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 ...

of France (french: link=no, drapeau français) is a

tricolour A tricolour () or tricolor () is a type of flag or banner design with a triband design which originated in the 16th century as a symbol of republicanism, liberty, or revolution. The flags of France, Italy, Romania, Mexico, and Ireland were ...

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 The national flag of Ireland ( ga, bratach na hÉireann), frequently referred to in Ireland as 'the tricolour' () and elsewhere as the Irish tricolour is a vertical tricolour of green (at the hoist), white and orange. The proportions of th ...

and others are also so known. The design was adopted after the French Revolution; while not the first tricolour, it became one of the most influential flags in history. The tricolour scheme was later adopted by many other nations in Europe and elsewhere, and, according to the '' Encyclopædia Britannica'' has historically stood "in symbolic opposition to the autocratic and clericalist royal standards of the past". Before the tricolour was adopted the royal government used many flags, the best known being a blue shield and gold fleur-de-lis (the Royal Arms of France) on a white background, or state flag. Early in the French Revolution, the Paris militia, which played a prominent role in the storming of the Bastille, wore a cockade of blue and red, the city's traditional colours. According to French general

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (, ), was a French aristocrat, freemasonry, freemason and military officer who fought in the Ameri ...

, white was the "ancient French colour" and was added to the militia cockade to form a tricolour, or national,

cockade of France The cockade of France (french: Cocarde tricolore) 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 o ...

.Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier Lafayette (marquis de), ''Memoirs, correspondence and manuscripts of General Lafayette,'' vol. 2, p. 252. This cockade became part of the uniform of the National Guard, which succeeded the militia and was commanded by Lafayette. The colours and design of the cockade are the basis of the Tricolour flag, adopted in 1790, originally with the red nearest to the flagpole and the blue farthest from it. A modified design by

Jacques-Louis David Jacques-Louis David (; 30 August 1748 – 29 December 1825) was a French painter in the Neoclassicism, Neoclassical style, considered to be the preeminent painter of the era. In the 1780s, his cerebral brand of history painting marked a change in ...

was adopted in 1794. The royal white flag was used during the

Bourbon Restoration Bourbon Restoration may refer to: France under the House of Bourbon: * Bourbon Restoration in France (1814, after the French revolution and Napoleonic era, until 1830; interrupted by the Hundred Days in 1815) Spain under the Spanish Bourbons: * ...

from 1815 to 1830; the tricolour was brought back after the July Revolution and has been used since then, except for an interruption for a few days in 1848. Since 1976, there have been two versions of the flag in varying levels of use by the state: the original (identifiable by its use of navy blue) and one with a lighter shade of blue. Since 2020, France has used the older variant by default, including at the

Élysée Palace The Élysée Palace (french: Palais de l'Élysée; ) is the official residence of the President of the French Republic. Completed in 1722, it was built for nobleman and army officer Louis Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, who had been appointed Gover ...

Design

Article 2 of the French constitution of 1958 states that "the national emblem is the tricolour flag, blue, white, red". No law has specified the shades of these official colours. In English blazon, the flag is described as ''tierced in pale azure, argent and gules.'' The blue stripe has usually been a dark navy blue; a lighter blue (and slightly lighter red) version was introduced in 1974 by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Both versions were used from then; town halls, public buildings and barracks usually fly the darker version of the flag, but the lighter version was sometimes used even on official State buildings. On 13 July 2020, President

Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France since 2017. ''Ex officio'', he is also one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra. Prior to his presidency, Macron served as Minister of Econ ...

reverted, without any statement and with no orders for other institutions to use a specific version, to the darker hue for the presidential

, as a symbol of the French Revolution. The move was met with comments both in favour of and against the change, but it was noted that both the darker and lighter flags have been in use for decades. Flag of France (colour shade comparison) 063712

Flag of France (colour shade comparison) 063712

Currently, the flag is one and a half times wider than its height (i.e. in the proportion 2:3) and, except in the French Navy, has stripes of equal width. Initially, the three stripes of the flag were not equally wide, being in the proportions 30 (blue), 33 (white) and 37 (red). Under

Napoleon I Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

, the proportions were changed to make the stripes' width equal, but by a regulation dated 17 May 1853, the navy went back to using the 30:33:37 proportions, which it now continues to use, as the flapping of the flag makes portions farther from the halyard seem smaller. Drapeau France Télévision

On French television interviews a flag with a much narrower white stripe is often used as a backdrop; a standard flag would show, close up, as only white.

