), although the flag of Ireland ...

with a green

cedar Cedar may refer to: Trees and plants *''Cedrus'', common English name cedar, an Old-World genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae *Cedar (plant), a list of trees and plants known as cedar Places United States * Cedar, Arizona * ...

in the middle stripe. See picture in .

Other designs

French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of Frenc ...

: The

flag of French Polynesia The flag of French Polynesia (french: drapeau de la Polynésie française) is the civil and state flag of the French overseas country French Polynesia. It was adopted in 1984. Description Two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1 ...

has the horizontal stripes, red-white-red. The white stripe is twice the height of each red stripe, and contains an emblem consisting of a boat, the sun, and waves.

Galleries

Historical flags

File:Flag_of_Colonial_Annam.svg, Flag of Annam, part of French Indochina (1923–1945) File:Flag of French Laos.svg, Flag of

, part of French Indochina (1893–1953) File:Flag of Cambodia under French protection.svg, Flag of

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailand t ...

, part of French Indochina (1863–1948) File:Flag of the Imamate of Futa Djallon (1896-1912).svg, Flag of the

Imamate of Futa Jallon The Imamate of Futa Jallon or Jalon ( ar, إمامة فوتة جالون; fuf, Fuuta Jaloo or ' ) was a West African theocratic state based in the Fouta Djallon highlands of modern Guinea. The state was founded around 1727 by a Fulani jihad ...

(1896-1912) File:Flag of Togo (1957-1958).svg, Flag of the Autonomous Republic of Togo (1957–1958) File:Flag-senegal-1958.svg, Flag of the French Senegal (1958-1959) File:Flag of Gabon 1959-1960.svg,

Flag of Gabon The flag of Gabon (french: drapeau du Gabon) is a tricolour consisting of three horizontal green, yellow and blue bands. Adopted in 1960 to replace the previous colonial flag containing the French Tricolour at the canton, it has been the flag ...

(1959–1960) File:Flag of Upper Volta.svg, Flag of the Upper Volta (1959–1984) File:Flag of French Tunisia.svg, Flag used by some military units in the

French protectorate of Tunisia The French protectorate of Tunisia (french: Protectorat français de Tunisie; ar, الحماية الفرنسية في تونس '), commonly referred to as simply French Tunisia, was established in 1881, during the French colonial Empire era, ...

(1881–1956) File:Flag of the French Mandate of Syria (1920).svg, Flag of the

French Mandate of Syria The Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon (french: Mandat pour la Syrie et le Liban; ar, الانتداب الفرنسي على سوريا ولبنان, al-intidāb al-fransi 'ala suriya wa-lubnān) (1923−1946) was a League of Nations mandate foun ...

(organized into five states (Sanjak of Damascus, Sanjak of Aleppo, Alawite State, Sanjak of Latakia, the Jebel Druze, Greater Lebanon) (1920–1922) File:Flag of Syria French mandate.svg, Flag of the Syrian Federation (1922–1924) and later State of Syria (1924–1930) File:Latakiya-sanjak-Alawite-state-French-colonial-flag.svg, Flag of the State of Alawites, later Sanjak of Latakia, in the French Mandate of Syria (1920–1936) File:Flag of the State of Aleppo.svg, Flag of the

State of Aleppo The State of Aleppo (french: État d'Alep; ar, دولة حلب ') was one of the five states that were established by the French High Commissioner of the Levant, General Henri Gouraud, in the French Mandate of Syria which followed the San Remo ...

, in the French Mandate of Syria (1920–1924) File:Flag of the State of Damascus.svg, Flag of the

State of Damascus The State of Damascus (french: État de Damas; ar, دولة دمشق ') was one of the six states established by the French General Henri Gouraud in the French Mandate of Syria which followed the San Remo conference of 1920 and the defeat of K ...

, in the French Mandate of Syria (1920–1924) File:Flag of Jabal ad-Druze (state).svg, Flag of Jabal ad-Druze, in the French Mandate of Syria (1924–1936) File:Flag of the Madagascar Protectorate (1885-1896).svg, Flag of

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

, in the French Protectorate (1885–1895) File:Merchant flag of French Morocco.svg, French Merchant Flag in the

French Morocco The French protectorate in Morocco (french: Protectorat français au Maroc; ar, الحماية الفرنسية في المغرب), also known as French Morocco, was the period of French colonial rule in Morocco between 1912 to 1956. The prote ...

