List of French flags

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.

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
The Tricolore, the national flag of France.

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
FlagDatePartyDescription
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).
1976–2020An 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 2020 in favor of the version with darker shades.[3][4][5]A vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 3:2).
1976–2020Flag of France (vertical)
2020–present;
originally adopted in 1794		 Flag of France (vertical)

Standards

Presidential Standards
FlagDatePartyDescription
1880–presentThe Presidential and Prime Minister Standard of FranceA 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).
1887–1894Presidential standard of Sadi CarnotA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "C".
1894–1895Presidential standard of Jean Casimir-PerierA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "CP".
1895–1899Presidential standard of Félix FaureA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "FF".
1899–1906Presidential standard of Émile LoubetA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "EL".
1906–1913Presidential standard of Armand FallièresA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "AF".
1913–1920Presidential standard of Raymond PoincaréA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "RP".
1920Presidential standard of Paul DeschanelA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden"PD".
1920–1924Presidential standard of Alexandre MillerandA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "AM".
1924–1931Presidential standard of Gaston DoumergueA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "GD".
1931–1932Presidential standard of Paul DoumerA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "PD".
1932–1940Presidential standard of Albert LebrunA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with the golden "AL".

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

1959–1969Presidential standards of Charles de GaulleA 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Ministers Standards
FlagDatePartyDescription
1880–1958Flag of the Governor ColonyA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red on swallow tail blue ensign. (proportions 1:2).
1976–presentFlag of the Minister of OverseasA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) on a blue ensign.

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

Military

Flags of the French Military

FlagDateUseDescription
Flag of the Minister of the Armed ForcesA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red (proportions 1:1) with a golden emblem.
10 August 1939–presentFlag of the Chief of the Defence StaffOriginally the marque of the Chief of the National Defence.[6]
1916–presentFlag of the Marshal of France

Army

Flags of the French Army

FlagDateUseDescription
10 August 1939–presentFlag of the Chief of Staff of the French ArmyMarque given to the chief of staff.[6]
1791–1796Flag of National Volunteers

Flags of the French Navy

FlagDateUseDescription
10 August 1939–presentFlag of the Chief of Staff of the French NavyMarque given to the chief of staff.[6]
1794–1814

1853–present

 Naval ensign of FranceA vertical tricolour of blue, white, and red, but with bars in proportion 30:33:37
1848–1910Naval ensign of French Algeria
16th century–?Naval Flag of the Kingdom of France
 ?–1790Naval Flag of the Kingdom of France (Galley Ensign)
1790–1794Naval ensign of Kingdom of France and French First RepublicA 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 FranceA pure white flag
1943–1945Naval jack of Free FranceThe argent rhomboid field is defaced with a gules Lorraine cross.
10 August 1939–presentFlag of the Admiral of the French Navy
10 August 1939–presentFlag 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

Flags of the French Air Force

FlagDateUseDescription
10 August 1939–presentFlag of the Chief of Staff of the French Air ForceMarque given to the chief of staff.[6]
1916–1917Flag of the Lafayette Escadrille

Civil Ensign
FlagDateUseDescription
17th centuryCivil Ensign of Kingdom of France
 ?–1790Civil ensign of Kingdom of France
 ?–1790Merchant ensign of Kingdom of France
1923–1945

1945–1949

 Civil and merchant ensign of French Indochina

Vexillology Associations
FlagDateUseDescription
2016–presentFlag of French Society of Vexillology
1996–presentFlag of Breton Vexillological Society

Regional and territorial flags
Main article: Flags of the regions of France

City flags
Main article: List of communal flags in France

Largest cities
Flag Date City Description
?–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
FlagDatePartyDescription
current
2011–presentLys noirfr
2011–presentLigue du Midi oc
2011–presentPopular Republican Union
2010–presentEurope Ecology – The Greens
2009–presentLeft Party
2000s–presentIdentitarian movement
Link to file1998–presentGuadeloupe Communist Party
1994–presentTerre et Peuple
1983–presentFrench Nationalist Party
1977–presentTahoera'a Huiraatira
1964–presentBreton Democratic Union
former
2013–2014Bonnets Rouges
2008–2011Front Comtois
1991–2019Alternative libertaire
2016–2017French Renewal
2005–2016
1968–2013L'Œuvre Française
1961–1962Organisation armée secrète
1941–1945National Popular Rally
1936–1945French Popular Party
1934–1944French National-Collectivist Party
1933–1944Mouvement Franciste
1927–1939French Agrarian and Peasant Party
1791–1792Feuillant
1790–1795Cordeliers

Monarchist flags

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

Separatist movements flags
FlagDatePartyDescription
Brittany
2001–presentAdsav
1971–1980Breton Communist Party
1931–1944Breton National Party
1907Breton Regionalist Union
Occitania
2018–presentDemocratic Organization of the People of Occitaniaoc
1969–1976Anarchist-Communist Federation of Occitania
1959–presentPartit de la Nacion Occitana
Catalonia
1972–1981Catalan Workers' Left
Guadeloupe
1978–presentPeople's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe
1963–1970sGuadeloupe National Organizing Group
Saint Martin
1990–presentPro-Unification of Saint Martin flag
Martinique
1992–presentBuild the Martinique Country and Movement of Democrats and Ecologists for Sovereign Martiniquefr
Link to file1984–presentNational Council of People's Committeesfr
1984–presentCommunist Party for Independence and Socialism
1978–presentMartinican Independence Movement
New Caledonia
1984–presentKanak and Socialist National Liberation Front
1953–presentCaledonian Union
French Polynesia
1986–presentTavini Huiraatira
French Guiana
1991–presentDecolonization and Social Emancipation Movement
Pied-Noir
2016–presentEtat Pied-Noir