Symbolism

Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, used on the city's coat of arms. Blue is identified with

Saint Martin Saint Martin may refer to: People * Saint Martin of Tours (c. 316–397), Bishop of Tours, France * Saint Martin of Braga (c. 520–580), archbishop of Bracara Augusta in Gallaecia (now Braga in Portugal) * Pope Martin I (598–655) * Saint Mart ...

, red with Saint Denis. At the storming of the Bastille in 1789, the Paris militia wore blue and red cockades on their hats. White had long featured prominently on French flags and is described as the "ancient French colour" by Lafayette. White was added to the "revolutionary" colours of the militia cockade to "nationalise" the design, thus forming the

. Although Lafayette identified the white stripe with the nation, other accounts identify it with the monarchy. Lafayette denied that the flag contains any reference to the red-and-white livery of the Duc d'Orléans. Despite this, Orléanists adopted the tricolour as their own. Blue and red are associated with the Virgin Mary, the patroness of France, and were the colours of the oriflamme. The colours of the French flag may also represent the three main estates of the

Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for "ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ** Ancien Régime in France {{disambig ...

(the clergy: white, the nobility: red and the

bourgeoisie The bourgeoisie ( , ) is a social class, equivalent to the middle or upper middle class. They are distinguished from, and traditionally contrasted with, the proletariat by their affluence, and their great cultural and financial capital. They ...

: blue). Blue, as the symbol of class, comes first and red, representing the nobility, comes last. Both extreme colours are situated on each side of white referring to a superior order. Lafayette's

was adopted in July 1789, a moment of national unity that soon faded. Royalists began wearing white cockades and flying white flags, while the Jacobins, and later the Socialists, flew the

red flag Red flag may refer to: * Red flag (idiom), a metaphor for something signalling a problem ** Red flag warning, a term used by meteorologists ** Red flag (battle ensign), maritime flag signaling an intention to give battle with no quarter (fight to ...

. The tricolour, which combines royalist white with republican red, came to be seen as a symbol of moderation and of a nationalism that transcended factionalism. The French government website states that the white field was the colour of the king, while blue and red were the colours of Paris. The three colours are occasionally taken to represent the three elements of the revolutionary motto, ''liberté'' (freedom: blue), ''égalité'' (equality: white), ''fraternité'' (brotherhood: red); this symbolism was referenced in Krzysztof Kieślowski's three colours film trilogy, for example. In the aftermath of the

November 2015 Paris attacks The November 2015 Paris attacks () were a series of coordinated Islamist terrorist attacks that took place on Friday, 13 November 2015 in Paris, France, and the city's northern suburb, Saint-Denis. Beginning at 9:15p.m., three suicide bombers ...

, many famous landmarks and stadiums were illuminated in the flag colours to honour the victims.

History

Kingdom of France

During the early Middle Ages, the oriflamme, the flag of Saint Denis, was used—red, with two, three, or five spikes. Originally, it was the royal banner under the

Capetians The Capetian dynasty (; french: Capétiens), also known as the House of France, is a dynasty of Frankish origin, and a branch of the Robertians. It is among the largest and oldest royal houses in Europe and the world, and consists of Hugh Cape ...

. It was stored in Saint-Denis abbey, where it was taken when war broke out. French kings went forth into battle preceded either by Saint Martin's red cape, which was supposed to protect the monarch, or by the red banner of Saint Denis. Later during the Middle Ages, these colours came to be associated with the reigning house of France. In 1328, the coat-of-arms of the House of Valois was blue with gold

fleurs-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

bordered in red. From this time on, the kings of France were represented in vignettes and manuscripts wearing a red gown under a blue coat decorated with gold fleurs-de-lis. During the

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French Crown, ...

, England was recognised by a red cross;

Burgundy Burgundy (; french: link=no, Bourgogne ) is a historical territory and former administrative region and province of east-central France. The province was once home to the Dukes of Burgundy from the early 11th until the late 15th century. The c ...