(1919–1956) File:Flag_of_Franceville.svg, Flag of

Vanuatu Vanuatu ( or ; ), officially the Republic of Vanuatu (french: link=no, République de Vanuatu; bi, Ripablik blong Vanuatu), is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is east of no ...

under the

Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission The Anglo-French Joint Naval Commission was in charge of the territory of the New Hebrides in the period 1887–1889 and again in 1890–1906. It was briefly suspended by the constitution of the unrecognized independent state of Franceville. His ...

(1887–1906) File:Flag of the Tahiti Protectorate 1843-1880.svg, Flag of

Tahiti Tahiti (; Tahitian ; ; previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Austr ...

under the Protectorate of France (1842–1880) File:Lebanese French flag.svg, Flag of the State of Greater Lebanon during the French mandate (1920–1946) File:Flag of Tay Khao.png, Flag of the

Tai Dón people White Tai (in Tai Dón, ꪼꪕꪒꪮꪙꫀ, ; in Thai language and Lao language Tai Khao; in Vietnamese language Tai Dón or Thái Trắng, in Chinese language Dai Duan) is an ethnic group of Laos, Vietnam and China. In Vietnam they are called ...

(1944–1953) File:Flag of the Montagnard country of South Indochina.svg, Flag of the Montagnard country of South Indochina (1946–1950) File:Flag of Tai Autonomous Territory.svg, Flag of the

Tai Autonomous Territory The Sip Song Chau TaiOther spellings include: Sip Song Chau Thai, Sipsong Chuthai, Sipsong Chu Tai, Sip Song Chu Tai, Sipsongchuthai, Sip Song Chu Thai, Sipsong Chau Tai, Sip Song Chao Thai, Sipsong Chao Tai, Sipsongchutai, Sipsong Chao Thai. ("Tw ...

(1946–1950) File:Flag of Tay Dam.png, Flag of the Sip Song Chau Tai (1950–1955) File:Flag of the Tay people (1947-1954).svg, Flag of the

Tay people Tay may refer to: People and languages * Tay (name), including lists of people with the given name, surname and nickname * Tay people, an ethnic group of Vietnam ** Tày language *Atayal language, an Austronesian language spoken in Taiwan (ISO 63 ...

(1947–1954) File:Flag of the Nùng Autonomous Territory.svg, Flag of the Nùng Autonomous Territory (1947–1954) File:Flag of Muong Autonomous Region.svg, Flag of the Muong Autonomous Region (1948–1954) File:Flag of Uvea (1860).svg, Flag of the French Protectorate of

(Uvea) (1860–1886) File:Flag of French Sudan.svg, Flag of the French Colony of

French Sudan French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

(1892–1959) File:French Congo 1959 proposal (Flag).svg, Proposed Flag of the

French Congo The French Congo (french: Congo français) or Middle Congo (french: Moyen-Congo) was a French colony which at one time comprised the present-day area of the Republic of the Congo and parts of Gabon, and the Central African Republic. In 1910, ...

(1959) File:Flag of Saar (1947–1956).svg, Flag of the French protectorate of

Saar Saar or SAAR has several meanings: People Given name *Saar Boubacar (born 1951), Senegalese professional football player * Saar Ganor, Israeli archaeologist *Saar Klein (born 1967), American film editor Surname * Ain Saar (born 1968), Est ...

(1947–1956) File:Drapeau Protectorat Français RuRutu (1858-1889).png, Flag of the French protectorate of Rurutu in

(1889–1900) File:Flag of French Governor in French Colony.svg, Flag of a French Governor File:Flag of French protectorate of Rimatara.svg, Flag of French protectorate of

Rimatara Rimatara is the westernmost inhabited island in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia. It is located south of Tahiti and west of Rurutu. The land area of Rimatara is , and that of the Maria islets is .French Polynesia )Territorial motto: ( en, "Great Tahiti of the Golden Haze") , anthem = , song_type = Regional anthem , song = " Ia Ora 'O Tahiti Nui" , image_map = French Polynesia on the globe (French Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of Frenc ...

(1891–1900) File:Drapeau de Raiatea (polynésie Française 1880-1897).png, Flag of French Protectorate of

Raiatea Raiatea or Ra'iatea ( Tahitian: ''Ra‘iātea'') is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia. The island is widely regarded as the "centre" of the eastern islands in ancient Polynesia and it is likely that the ...