Ethnic groups flags

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

FlagDateUseDescription
11th century–presentFlag of AlsatiansFlag of Alsace
 ?Cultural flag of ArpitaniaSun of the Alps
1894–presentFlag of BasquesIkurriña
1923–presentFlag of BretonsFlag of Brittany
1923–presentFlag of CatalansSenyera serves as a flag of Pyrénées-Orientales
1188?–presentFlag of Gascon peopleFlag of Gascony
13th century–presentFlag of Norman peopleFlag and coat of arms of Normandy
19th century–presentFlag of OccitansOccitan cross
 ?–presentFlag of Pied-Noirs
1847–presentFlag of SavoyardsDuchy of Savoy#Flag
 ?–presentFlag of Yenish people
 ?–presentFlag of Native Guyanese
2010–presentFlag of Kanak peopleFlags of New Caledonia
1837–presentFlag of MangarevansFlag of the Gambier Islands
1980–presentFlag of MarquesansFlag of the Marquesas Islands
1788–presentFlag of TahitiansFlag of French Polynesia
1985–presentFlag of Tuamotus
1985–presentFlag of TubuaiansFlag of the Austral Islands
1985–presentFlag of Uvea peopleFlag of Wallis and Futuna

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

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

Colonial flags
Main article: French colonial flags

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

Brittany
FlagDateUseDescription
939–1547Flag of Duchy of Brittany
939–1547Duchy of Brittany - Kroaz Du
14th century–16th centuryBreton Army Flag and Ensign
1351Brittany banner during the Breton Civil War

Burgundy
FlagDateUseDescription
918–1482Flag of Duchy of Burgundy
14th centuryFlag of Cross of Burgundy

Corsica
FlagDateUseDescription
14th centuryFlag of Corsica
 ?–1755Flag of Corsica

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

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

Savoy
FlagDateUseDescription
1147–1847Flag of Duchy of Savoy

French Guiana
FlagDateUseDescription
2010–2015Flag of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana
ColonialUnofficial French GuianaBanner of arms of French Guiana.

Austral Islands
FlagDateUseDescription
1858–1889Flag of Kingdom of Rurutu
1889–1900Flag of Kingdom of Rurutu
1856–1891Flag of Kingdom of Rimatara
1891–1900Flag of Kingdom of Rimatara

Gambier Islands
FlagDateUseDescription
1832–1843Flag of Kingdom of Mangareva

Marquesas Islands
FlagDateUseDescription
1837–1842Flag of Kingdom of Tahuata
1835Flag of Kingdom of Taiohae

Society Islands
FlagDateUseDescription
1820–1845Flag of Kingdom of Bora Bora
1837–1842Flag of Kingdom of Bora Bora
1842–1895Flag of Kingdom of Bora Bora
1847–1888Flag of Kingdom of Huahine
1847–1880Flag of Kingdom of Raiatea
1880–1888Flag of Kingdom of Raiatea
1822–1829Flag of Kingdom of Tahiti
1829–1843Flag of Kingdom of Tahiti
1843–1880Flag of Tahiti Protectorate

Tuamotus
FlagDateUseDescription
1832–1843Flag of Tuamotu Kingdom

Martinique
FlagDateUseDescription
1766–2018Unofficial flag of Martinique
2019–2021Flag of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique

Wallis and Futuna
FlagDateUseDescription
1842–1860Flag of Kingdom of Uvea
1860–1886Flag of Kingdom of Uvea
1886–1887Flag of Kingdom of Uvea
1837–1858Royal Standard of Uvea
1858–1887Royal Standard of Uvea
1887–1910Unofficial flag of Wallis and Futuna
1910–1974Unofficial flag of Wallis and Futuna
1974–1985Unofficial flag of Wallis and Futuna

Other historical flags
FlagDateUseDescription
1419Flag of Dauphin Charles (future Charles VII) upon his entry (adventus) into Bourges on March 14, 1419. According to Anselme d'Ysalguier (from Toulouse) eyewitness.
c. 1569Huguenot battle flag
c. 1590Flag of the Catholic League
1870Banner of the Catholic French Papal Zouaves

1871Revolutionary banner from the Paris CommuneA plain red flag

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

Associations
FlagDateUseDescription
 ?–present?Human Rights League
1967–Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer
1896–1935French Society of Sea Works

French shipping company
FlagDateUseDescription
1976–2016Société nationale maritime Corse Méditerranée
1912–1962Compagnie de Navigation Sud-Atlantique
1903–1988Caen Naval Companyfr
1883–1990Compagnie Générale Transatlantique
1881–1933Fabre LineThey used the flag of Marseille.
1872–?Chargeurs
1851–1977Messageries Maritimes
1836–1979Compagnie Fraissinet
1664–1794French East India Company

French yacht clubs
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
FlagDateUseDescription
2007–PresentFlag of Principality of GrolandFlag 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

References
  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. "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". www.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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