Template talk:Country data France/Archive 1

Regions etc
The are a lot of mistakes in the region flags. Or... maybe not. The problem is that there are for every region, a flag, and a new modern "logo" created by the conseil general. For example, fr:Rhône-Alpes has both. The question is : Should we use the flag, or the modern logo ? I say we should use the old flag...

In that point of view, a lot of things have to be corrected. I think that most of the flags can be imported through commons from the Fr.WP. If not, http://perso.orange.fr/martine.lauwers/drapeauxmap.html#Drapeaux has most of the flags, they will need to be re-created/I may ask the author for her permission. NicDumZ ~  06:35, 8 August 2007 (UTC)


 * All of those flags are from Commons. If you think there are mistakes, please comment on the talk page for the specific template(s) instead of here.  My intent was merely to list them here for documentation purposes, not to make this a discussion page for all of them.  Thanks, Andrwsc 06:50, 8 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Actually, I see what you mean. I have updated most of them.  Again, if you think there are any mistakes, please comment on the respective template pages.  Thanks, Andrwsc 07:16, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

Wrong flag
Hello. The flag of the Kingdom of France under the House of Bourbon (until 1789 and between 1814/15 and 1830) was the drapeau blanc, not the lily banner or  (see english, french, german, etc. articles about the Flag of France), so could someone change the template France/restauration please? Thank you. Louis88 (talk) 11:45, 12 April 2008 (UTC)


 * And I never have seen any evidence for [[Image:Flag of Royalist France.svg|border|40px]], I don't think that this flag ever existed... Louis88 (talk) 15:37, 18 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Please remove this; it is heraldically impossible: gold fleur-de-lys cannot go on a silver background (and can we please not fly a plain white flag, however correct, for any period? it's usually invisible. France Moderne will do. ) Septentrionalis PMAnderson 21:24, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Disagree. While metal on metal is of course a violation of the basic law of heraldry it is not impossible. Another example of gold on silver would be the banner of the Kingdom of Jerusalem [[Image:Flag of Kingdom of Jerusalem.svg|50 px]]. Many other accepted examples exist of either metal on metal or or colour on colour. So the rule of tinctures alone does not disrule this historically documented flag.
 * For articles (this issue just arose at American Revolutionary War) the white flag indeed seems inappropriate which is why I tend to support the use of the lily banner for better visibility. Though whichever of these two is used, a narrow border would make sense for better identification, I believe this is already possible via code without altering the images, but I'm not sure how.
 * Lastly, France Modern is definitely not appropriate for American revolution articles as it was no longer in use by that time.--Caranorn (talk) 18:52, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, of course the Kingdom of Jerusalem was the exception; but it is notable because it was the only exception.


 * The semy of lilies has the additional problem that (at 24 px) it looks like polka-dots, not any arms of France. As for no longer in use, I would appreciate a source for that; the three lilies of France are famous, and they did not cease to be famous with Henry of Navarre. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 19:35, 12 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Please, it's by far not the only exception. How many arms à enquerre do you want me to cite? In the last month I've had to create at least four medieval coats of arms which were clearly à enquerre (at least two more might be seen as such, though in those cases the charges were better blasonned au naturel which overides the tincture rule). Amsterdam is a good example for modern heraldry. Pastourneaux seems to have written a book about the issue (I expect delivery of one of his books within the next week, hopefully he will list some good examples as well). In countries with well developed heraldry, some 1-2% of arms seem to be à enquerre (which would nicely fit the 4-6 cases among 500 arms I've assembled so far from Luxembourgish medieval history). You can read more, with a large list of examples at.
 * In the end we also have to realise that flags are not governed by the rules of heraldry. Yes they are influenced by them and any quality flag will indeed apply the rules of tinctures, but the rule plays a much smaller role then it does in heraldry itself.--Caranorn (talk) 21:29, 12 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Oh, please: I did say metal on metal, not color on color; and even your website admits that many of the exceptions are chiefs, for which the explanation is well known: they were at first seen as party per fess. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 23:43, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

In any case, there are three questions to be asked of any such icon, the first two being subservient to the third: My answers to these, on argent and or, are: (1) I see no source for it; (2) no; (3) no. I don't think (1) always needs to be true, as long as (3) is satisfied; we use an anachronistic Iroquois flag, perforce, on the same article; but expecting the reader to understand polka-dots as France is a little much. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 15:48, 13 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Is it historically accurate?
 * Is it the only icon which would be historically accurate?
 * Is it useful to the encyclopedia, by communicating with the reader?