, part of

(1880–1897) File:French Algeria Naval Ensign 1848-1910.svg, Algerian ensign under the French rule (1848–1910) File:Flag of Governor General Pélissier.svg, Flag of French Governor General Pélissier (1848–1854) File:Jacques Soustelle's car flag.svg, Car's flag of Governor-General of Algeria Jacques Soustelle (1955–1956) File:Drapeau de l'Ain-Sefra (Algérie française).png, Flag of Ain-Sefra and the vehicle flag of General Laperrine (

French Algeria French Algeria (french: Alger to 1839, then afterwards; unofficially , ar, الجزائر المستعمرة), also known as Colonial Algeria, was the period of French colonisation of Algeria. French rule in the region began in 1830 with the ...

) File:Flag of Uvea (1886-1887).svg, Flag of French Protectorate of

(1886–1887) File:Flag of Wallis and Futuna (1887-1910).svg, Flag of French Protectorate of

(1887–1910) File:Flag of Wallis and Futuna (1910-1974).svg, Flag of French Protectorate of

(1910–1958) File:Flag of Wallis and Futuna (1910-1985).svg, Flag of French Protectorate of

(1958–1985) File:Emblème Société des Oeuvres de Mer.png, Flag of the French Society of Sea Works (1896–1935) File:French Society of Strasbourg to Rhine Navigation.svg, French Society of Strasbourg to Rhine Navigation File:Flag of the Senior Administrator of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.svg, Flag of the Administrator of the

French Southern and Antarctic Lands The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (french: Terres australes et antarctiques françaises, TAAF) is an Overseas Territory (french: Territoire d'outre-mer or ) of France. It consists of: # Adélie Land (), the French claim on the continent ...

(1958–2005)

Flags with French history

File:Flag of Acadia.svg, Flag of

Acadia Acadia (french: link=no, Acadie) was a colony of New France in northeastern North America which included parts of what are now the Maritime provinces, the Gaspé Peninsula and Maine to the Kennebec River. During much of the 17th and early ...

File:Drapeau Franco-Américain.svg, Flag of the

Franco-Americans French Americans or Franco-Americans (french: Franco-Américains), are citizens or nationals of the United States who identify themselves with having full or partial French or French-Canadian heritage, ethnicity and/or ancestral ties. They ...

File:Flag of the Franco Albertains.svg, Flag of the

Franco-Albertan Franco-Albertans (french: Franco-Albertains) are francophone residents of the Canadian province of Alberta. Franco-Albertans may also refer to residents of Alberta with French Canadian ancestry, although publications from the government of Albert ...

File:Franco-Terreneuviens.svg, Flag of the

Franco-Newfoundlander Franco-Newfoundlanders, also known as Franco-Terreneuvians in English or ''Franco-Terreneuviens'' in French, are francophone and/or French Canadian residents of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.New England New England is a region comprising six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York to the west and by the Canadian provinces ...

File:Flag of Acadiana.svg, Flag of the

Acadiana Acadiana ( French and Louisiana French: ''L'Acadiane''), also known as the Cajun Country (Louisiana French: ''Le Pays Cadjin'', es, País Cajún), is the official name given to the French Louisiana region that has historically contained mu ...

File:Flag of the Franco-Colombiens.svg, Flag of the

Franco-Columbian Franco-Columbians (french: Franco-Colombiens) are French Canadians or Canadian francophones living in the province of British Columbia. According to the 2016 Canadian Census, 71,705 residents of the province stated that French is their mother tong ...

File:Flag of the Franco-Manitobains.svg, Flag of the Franco-Manitobains File:Franco-Ontarian flag.svg, Flag of the

Franco-Ontarians Franco-Ontarians (french: Franco-Ontariens or if female, sometimes known as ''Ontarois'' and ''Ontaroises'') are Francophone Canadians that reside in the province of Ontario. Most are French Canadians from Ontario. In 2016, the Government of O ...

File:Flag of the FrancoTenois.svg, Flag of

Franco-Ténois Franco-Ténois, originating from the acronym ''TNO'', the French term for the Northwest Territories of Canada (), refers to the widespread community of francophones who reside in the Northwest Territories. History Francophones have a long histo ...

