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List of French flags

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This article is about flags of France in active use. For the historical flags used in the French colonial empire, see French colonial flags.

List of French flags
Le Tricolore, the national flag of France

This list includes flags that either have been in use or are currently used by France, French Overseas Collectivites, the Sui Generis Collectivity and the French Overseas Territory.

The French Society of Vexillology is the authority on the flying of flags in France and maintains the only official register of flags for the country.[1] It was established in 1985 and as part of the Comité des travaux historiques et scientifiques operates under the authority of the Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The Breton Vexillology Society holds a similar role within Brittany.

National flags

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Flag Date Party Description
2020–present;
originally adopted in 1794		 National flag of the French Second Republic, Second French Empire, French Third Republic, French State, Provisional Government of the French Republic, French Fourth Republic, and the French Fifth Republic. Originally adopted on 15 February 1794 and interchangeable with the lighter version introduced in 1976. A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 3:2).
1976–2020 An interchangeable lighter version of the national flag of the French Fifth Republic from 1976.[2] This version was abandoned by President Emmanuel Macron in July 2021 in favor of the version with darker shades.[3][4][5] A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 3:2).
1976–2020 Flag of France (vertical)
2020–present;
originally adopted in 1794 		Modern Flag of France

Standards

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Presidential Standards

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Flag Date Party Description
1880–present The Presidential and Prime Minister Standard of France A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1).
1880–present The Presidential and Prime Minister Standard of France (variant) A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 3:2).
1887–1894 Presidential standard of Sadi Carnot A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "C".
1894–1895 Presidential standard of Jean Casimir-Perier A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "CP".
1895–1899 Presidential standard of Félix Faure A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "FF".
1899–1906 Presidential standard of Émile Loubet A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "EL".
1906–1913 Presidential standard of Armand Fallières A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "AF".
1913–1920 Presidential standard of Raymond Poincaré A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "RP".
1920 Presidential standard of Paul Deschanel A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden"PD".
1920–1924 Presidential standard of Alexandre Millerand A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "AM".
1924–1931 Presidential standard of Gaston Doumergue A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "GD".
1931–1932 Presidential standard of Paul Doumer A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "PD".
1932–1940 Presidential standard of Albert Lebrun A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "AL".

1940–1944 Presidential standards of Philippe Pétain A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with the axe and 7 golden stars.
1947–1954 Presidential standard of Vincent Auriol A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "VA".
1958–1959 Presidential standard of René Coty A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "RC".

1959–1969 Presidential standards of Charles de Gaulle A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 3:2) with the red Cross of Lorraine.
A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "CG" and the red Cross of Lorraine.

1969–1974 Presidential standards of Georges Pompidou A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with the golden "GP".

1974 Presidential standards of Alain Poher A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with the golden "AP".

1975–1981 Presidential standards of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with the golden fasces.

1982–1995 Presidential standards of François Mitterrand A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with the golden oak tree.

1982–1995 Presidential standards of François Mitterrand A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red with the golden "FM".

Ministers Standards

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Flag Date Party Description
1880–1958 Flag of the Governor Colony A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red on swallow tail blue ensign. (proportions 1:2).
1976–present Flag of the Minister of Overseas A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) on a blue ensign.

Royal Standards

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Flag Date Party Description
early 17th century–1789 1814–1830 Universal standard of the kings of France from the House of Bourbon
1643–1715 Royal standard of Louis XIV
1715–1789 Royal standard of Louis XV and Louis XVI
1804–1815 Imperial standard of Napoléon I
1815–1830 Royal Standard of Louis XVIII and Charles X.
1830–1848 Royal Standard of Louis Philippe I
1870–1873 Imperial standard of Napoléon III
1873–1879 Imperial standard of Napoleon III
1827–1877 Personal Standard of Pomare IV

Military

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Flags of the French Military

Flag Date Use Description
Flag of the Minister of the Armed Forces A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with a golden emblem.
10 August 1939–present Flag of the Chief of the Defence Staff Originally the marque of the Chief of the National Defence.[6]
1916–present Flag of the Marshal of France

