new Coat of Arms for the first French republic

One of the first tasks of the First French Republic was to create new symbols to replace the old representation of the French Royal Family which had adopted white for its flag and the lily as its emblem and very traditional coats of arms.

In the heat of the moment, this wonderful coat of arms was produced. There is still a traditional element which educated people of the time would have understood, but there is much for the ordinary person to appreciate.

Let us start with the winged figure of liberty in the centre, she holds staff with the cap of liberty on its top. She is surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. Oak leaves were symbolic in Roman times of wisdom, heroism and triumph.

Above her in a roundel sits the cap of liberty itself, with a red, white and blue cockade. The cockade continued as a symbol and Napoleon Bonaparte wore one at the Battle of Waterloo to emphasise his adherence to the values of the French Revolution.

The cap itself dates back to Roman times. It was a sensible symbol of the new France and could be easily knitted. Indeed, it is said that a number of the women enjoying the spectacle at the Guillotine were knitting these caps as they watched.

The cap is held aloft by a very Roman symbol, the “fasces”, a number of rods bound by leather straps. An axe is often included but I do not see one in this picture. The rods are visible at the top and the bottom and show the authority and power of the new government. They can also show the unity and indivisible nature of the new France.

The two soldiers, with their guns and bayonets will defend the principles of the revolution and wear appropriate cockades to show which side they are on. They are deliberately close to the papers at their feet which relate to the new laws and government which are the basis for the new Republic and which they will support.

The flags flying at the top may surprise you. The ones at the back seem to be blue and the ones at the front are flying the colours horizontally. This would very shortly be changed to the blue, white and red horizontal stripes we know so well.

If you know any more I would love to hear from you. I suspect the papers at the soldiers’ feet represent something concrete but I am not sure what exactly is represented. Similarly, the blue flags at the top surprise me. Was there some thoughts of replacing the white flag of the Bourbons with a plain blue one. Would it be more readable for the people at large than a more complicated plan, perhaps.