File:Flag of the Franco-Yukonnais.svg, Flag of the

Franco-Yukonnais Franco-Yukonnais () are French Canadian or French speaking residents of Yukon, a territory of Canada. French has full official language status in the Yukon. Demographics The Canada 2016 Census identified 1,575 residents of the territory as fran ...

File:Bandera dels Fransaskois.svg, Flag of

Fransaskois Fransaskois (), (cf. Québécois people, Québécois), Franco-Saskatchewanais () or Franco-Saskatchewanians are French Canadians or Canadian francophones living in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Saskatchewan. According to t ...

File:Flag of the Franco-Nunavois.svg, Flag of Franco-Nunavois File:Flag of the French Walloon movement.svg, Flag of the

Rassemblement Wallonie France The ''Rassemblement Wallonie France'' (Rally Wallonia France, RWF) is a small political party in Belgium. It is active in Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region. In Brussels it is known as the Rassemblement Bruxelles France or RBF. Its aim is t ...

File:Flag of Koritsa.svg, Flag of the

Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy, from , ''autonomos'', from αὐτο- ''auto-'' "self" and νόμος ''nomos'', "law", hence when combined understood to mean "one who gives oneself one's ...

File:Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svg, Flag of

Free France Free France (french: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general , Free France was established as a government-in-exile ...

File:Flag_of_Philippe_Pétain,_Chief_of_State_of_Vichy_France.svg, Personal standard of Marshal

Philippe Pétain Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Pétain (24 April 1856 – 23 July 1951), commonly known as Philippe Pétain (, ) or Marshal Pétain (french: Maréchal Pétain), was a French general who attained the position of Marshal of France at the end of World ...

as "Chief of State" of

Vichy France Vichy France (french: Régime de Vichy; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was the fascist French state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II. Officially independent, but with half of its ter ...

File:Flag of France (Pieds-noirs).svg, Flag of

Pied-noir The ''Pieds-Noirs'' (; ; ''Pied-Noir''), are the people of French people, French and other White Africans of European ancestry, European descent who were born in Algeria during the French Algeria, period of French rule from 1830 to 1962; the v ...

(2008–) File:Drapeau des Français d'Algérie.svg, Unofficial flag of "French of Algeria" (

Pied-Noir The ''Pieds-Noirs'' (; ; ''Pied-Noir''), are the people of French people, French and other White Africans of European ancestry, European descent who were born in Algeria during the French Algeria, period of French rule from 1830 to 1962; the v ...

) File:Flag of Louisiana (January 1861).svg, Flag of

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

in 1861 File:Flag of Free Republic of Vercors.svg, Flag of

Free Republic of Vercors The Battle of Vercors in July and August 1944 was between a rural group of the French Forces of the Interior (FFI) maquis''">Maquis_(World_War_II).html" ;"title="'Maquis (World War II)">maquis''and the armed forces of Nazi Germany which had occup ...

File:Flag of Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur (FFI).png, Armband used by the ''Forces françaises de l'Interieur'' File:Flag of Maquis De Sylla.png, Flag of French Maquis of Sylla File:Flag of Minnesota.svg, Flag of state of

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

with the French motto "

L'Étoile du Nord ''L'Étoile du Nord'' is a French phrase meaning "The Star of the North". It is the motto of the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the only U.S. state motto in French. It was chosen by the state's first governor, Henry Hastings Sibley, and was adopte ...

" File:Flag of Alliance-Française de Chicago students.svg, Flag of Alliance-Française de Chicago students File:Flag of Detroit.svg, Flag of the City of

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

File:Flag of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.svg, Flag of

Baton Rouge Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...

File:Flag of the Republic of Independent Guyana (1886-1887).svg, Flag of

Republic of Independent Guyana The Republic of Independent Guiana (french: République de la Guyane indépendante) commonly referred to by the name of the capital Counani (rendered "Cunani" in Portuguese by the Brazilians), was a short-lived unrecognized state in South America ...

(1886–1887) File:Louisville's flag.png,

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...

's flag (1949–2003)

Current official and unofficial flags of French overseas regions, collectivities, and territories

File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1974, 2020–present).svg, Official flag of

Clipperton Island Clipperton Island ( or ; ) is an uninhabited, coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is from Paris, France, from Papeete, Tahiti, and from Mexico. It is an Overseas France, overseas state private property of France under direct authori ...

File:Flag of French Guiana.svg, Unofficial flag of

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...