Army

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Flags of the French Army

Flag Date Use Description
10 August 1939–present Flag of the Chief of Staff of the French Army Marque given to the chief of staff.[6]
1791–1796 Flag of National Volunteers
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Flags of the French Navy

Flag Date Use Description
10 August 1939–present Flag of the Chief of Staff of the French Navy Marque given to the chief of staff.[6]
1794–1814

1853–present

Naval ensign of France A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red, but with bars in proportion 30:33:37
1848–1910 Naval ensign of French Algeria
16th century–? Naval Flag of the Kingdom of France
?–1790 Naval Flag of the Kingdom of France (Galley Ensign)
1790–1794 Naval ensign of Kingdom of France and French First Republic A white flag with a bordered, first version of the French tricolore on the top-left honour quadrant
1638–1790
1814–1830		 Naval ensign of Kingdom of France A pure white flag
1943–1945 Naval jack of Free France The argent rhomboid field is defaced with a gules Lorraine cross.
10 August 1939–present Flag of the Admiral of the French Navy
10 August 1939–present Flag of the Vice-Admiral D'escadre of the French Navy
Flag of the Vice-Admiral of the French Navy
Flag of the Contre-Admiral of the French Navy
Flag of the Capitaine de Vaisseau of the French Navy (Division)
Flag of the Capitaine de Vaisseau of the French Navy (Unit)
Flag of the Harbour Commanding Officer
Flag of the Senior Merchant Navy Captain in the harbour
Pennant

Air Force

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Flags of the French Air Force

Flag Date Use Description
10 August 1939–present Flag of the Chief of Staff of the French Air Force Marque given to the chief of staff.[6]
1916–1917 Flag of the Lafayette Escadrille

Civil Ensign

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Flag Date Use Description
17th century Civil Ensign of Kingdom of France
?–1790 Civil ensign of Kingdom of France
?–1790 Merchant ensign of Kingdom of France
1923–1945

1945–1949

Civil and merchant ensign of French Indochina
French pilot boat flag

Vexillology Associations

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Flag Date Use Description
2016–present Flag of French Society of Vexillology
1996–present Flag of Breton Vexillological Society

Regional and territorial flags

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Main article: Flags of the regions of France

City flags

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Main article: List of communal flags in France

Largest cities

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Flag Date City Description
1945–present Paris
Main article: Flag of Paris

In the center is the coat of arms of Paris. Red is identified with Saint Denis, blue with Saint Martin.

13th century–present Marseille
Main article: Flag of Marseille

The flag dates from the time of the crusades. The cross is a symbol of the crusades

?–present Lyon
Main article: Flag of Lyon
14th century–present Nice Flag of the County of Nice (1108–1176)
?–present Nantes White cross of the Kingdom of France on the black cross of Brittany
1262–present Strasbourg Colors of Alsace

Political flags

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Flag Date Party Description
current
2021–present Reconquête
2011–present Lys noirfr
2011–present Ligue du Midi oc
2011–present Popular Republican Union
2010–present Europe Ecology – The Greens
2009–present Left Party
2000s–present Identitarian movement
Link to file 1998–present Guadeloupe Communist Party
1994–present Terre et Peuple
1983–present French Nationalist Party
1977–present Tahoera'a Huiraatira
1964–present Breton Democratic Union
former
2013–2014 Bonnets Rouges
2008–2011 Front Comtois
1991–2019 Alternative libertaire
2016–2017 French Renewal
2005–2016
1968–2013 L'Œuvre Française
1961–1962 Organisation armée secrète
1941–1945 National Popular Rally
1936–1945 French Popular Party
1934–1944 French National-Collectivist Party
1933–1944 Mouvement Franciste
1927–1939 French Agrarian and Peasant Party
1791–1792 Feuillant
1790–1795 Cordeliers

Monarchist flags

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These flags have a long tradition among French monarchists.[7]