Off topic subdiscussion

 * Though we're wearing entirely off topic I ask. Why make a distinction between metal on metal and colour on colour? They are equally frowned on in heraldry for the same reason, that is that they make for limited contrast. Also of the examples given at the link very few involve chiefs (if my count is correct nine, five of those in the section explaining the term cousu) and a large share deal with metal on metal. By the way I'm not sure why you say your website, the only websites I own or run don't deal in heraldry, at least not any more, the linked site has nothing to do with me (and unlike a number of other heraldry sites I don't think I ever contacted its owner either). I'm not sure what you mean either with with chiefs having first been seen as party per fess. The Bigot Roll of Arms (ca. 1254, fully blazonned) lists at least 20 chiefs (I left out two that were blazonned as chiefs but are really part of a more complex design) among its 302 entries and not a single party per fess. Yes, there often is confusing between the two, but the older type indeed seems to be the chief (sigilary sources also seem to support this).--Caranorn (talk) 00:16, 13 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Very well, not fully distinguished from party per fess. Per Boutell, who notes that for many purposes, including this rule IIRC, chiefs were not viewed as lying on a different level than the field. Septentrionalis PMAnderson 15:48, 13 June 2008 (UTC)

Again, Wrong Flag for the Restauration period
During the first and the second restauration, the White plain flag was used as the french flag. The color white was used on Cocard for example. A royalist newspaper was named "Le drapeau blanc" (see on googlebooks). On this painting here, you can see an allegoric representation of Louis XVIII arrival in Calais in 1814, with plains white flag around the ships and at earth in the right upper corner. This site (in french, sorry) precises exactly that the Naval ensign was a white flag after a royal decree in april, 13th 1814. After the empire fall, a specific decree make the flag of infantery as a white flag too, with the french coat of arms put on it. I have find some sources explaining the Lili flag was only a flag put when the King was on a boat, but i don't find any painting with this flag on it during the Restauration period... so please use the File:Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg instead of this. ---Strogoff- (talk) 07:17, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

Vichy flag
The flag for the Vichy period was wrong too. During this period, the usual tricolor was used as the french flag. The flag with the francisque (the axe) was the personnal ensign of Marechal Petain, and was only used on his car. That's why the lorraine crosse was added on the french free forces, to make a difference.---Strogoff- (talk) 07:20, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

Air force flag
wondering if we can get linked flags for the French air force (aka Armée de l'Air)? thx! ie: or NiD.29 (talk) 20:46, 24 September 2013 (UTC)
 * flag alias-air force = Flag of France.svg
 * link alias-air force = French Armée de l'Air
 * link alias-air force = French Air Force

Royal France
The notion of a national flag in France seems to be unclear during the time before the Revolution. There are a number of flags that seem to be popular here on the 'pedia to represent the Kingdom of France (notably, in battle infoboxes). This entry is an attempt by me to categorize them:

Naval Ensign 1638-1790.

Variant of the above with fleurs-de-lis.

The plain white ensign with the royal French greater arms. (Image lacks source and has a dubious copyright state.)

New version:

The fleurs-de-lis ensign with the royal French greater arms. (The image is from Flags of the World so it's probably not usable in large scale on the 'pedia.)

The France Modern banner introduced in 1365 by Charles V (this particular image is also the modern flag of Île-de-France.)

Unsourced fusion of the white ensign with the France Modern design.

--Himasaram 08:30, 5 August 2007 (UTC)


 * google first hit on "histoire drapeau France" (yes, not very reliable, but at least you'll understand. We'll see later if we need WP:V):
 * [[Image:Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg|45px|border]] Naval Ensign 1638-1790 AND 1814-1830, sometimes with golden fleurdelys ([[Image:Pavillon royal de France.svg|45px|border]] or [[Image:Flag of Royalist France.svg|45px|border]] ? We'd better use the first one, plain white...).
 * ( Caption says : "Salute protocol was very strict — and battles got started because some foreigners refused to respect it : Any ship encounting one of his majesty's ship was expected to :
 * take down his flag if flown on main mast, if not to take down his ensign
 * take down mizzen sail
 * go downwind )
 * The old royal flag was [[Image:Pavillon royal de France.svg|45px|border]] with blue background
 * Charles V introduced the modern banner ([[Image:Île-de-France flag.svg|45px]]) to honor the trinity. Yet, Charles VI still used the old one. And some of his successors used the white flag with fleur-de-lys. Quite unclear...
 * This flag was used in 1638 - 1790 and 1814 - 1830 as the royal flag :