, a red saltire; and France, a white cross. This cross could figure either on a blue or a red field. The blue field eventually became the common standard for French armies. The French regiments were later assigned the white cross as standard, with their proper colours in the cantons. The French flag of a white cross on a blue field is still seen on some flags derived from it, such as those of Quebec and Martinique. The flag of Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War is described in her own words, "I had a banner of which the field was sprinkled with lilies; the world was painted there, with an angel at each side; it was white of the white cloth called 'boccassin'; there was written above it, I believe, 'JHESUS MARIA'; it was fringed with silk."Whitney Smith, ''Flags through the ages and across the world'', McGraw-Hill, England, 1975 , pp. 66–67, The Standard of Joan of Arc, after quoting her from her trial transcript he states: "it was her influence which determined that white should serve as the principal French national colour from shortly after her death in 1431 until the French Revolution almost 350 years later." Joan's standard led to the prominent use of white on later French flags. From the accession of the Bourbons to the throne of France, the green ensign of the navy became a plain white flag, the symbol of purity and royal authority. The merchant navy was assigned "the old flag of the nation of France", the white cross on a blue field. There also was a red jack for the French galleys. The Kingdom of France flag consists of a white banner with 86 Fleur-de-lis and their Coat of Arms or without. (Variant) File:Oriflamme.svg, The Oriflamme, the banner of the Capetians File:Flag of France (XII-XIII).svg, Flag of France under the Capetian Dynasty since the twelfth century File:Flag of France (XIV-XVI).svg, Flag of France under the Capetian dynasty since the fourteenth century File:Pavillon royal de la France.svg, The Royal Banner of France or "Bourbon Flag". The

House of Bourbon The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spanis ...

ruled France from 1589 to 1792 and again from 1815 to 1848. File:Royal Standard of the King of France.svg, The Royal Standard of France File:Pavillon royal de France.svg, Variant royal standard of France File:Royal Standard of King Louis XIV.svg, Variant royal standard of France File:Royal flag of France during the Bourbon Restoration.svg , The Royal Standard of France

The ''Tricolore''

The tricolour flag is derived from the

used during the French Revolution. These were circular rosette-like emblems attached to the hat. Camille Desmoulins asked his followers to wear green cockades on 12 July 1789. The Paris militia, formed on 13 July, adopted a blue and red cockade. Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, and they are used on the city's coat of arms. Cockades with various colour schemes were used during the storming of the Bastille on 14 July.Crowdy, Terry, ''French Revolutionary Infantry 1789–1802'', p. 42 (2004). The blue and red cockade was presented to King Louis XVI at the Hôtel de Ville on 17 July. Lafayette argued for the addition of a white stripe to "nationalise" the design. On 27 July, a tricolour cockade was adopted as part of the uniform of the National Guard, the national police force that succeeded the militia. A ''drapeau tricolore'' with vertical red, white and blue stripes was approved by the Constituent Assembly on 24 October 1790. Simplified designs were used to illustrate how the revolution had broken with the past. The order was reversed to blue-white-red, the current design, by a resolution passed on 15 February 1794. When the

Bourbon dynasty The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spanis ...

was restored following the defeat of

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

in 1815, the ''tricolore''—with its revolutionary connotations—was replaced by a white flag, the pre-revolutionary naval flag. However, following the July Revolution of 1830, the "citizen-king", Louis-Philippe, restored the ''tricolore'', and it has remained France's national flag since that time. Following the overthrow of Napoleon III, voters elected a royalist majority to the National Assembly of the new Third Republic. This parliament then offered the throne to the

Bourbon Bourbon may refer to: Food and drink * Bourbon whiskey, an American whiskey made using a corn-based mash * Bourbon barrel aged beer, a type of beer aged in bourbon barrels * Bourbon biscuit, a chocolate sandwich biscuit * A beer produced by Bras ...

pretender,

Henri, Comte de Chambord Henri, Count of Chambord and Duke of Bordeaux (french: Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonné d'Artois, duc de Bordeaux, comte de Chambord; 29 September 1820 – 24 August 1883) was disputedly King of France from 2 to 9 August 1830 as Hen ...

. However, he insisted that he would accept the throne only on the condition that the tricolour be replaced by the white flag. As the tricolour had become a cherished national symbol, this demand proved impossible to accommodate. Plans to restore the monarchy were adjourned and ultimately dropped, and France has remained a republic, with the tricolour flag, ever since. The Vichy régime, which dropped the word "republic" in favour of "the French state", maintained the use of the ''tricolore'', but Philippe Pétain used as his personal standard a version of the flag with, in the white stripe, an axe made with a star-studded marshal's

baton Baton may refer to: Stick-like objects *Baton, a type of club *Baton (law enforcement) *Baston (weapon), a type of baton used in Arnis and Filipino Martial Arts *Baton charge, a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people *Baton (conductin ...