File:Flag of French Polynesia.svg, Official flag of

File:Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.svg, Flag of the Administrator of the

(2005–present) File:Flag of Guadeloupe (local) variant.svg, Unofficial flag of

Guadeloupe Guadeloupe (; ; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Gwadloup, ) is an archipelago and overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean. It consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the ...

(locally used) File:Flag of Guadeloupe (local).svg, Unofficial flag of

(locally used, black variant) File:Flag of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique.svg, Territorial collectivity flag of

Martinique Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in th ...

File:Flag of the Front National de Libération de la Martinique.svg, Unofficial nationalist flag of

File:MARTINIQUE TAEKWONDO DRAPEAU.svg, Taekwondo flag of

File:Flag of Mayotte (local).svg, Unofficial flag of

Mayotte Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Kibushi: ''Maori'', ), officially the Department of Mayotte (french: Département de Mayotte), is an overseas department and region and single territorial collectivity of France. It is loc ...

File:Pro-Independence Flag of New Caledonia.svg, Second official flag of

New Caledonia ) , anthem = "" , image_map = New Caledonia on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of New Caledonia , map_caption = Location of New Caledonia , mapsize = 290px , subdivision_type = Sovereign st ...

File:Proposed flag of Réunion (VAR).svg, Unofficial flag of

Réunion Réunion (; french: La Réunion, ; previously ''Île Bourbon''; rcf, label= Reunionese Creole, La Rényon) is an island in the Indian Ocean that is an overseas department and region of France. It is located approximately east of the island ...

File:Flag of Saint Barthelemy (local).svg, Unofficial flag of

Saint Barthélemy Saint Barthélemy (french: Saint-Barthélemy, ), officially the Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy, is an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. It is often abbreviated to St. Barth in French, and St. Barts in English ...

File:Local flag of the Collectivity of Saint Martin.svg, Unofficial flag of Saint Martin File:Flag of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.svg, Unofficial flag of

Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Pierre and Miquelon (), officially the Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (french: link=no, Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon ), is a self-governing territorial overseas collectivity of France in t ...

File:Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg, Semi-official flag of

Current subnational flags of overseas collectivities and territories

File:Flag of Alo.svg, Flag of Alo File:Flag of Sigave.svg, Flag of

Sigave Sigavé (also Singave or Sigave) is one of the three official chiefdoms of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna in Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. (The other two chiefdoms are Uvea and Alo.) Geography Overview Sigave encompasses the wes ...

File:Flag of Uvea.svg, Flag of the

Uvea The uvea (; Lat. ''uva'', "grape"), also called the ''uveal layer'', ''uveal coat'', ''uveal tract'', ''vascular tunic'' or ''vascular layer'' is the pigmented middle of the three concentric layers that make up an eye. History and etymolog ...

File:Flag of the Austral Islands.svg,

Flag of the Austral Islands The Flag of the Austral Islands is the flag representing the Austral Islands, a constituent of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean administered by France. Description The flag has a ratio of 2:3 and is divided into three vertical stripes: ...

File:Flag of the Gambier Islands.svg,

Flag of the Gambier Islands A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...

File:Flag of Marquesas Islands.svg,

Flag of the Marquesas Islands The flag of the Marquesas Islands is the flag chosen by the regional government to represent the islands. However, it is not formally recognized by France, the administrative government of the region. Description The flag is divided into two h ...

File:Unofficial flag of the Leeward Islands (Society Islands).svg, Flag of the

Leeward Islands french: Îles-Sous-le-Vent , image_name = , image_caption = ''Political'' Leeward Islands. Clockwise: Antigua and Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Saint kitts and Nevis. , image_alt = , locator_map = , location = Caribbean SeaNorth Atlantic Ocean , coor ...

File:Flag of Tuamotu Archipelago.svg, Flag of the

Tuamotu Archipelago The Tuamotu Archipelago or the Tuamotu Islands (french: Îles Tuamotu, officially ) are a French Polynesian chain of just under 80 islands and atolls in the southern Pacific Ocean. They constitute the largest chain of atolls in the world, extendin ...

File:Drapeau de Rapa (Polynésie Française) (actuel).png, Flag of Rapa (

) (nowadays)

Other official flags

File:Ministre-DOMTOM.svg, Jack of the

Minister of Overseas France The Minister of the Overseas (french: Ministre des Outre-mer) is the official in charge of the Ministry of the Overseas in the Government of the French Republic, responsible for overseeing Overseas France. The office was titled Minister of ...