Separatist movements flags

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Flag Date Party Description
Brittany
2001–present Adsav
1971–1980 Breton Communist Party
1931–1944 Breton National Party
1907 Breton Regionalist Union
Occitania
2018–present Democratic Organization of the People of Occitaniaoc
1969–1976 Anarchist-Communist Federation of Occitania
1959–present Partit de la Nacion Occitana
Catalonia
1972–1981 Catalan Workers' Left
Guadeloupe
1978–present People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe
1963–1970s Guadeloupe National Organizing Group
Saint Martin
1990–present Pro-Unification of Saint Martin flag
Martinique
1992–present Build the Martinique Country and Movement of Democrats and Ecologists for Sovereign Martiniquefr
Link to file 1984–present National Council of People's Committeesfr
1984–present Communist Party for Independence and Socialism
1978–present Martinican Independence Movement
New Caledonia
1984–present Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front
1953–present Caledonian Union
French Polynesia
1986–present Tavini Huiraatira
French Guiana
1991–present Decolonization and Social Emancipation Movement
Pied-Noir
2016–present Etat Pied-Noir

Ethnic groups flags

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Many cultural groups, which identify themselves mostly by language, use traditional flag of the regions of its origin. Such flags are not listed here.

Flag Date Use Description
11th century–present Flag of Alsatians Flag of Alsace
? Cultural flag of Arpitania Sun of the Alps
1894–present Flag of Basques Ikurriña
1923–present Flag of Bretons Flag of Brittany
1923–present Flag of Catalans Senyera serves as a flag of Pyrénées-Orientales
1188?–present Flag of Gascon people Flag of Gascony
13th century–present Flag of Norman people Flag and coat of arms of Normandy
19th century–present Flag of Occitans Occitan cross
?–present Flag of Pied-Noirs
1847–present Flag of Savoyards Duchy of Savoy#Flag
?–present Flag of Yenish people
?–present Flag of Native Guyanese
2010–present Flag of Kanak people Flags of New Caledonia
1837–present Flag of Mangarevans Flag of the Gambier Islands
1980–present Flag of Marquesans Flag of the Marquesas Islands
1788–present Flag of Tahitians Flag of French Polynesia
1985–present Flag of Tuamotus
1985–present Flag of Tubuaians Flag of the Austral Islands
1985–present Flag of Uvea people Flag of Wallis and Futuna

Historical flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1790–1794 Flag of Kingdom of France and French First Republic
14 July 1790 Revolutionist flag
21 January 1793 Revolutionist flag
7 May 1794 Revolutionist flag
1814–1830 Royal flag of Kingdom of France
1848 Flag of French Second Republic
1940–1944 Flag of Free France
1943–1944 Flag of the Milice

Kingdom of France

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Flag Date Use Description
10th century–12th century Banner of the Kingdom of France
12th century–13th century Banner of the Kingdom of France
14th century–16th century Banner of the Kingdom of France
1365–1792
1815–1830		 Flag of the Kingdom of France & the Bourbon Restoration
1791–1814 Flag of Armée des Émigrés
1793–1800 Type of Catholic and Royal Army of Vendée flag
1715–1789 State Flag by the Kingdom of France under the absolute monarchy.
1365–1794 The Royal Banner of early modern France or "Bourbon Flag" was the most commonly used flag in New France.[8][9][10][11]
1124–1356 Oriflamme
1124–1356 Oriflamme (variant)
9th century Oriflamme (variant)
9th century Oriflamme (variant)
9th century Oriflamme (variant)

Colonial flags

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Main article: French colonial flags

Alsace

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Flag Date Use Description
Adopted 11th century Historical flag of Alsace
1912–1918 Flag of Alsace-Lorraine, adopted on 25 June 1912 and flag of the Republic of Alsace-Lorraine (1918)
1871–1918 Flag of Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine
982–1803 Banner of the Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg

Brittany

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Flag Date Use Description
939–1547 Flag of Duchy of Brittany
939–1547 Duchy of Brittany – Kroaz Du
14th century–16th century Breton Army Flag and Ensign
1351 Brittany banner during the Breton Civil War

Burgundy

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Flag Date Use Description
918–1482 Flag of Duchy of Burgundy
14th century Flag of Cross of Burgundy

Corsica

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Flag Date Use Description
14th century Flag of Corsica
?–1755 Flag of Corsica
1794–1796 Flag of The Anglo-Corsican Kingdom

Normandy

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Flag Date Use Description
911–1469 Flag of Duchy of Normandy
1035–1087 William the Conquerors gonfalon William the Conquerors personal gonfalon held by Eustace II, Count of Boulogne in the Bayeux Tapestry.