. This axe is called the "Francisque" in reference to the ancient Frankish throwing axe. During this same period, the Free French Forces used a ''tricolore'' with, in the white stripe, a red Cross of Lorraine. The constitutions of 1946 and 1958 instituted the "blue, white, and red" flag as the national emblem of the Republic. The colours of the national flag are occasionally said to represent different flowers; blue represents cornflowers, white represents marguerites, and red represents poppies. File:Flag of Paris.svg, The flag of Paris, source of the tricolour's blue and red stripes File:The french tricolor cockade.svg, The

, designed in July 1789. White was added to "nationalise" an earlier blue and red design. File:Flag of France (1790–1794).svg, The flag of France used from 1790 until 1794 File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1974, 2020–present).svg, The flag of France used from 1794 (interrupted in 1815–1830 and in 1848) File:Drapeau france 1848.svg, The French Second Republic adopted a variant of the tricolour for a few days between 24 February and 5 March 1848. File:Henri d'Artois' Flag of France (proposed).svg, The French ''tricolore'' with the royal crown and fleur-de-lys was possibly designed by the Henri, Count of Chambord, in his younger years as a compromise, but which was never made official, and which he himself rejected when offered the throne in 1870. File:Roundel of France.svg, From 1912 onwards, the

French Air Force The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...

originated the use of roundels on military aircraft shortly before World War I. Similar national cockades, with different ordering of colours, were later adopted as aircraft roundels by their allies. File:VichyFlag.svg, Personal standard of Philippe Pétain, as Chief of the Vichy France. File:Flag of Free France (1940-1944).svg, Flag used by the Free French Forces during World War II; in the centre is the Cross of Lorraine; later, the personal standard of President

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government ...

, as Chief of the Free France. File:Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1974, 2020–present).svg, The flag of France, darker red and blue variant. File:Flag of France (lighter variant).svg, The flag of France, lighter red and blue variant.

Regimental flags

File:Vigiles du roi Charles VII 32.jpg, The French soldiers started to use white crosses, during the

, to distinguish themselves from the English soldiers wearing red crosses. File:Rég d Auvergne 1635.png, A white-crossed regimental flag during the (here, ') File:Rég de La Sarre 1685.png, Regiment (') File:Rég du Roi 1757.png, King's Regiment (') File:Rég de La Reine 1661.png, Queen's Regiment (') File:Flag of Levis.svg, General ' Regiment Flag in North America. Now official flag of the city of Lévis, Quebec File:Franche de la Marine1.jpg, The pre-

revolutionary A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective, to refer to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor. ...

regimental flags inspired the flag of Quebec (here, the '). File:Grenadier Pied 1 1812 Revers.png, Regimental flag of the 1st Regiment of Grenadiers of the French Imperial Guard (1812) File:Drapeaux 1RE et 2REI Paris 2003.jpg, Current regimental flags of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Légion étrangère.

Naval flags

File:Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg, Naval ensign prior to 1789 and 1814–1830. File:Naval Flag of the Kingdom of France (Civil Ensign).svg, The Merchant Flag of France

Colonial flags

Most French colonies either used the regular tricolour or a regional flag without the French flag. There were some exceptions: File:Flag of Colonial Annam.svg, Flag of Tonkin (French protectorate) and Annam in French Indochina File:Flag of French Laos.svg, Flag of

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

in French Indochina File:Flag of Tay Dam.png, Flag of the

Sip Song Chau Tai 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 ...

, French Indochina (1948–1955) File:Flag of French Sudan.svg, Flag 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 ...

(1958–1959), present-day Mali File:Flag of Togo (1957-1958).svg, Flag of French Togoland (1916–1960), present-day Togo File:Flag of Gabon 1959-1960.svg, Flag of Gabon (1959–1960) File:Flag of the Madagascar Protectorate (1885-1896).svg, Flag of Madagascar under French protection (1885–1895) File:Merchant flag of French Morocco.svg, Merchant flag of the

French protectorate of 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 ...

(1912–1956) File:Flag of French Tunisia.svg, Flag used by some military units based 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, ...

File:Flag of the French Mandate of Syria (1920).svg, Briefly used 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 ...

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

State of Syria State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * '' State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our ...

, in the French Mandate of Syria (1924–1930) File:Latakiya-sanjak-Alawite-state-French-colonial-flag.svg, Flag of the State of Alawites, in the French Mandate of Syria File:Flag of Jabal ad-Druze (state).svg, Flag of Jabal ad-Druze, in the French Mandate of Syria File:Flag of Lebanon during French Mandate (1920-1943).svg, Flag of the

State of 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, ...

during the French mandate 1920–1943 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:Flag of Saint Barthelemy (local).svg, Unofficial flag of Saint Barthélemy File:Flag of Franceville.svg, Flag of New Hebrides (Vanuatu) 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 Uvea (1860).svg, Flag of the French Protectorate of Wallis and Futuna (Uvea) (1860–1886) File:Flag of Wallis and Futuna.svg, Present unofficial flag of Wallis and Futuna File:Flag of the Society Islands Protectorate.svg, Flag of the Kingdom of Tahiti under the Protectorate of France (1845–1880) File:Drapeau Protectorat Français RuRutu (1858-1889).png, Flag of the French protectorate of Rurutu in

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 ...