 * There are other flags in the page, referring to french Merchant Marine. If you need them thought, i can translate the information. NicDumZ ~  14:43, 6 August 2007 (UTC)


 * OK, so you suggest using the plain white ensign to represent France during the period? There's only one problem with this flag, though, and that is that it's very similar to the white flag of truce and might be misinterpreted as such. BTW, this painting depicting a scene from the Siege of Yorktown clearly shows the French ensign as a plain white flag. --Himasaram 00:07, 7 August 2007 (UTC)
 * You know, I'm used to French bashing and I think I thought about that confusion long before you ;) . Yes, we should. Confusion maybe, but that was the Royal flag ! White, pure white was the color of the King. Not many children know about this old flag, but every French knows that our current flag represent the color of the King between blue and red, the colors of Paris, as Parisian wanted give less power to the King. NicDumZ ~  06:49, 7 August 2007 (UTC)


 * Ok, this is what I suggest then for Royalist France: (exact years in parentheses from - I don't know if they are correct)
 * [[Image:Flag of France (XII-XIII).svg|45px|border]] 12th~13th century (1180 - 1364)
 * [[Image:Flag of France (XIV-XVI).svg|45px|border]] 14th~16th century (1364 - 1638)
 * [[Image:Flag of the Kingdom of France (1814-1830).svg|45px|border]] 17th~18th century (1638 - 24 Oct 1790)
 * [[Image:Pavillon royal de France.svg|45px|border]] Restauration (6 Apr 1814 - 13 Mar 1815; 8 Jul 1815 - 1 Aug 1830)
 * While the plain white flag might have been the norm during the 'Ancient Regime', the white fleur-de-lis flag was apparently favoured during the Bourbon Restoration. --Himasaram 00:43, 9 August 2007 (UTC)
 * I don't think the plain white flag should be used flags of the world says this flag was the state flag from 1578-1791 -- Barryob    Vigeur de dessus  20:24, 1 October 2007 (UTC)


 * This is the royal banner, while the plain white one is the naval ensign. Neither are national flags in the modern sense, but the naval ensign represents the entire country better IMO. In any case, we need more reliable sources to back up either argument. --Himasaram 11:07, 5 October 2007 (UTC)
 * But the French King was the state hense why I think the royal banner is the most apporopriate flag and flags of the world lists it as such rather than a naval ensign. -- Barryob   Vigeur de dessus  18:17, 5 October 2007 (UTC)
 * I'd also agree that the flag actually used on land should be used instead of the naval ensign. john k (talk) 14:31, 31 July 2014 (UTC)

1790 naval variant
This is missing the revolutionary naval flag, used from 1790-94 alongside the main 1790 tricolour (which is already incorporated as a variant). Please add | flag alias-1790-naval = Flag of French-Navy-Revolution.svg Modest Genius talk 11:31, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
 * If the variant is to be used with navy, it should be called  instead of  . Should I use that instead? SiBr4  (talk ) 11:37, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
 * I think it works either way, as it has to be specified as to get the non-default option, but your parameter name might be safer. Modest Genius talk 11:41, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
 * actually uses, with   as fallback.   would work, but would have to be used with  instead of . I've therefore added  : . SiBr4  (talk ) 11:52, 21 August 2015 (UTC)
 * Great, thanks! I didn't realise that shortcut with navy existed. Modest Genius talk 11:57, 21 August 2015 (UTC)

French Air Force
Can the following be added: There is a discussion at Talk:2018 bombing of Damascus and Homs about the problems of not having this in place. Greenshed (talk) 14:25, 14 April 2018 (UTC)

Template-protected edit request on 7 January 2019
The 1830's version is broken and should be fixed Havsjö (talk) 10:40, 7 January 2019 (UTC)


 * moved page File:Flag of France (1830-1976).svg to File:Flag of France (1958–1976).svg at the request of . Perhaps one of them could let us know what flag fills the gap? Cabayi (talk) 11:22, 7 January 2019 (UTC)
 * I've asked for the rename to be reverted on commons, c:Special:Permalink/333979075. Cabayi (talk) 09:02, 8 January 2019 (UTC)
 * The rename has been reverted (thanks to ) and the flag appears again. Cabayi (talk) 20:16, 8 January 2019 (UTC)