File:Naval Jack of Free France.svg, Ensign using by the

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) ''Charles de Gaulle'' is the flagship of the French Navy. The ship, commissioned in 2001, is the tenth French aircraft carrier, the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel, and the only nuclear-powered carrier completed outside of the Unite ...

File:MarquePresident.svg, Jack of the

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

and the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

File:Marque mindef.svg, Jack of the

Minister of Defence A defence minister or minister of defence is a Cabinet (government), cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from coun ...

File:Marque CEMA.svg, Jack of the chief of staff of the Armies File:Marque CEMM.svg, Jack of the chief of staff of the Navy File:Marque amiral.svg, Jack of an

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

File:Marque VAE.svg, Jack of a

Vice-amiral d'escadre Squadron vice-admiral (french: Vice-amiral d'escadre) is a naval rank found in navies of the world which follow the French tradition of naval ranks. The squadron vice-admiral leads a squadron and is typically senior to a vice-admiral and junior ...

File:Marque VA.svg, Jack of a vice-amiral File:Contre-Amiral.svg, Jack of a contre-amiral File:Marque-capitaine-de-vaisseau-chef-division.svg, Jack of a

capitaine de vaisseau Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The rank is equal to the army rank of colonel and air force rank of group captain. Equivalent ranks worldwide includ ...

commanding a division File:Marque-capitaine-de-vaisseau.svg, Jack of a

commanding a unit File:Marque-commandant-sur-rade.svg, harbour commanding officer (in NATO operations, the "Starboard" is used) File:Marque-capitaine-marine-marchande-senior.svg, senior merchant navy Captain (if no French warship is present) File:Ensign of French's Customs vessels.svg, Ensign of French's Customs vessels File:Drapeau_Société_Nationale_de_Sauvetage_en_Mer.png, Flag of the Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer

References

* F.E. Hulme, ''The Flags of the World: Their History, Blazonry, and Associations, From the Banner of the Crusader to the Burgee of the Yachtsman; Flags National, Colonial, Personal; The Ensigns of Mighty Empires; the Symbols of Lost Causes (Colonial Edition)'', Frederick Wayne and Co., London, pp. 152, (1895). * W.J. Gordon, ''Flags of the World Past and Present: Their Story and Associations'', Frederick Wayne and Co., Ltd., London, pp. 265, (1929). * B. McCandless, and G. Grosvenor, ''"Our Flag Number", The National Geographic Magazine'', National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., Vol. XXXII, No. 4, pp. 420, October, (1917). * G. Grosvenor, and W.J. Showalter, ''"Flags of the World", The National Geographic Magazine'', National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., Vol. LXVI, No. 3, pp. 338–396, September, (1934). * ''Flags of All Nations Volume I. National Flags and Ensigns (B.R.20(1) 1955)'', Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, (1955). * ''Flags of All Nations Volume II. Standards of Rulers, Sovereigns and Heads of State; Flags of Heads of Ministries, and of Naval, Military, and Air Force Officers (B.R.20(2) 1958)'', Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, (1958). * ''Flags of All Nations Change Five (BR20)'', Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, (1989), Revision (1999). * W. Smith, ''Flags Through the Ages and Across the World'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., Ltd., Maidenhead, England, pp. 361, (1975). * J.W. Norie, and J.S. Hobbs, ''Three Hundred and Six Illustrations of the Maritime Flags of All Nations; Arranged Geographically, with Enlarged Standards: Together with Regulations and Instructions Relating to British Flags &c.'', Printed for, and Published by C. Wilson, At the Navigation Warehouse and Naval Academy, No. 157, Leadenhall Street, Near Cornhill,(Facsimile reprint of 1848 original), (1987). * Ottfried Neubecker, ''Flaggenbuch (Flg.B.). Bearbeitet und herausgegeben vom Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine. Abgesclossen am 1. December 1939'', (Historical Facsimile edition containing all national and international flags 1939-1945), pp. 193, (1992). {{Authority control Colonial flags Former French colonies French colonial empire

Colonial flags with a tricolour canton

Red field

Blue field

White field

Green field

Yellow field

Multicolour field

Colonial flags with other designs

Modified tricolours

Other designs

Galleries

Historical flags

Flags with French history

Current official and unofficial flags of French overseas regions, collectivities, and territories

Current subnational flags of overseas collectivities and territories

Other official flags

See also

References