Occitania

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Flag Date Use Description
Medieval Flag of County of Foix
9th century–1620 Flag of Viscounty of Béarn
602–1453 Flag of Duchy of Aquitaine
778–1271 Flag of County of Toulouse
1108–1176 Flag of County of Nice
1274–1791 Flag of Comtat Venaissin
1848–1849 Flag of the Free Cities of Menton and Roquebrune
1944 Flag of Free Republic of Vercors

Savoy

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Flag Date Use Description
1147–1847 Flag of Duchy of Savoy

French Guiana

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Flag Date Use Description
2010–2015 Flag of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana
Colonial Unofficial French Guiana Banner of arms of French Guiana.

French Polynesia

[edit]

Austral Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
1858–1889 Flag of Kingdom of Rurutu
1889–1900 Flag of Kingdom of Rurutu
1856–1891 Flag of Kingdom of Rimatara
1891–1900 Flag of Kingdom of Rimatara

Gambier Islands

[edit]
Flag Date Use Description
1832–1843 Flag of Kingdom of Mangareva

Marquesas Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
1837–1842 Flag of Kingdom of Tahuata
1835 Flag of Kingdom of Taiohae

Society Islands

[edit]
Flag Date Use Description
1820–1845 Flag of Kingdom of Bora Bora
1837–1842 Flag of Kingdom of Bora Bora
1842–1895 Flag of Kingdom of Bora Bora
1847–1888 Flag of Kingdom of Huahine
1847–1880 Flag of Kingdom of Raiatea
1880–1888 Flag of Kingdom of Raiatea
1822–1829 Flag of Kingdom of Tahiti
1829–1843 Flag of Kingdom of Tahiti
1843–1880 Flag of Tahiti Protectorate

Tuamotus

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Flag Date Use Description
1832–1843 Flag of Tuamotu Kingdom

Martinique

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Flag Date Use Description
1766–2018 Unofficial flag of Martinique
2019–2021 Flag of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique

Wallis and Futuna

[edit]
Flag Date Use Description
1842–1860 Flag of Kingdom of Uvea
1860–1886 Flag of Kingdom of Uvea
1886–1887 Flag of Kingdom of Uvea
1837–1858 Royal Standard of Uvea
1858–1887 Royal Standard of Uvea
1887–1910 Unofficial flag of Wallis and Futuna
1910–1974 Unofficial flag of Wallis and Futuna
1974–1985 Unofficial flag of Wallis and Futuna

Other historical flags

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Flag Date Use Description
1419 Flag of Dauphin Charles (future Charles VII) upon his entry (adventus) into Bourges on 14 March 1419. According to Anselme d'Ysalguier (from Toulouse) eyewitness.
c. 1569 Huguenot battle flag
c. 1590 Flag of the Catholic League
1870 Banner of the Catholic French Papal Zouaves
1871 Revolutionary banner from the Paris Commune A plain red flag

Flag proposal

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Flag Date Use Description
1871 A proposed flag of France, possible design by Henri d'Artois, comte de Chambord.
ca. 2010 Proposal by Hervé, Baron Pinoteau for the flag of a restored Kingdom of France under legitimist Bourbon branch.