(1858–1889) File:Flag of French Polynesia.svg, Flag of

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:Flag of French Governor in French Colony.svg, Flag of the French colonial governor File:Flag of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.svg, Flag 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 ...

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

Other

Many provinces and territories in Canada have French-speaking communities with flags representing their communities: File:Flag of Acadia.svg, The

Acadian flag The flag of Acadia is a symbolic flag representing the Acadian community of Canada. It was adopted on 15 August 1884, at the Second Acadian National Convention held in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island, by nearly 5,000 Acadian delegates from a ...

used in Canada is based on the tricolour flag of France, but this flag was never used during French rule of Acadia. It was adopted in 1884. Acadians live mainly in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. File:Flag of Quebec.svg, The current flag of Quebec. The use of blue and white is a characteristic of pre-revolutionary flags. File:Franco-Terreneuviens.svg, Flag of Franco-Newfoundlanders Many areas in North America have substantial French-speaking and ancestral communities: File:Flag of Acadiana.svg, Flag of

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:Drapeau Franco-Américain.svg, Flag of United Franco-Americans File:Drapeau français-américain.svg, Flag of New England Franco-Americans File:Drapeau de l'Acadie occidentale.svg, Flag of

Aroostook county Aroostook County ( ; french: Comté d'Aroostook) is a county in the U.S. state of Maine along the Canada–U.S. border. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,105. Its county seat is Houlton, with offices in Caribou and Fort Kent. Kn ...

Franco-Americans File:Drapeau de l'Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique.svg, Flag of

Androscoggin county Androscoggin County (French: ''Comté d'Androscoggin'') is a county in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 111,139. Its county seat is Auburn and its largest city is Lewiston. Androscoggin County compris ...

Franco-Americans File:Drapeau de la Louisiane septentrionale.svg, Flag of Illinois Country Franco-Americans File:Flag of Iowa.svg, Flag of Iowa File:Flag of New Orleans, Louisiana.svg, Flag of New Orleans, Louisiana File:Flag of Mobile, Alabama.png, Flag of Mobile, Alabama New Hebrides used several flags incorporating both the British Union Flag and the French flag. File:Flag Vanuatu 1963.svg, Flag attested as being used in the

1963 South Pacific Games The 1963 South Pacific Games, held from 29 August to 9 September 1963 at Suva in Fiji, was the first edition of the South Pacific Games. The multisport games were established to engender bonds of friendship amongst peoples in the Pacific, after an ...

Flag of New Hebrides.svg, Flag attested as being used in the

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

and

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events Ja ...

South Pacific Games Flag of New Hebrides (1969).svg, Dark blue version attested at the time of the

1969 South Pacific Games The 1969 South Pacific Games, held from 13–23 August 1969 at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, was the third edition of the South Pacific Games. A total of 1,150 athletes participated in the games. Participating countries Twelve Pacific nations ...

postage stamp New Hebrides Condominium 1F featuring 3rd South Pacific Games Port Moresby 1969 dated 1969
/ref> In the Shanghai International Settlement, the flag of Shanghai Municipal Council has a shield incorporating the French tricolour. File:Flag of the Shanghai International Settlement.svg, Flag of the Shanghai Municipal Council, Shanghai International Settlement Two territories of Vietnam used flags based on the tricolour flag of France. File:Flag of the Montagnard country of South Indochina.svg, Montagnard country (1946–1950) File:Flag of Tai Autonomous Territory.svg,

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)

Gallery

File:Drapeau du 66.JPG, French regimental flag, Paris, autochrome dated 1918 File:Dieudonné Costes devant le Point d'Interrogation.jpg, Flag of France,

color photography Color photography is photography that uses media capable of capturing and reproducing colors. By contrast, black-and-white or gray-monochrome photography records only a single channel of luminance (brightness) and uses media capable only of ...

dated 1930

Notes

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French flag
at Flags Corner {{Navboxes , title = Articles related to the flags of France , list = {{France topics {{Symbols of the French Republic {{FranceFlags {{Subnational flags of France {{French Revolution navbox {{nationalflags {{Flag of Europe {{Six flags of Texas National symbols of France France Articles containing video clips Flags introduced in 1794 Flags introduced in 1830