Associations

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Flag Date Use Description
?–present? Human Rights League
1967– Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer
1896–1935 French Society of Sea Works

French shipping company

[edit]
Flag Date Use Description
1976–2016 Société nationale maritime Corse Méditerranée
1912–1962 Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique
1903–1988 Caen Naval Companyfr
1883–1990 Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
1881–1933 Fabre Line They used the flag of Marseille.
1872–? Chargeurs
1851–1977 Messageries Maritimes
1836–1979 Compagnie Fraissinet
1664–1794 French East India Company

French yacht clubs

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Flag Club
Cercle de la voile de Paris
Cercle de la Voile d'Arcachon
Société des Régates Rochelaises
Société nautique de Marseille
Union Nationale pour la Course au Large
Yacht Club de France (Burgee)
Yacht Club de France (Ensign)
Société des Régates du Havre
Cercle nautique La Baule Le Pouliguen Pornichet
Yacht Club Basque

Fictional flags

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Flag Date Use Description
2007–Present Flag of Principality of Groland Flag of the fictional Principality of Groland was state created by Jules-Édouard Moustic for the French TV channel Canal+. The flag is used as a parody.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "adhésion et renouvellement". French Society of Vexillology. Retrieved 22 December 2016. La Société française de vexillologie (SFV) est ouverte sans condition de nationalité à quiconque s'intéresse à l'étude des drapeaux et des pavillons sous tous leurs aspects (usage, histoire, symbolisme, fabrication, etc.) et adhère aux règles et principes énoncés dans ses statuts.
  2. ^ "À propos du bleu du drapeau tricolore" [About the blue of the tricolor flag]. Société Française de Vexillologie (in French).
  3. ^ "Emmanuel Macron a changé la couleur du drapeau français" [Emmanuel Macron has changed the color of the French flag]. CNEWS (in French). CNews. 14 November 2021.
  4. ^ de Raguenel, Louis (14 November 2021). "INFO EUROPE 1 : Emmanuel Macron a changé la couleur du drapeau français" [INFO EUROPE 1: Emmanuel Macron has changed the color of the French flag]. Europe 1 (in French).
  5. ^ Epstein, Jake (15 November 2021). "France changed the color of its flag – and no one noticed for over a year". Insider. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d "Marques, honneurs, saluts et visites dans les forces navales et à bord des bâtiments de la marine militaire". gallica.bnf.fr (in French). 10 August 1939. Retrieved 29 February 2020.
  7. ^ @OAanmoen (24 January 2022). "French royalists marched in Paris this weekend to mark the death of King Louis XVI and demand the return of the mon…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ New York State Historical Association (1915). Proceedings of the New York State Historical Association with the Quarterly Journal: 2nd-21st Annual Meeting with a List of New Members. The Association. It is most probable that the Bourbon Flag was used during the greater part of the occupancy of the French in the region extending southwest from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi , known as New France... The French flag was probably blue at that time with three golden fleur – de – lis ....
  9. ^ "Fleur-de-lys | The Canadian Encyclopedia". thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. At the time of New France (1534 to the 1760s), two flags could be viewed as having national status. The first was the banner of France – a blue square flag bearing three gold fleurs-de-lys. It was flown above fortifications in the early years of the colony. For instance, it was flown above the lodgings of Pierre Du Gua de Monts at Île Sainte-Croix in 1604. There is some evidence that the banner also flew above Samuel de Champlain's habitation in 1608. ..... the completely white flag of the French Royal Navy was flown from ships, forts and sometimes at land-claiming ceremonies.
  10. ^ "INQUINTE.CA | CANADA 150 Years of History ~ The story behind the flag". inquinte.ca. When Canada was settled as part of France and dubbed "New France," two flags gained national status. One was the Royal Banner of France. This featured a blue background with three gold fleurs-de-lis. A white flag of the French Royal Navy was also flown from ships and forts and sometimes flown at land-claiming ceremonies.
  11. ^ W. Stewart Wallace (1948). The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada. pp. 350–351. During the French régime in Canada, there does not appear to have been any French national flag in the modern sense of the term. The "Banner of France", which was composed of fleur-de-lys on a blue field, came nearest to being a national flag, since it was carried before the king when he marched to battle, and thus in some sense symbolized the kingdom of France. During the later period of French rule, it would seem that the emblem...was a flag showing the fleur-de-lys on a white ground.... as seen in Florida. There were, however, 68 flags authorized for various services by Louis XIV in 1661; and a number of these were doubtless used in New France
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