Template-protected edit request on 7 January 2019
flag alias-1976 = Flag of France (Pantone).svg flag alias-2000 = Flag of France (WFB 2000).svg flag alias-2004 = Flag of France (WFB 2004).svg flag alias-2013 = Flag of France (WFB 2013).svg These flags are just based on the shades used in pictures in different editions of the CIA World Factbook (you can see if you open the flag image) and not are official or even real changes to the flag used by France, they should not be included and especially not linked to a specific year!Also rename "1976" to "pantone" since its a pantone version and not a historical variant from 1976 Havsjö (talk) 16:39, 7 January 2019 (UTC)


 * It is not clear what exactly you are asking to be changed, Please make the requested change in a sandbox copy of the template. Andy Mabbett ( Pigsonthewing ); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 20:40, 8 January 2019 (UTC)
 * Sorry, but what I mean it just that these should be removed, they are not historical variants that can be linked to a specific year, simply random files with colours based on illustrations in the "CIA world factbook" with the linked year based on the edition of the book. The pantone variant is also not a historical flag linked to 1976, but a pantone variant, it should be renamed alias-pantone or removed from the list. I guess they can all be replaced or somehow linked to display "Flag of France.svg" to avoid missing flags--Havsjö (talk) 21:02, 8 January 2019 (UTC)
 * I made a sandbox of the page User:Havsjö/sandbox, it has removed the "fake" flags and replaced alias-1976 with the current brighter french flag, which started being used after some changes in 1976. I also included the briefly used 1848 variant. This is following the the information on Flag of France page and which is backed up by other sources such as http://www.vexilla-mundi.com/france_history.html and http://www.worldstatesmen.org/France.html. (Since there has been consenus regarding the white flag between 1814-1830, it is used instead of the "lily banner". There there should be no "missing" flags with this sandbox template, no flags are used which will not be accounted for.
 * --Havsjö (talk) 22:12, 8 January 2019 (UTC)

, what this request and your others lack isn't a justification, it's any evidence that they won't break anything. You need to show that these variants are not used.
 * flag alias-1976 = Flag of France (Pantone).svg -
 * flag alias-2000 = Flag of France (WFB 2000).svg -
 * flag alias-2004 = Flag of France (WFB 2004).svg -
 * flag alias-2013 = Flag of France (WFB 2013).svg -
 * and, to show that the
 * Template:Country data France (file link) ‎ (links | edit)
 * results don't conceal hundreds of other links...

On that basis I'm happy to make this change - but you'll need to provide the proof on your other requests. Note: The corresponding var items also needed to be removed. Done Cabayi (talk) 22:59, 8 January 2019 (UTC)
 * File:Flag of France (1790–1794).svg -

Template-protected edit request on 9 January 2019
To add the (very) briefly used flag at the beginning of the French Second Republic in 1848, as well as change the "1830" flag alias to widely used file, the Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg, from the slightly different current one, as France had no change in the design of its flag from 1794 until a brighter variant started be used (alongside the darker variant) in 1976. So the same file should be used for the colour consistency of the french flags from the first adopted until then (which they are on all other historical "darker" variants as well, such as these:, , ). This would not break anything, just add an extra flag (1848) and improve historical accuracy and consistency after the consensus on French flag coloration (as the flagicons used in the example shows, all historical flags has previously been made to use these shades)

The code for such a change can be found on my sandbox, but I will also post it here.

--Havsjö (talk) 23:06, 9 January 2019 (UTC)
 * ✅. I didn't include the  variant since it seems redundant with the main (current) flag. SiBr4  (talk ) 11:53, 20 January 2019 (UTC)

Template-protected edit request on 10 April 2020
flag alias-1848a = Drapeau france 1848.svg flag alias-1848 = Flag of France (1794–1815, 1830–1958).svg

has been used for only a few days SpinnerLaserz (talk) 20:24, 10 April 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done Added the labels "1848a" and "1848b" as to not disrupt existing usages. S.A. Julio (talk) 12:49, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

RFC in progress
There is an RFC in progress on Talk:France which affects this page. Please participate on that page and not in this talk page section. Thank you. Kevin McE (talk) 17:42, 21 December 2021 (UTC)

Lighter flag as historical variant
Can we have the lighter blue French flag added as a variant, as it's the correct flag for pre-2020 articles? By adding a parameter for variant like "lighter" or the year it was first used with the lighter blue. Forcing every article to use the darker blue flag, which wasn't used historically pre-2020, means that lots of flags on en.wiki are historically incorrect. Joseph2302 (talk) 14:06, 31 January 2022 (UTC)
 * ✅ &#8209;&#8209;Neveselbert (talk · contribs · email) 15:29, 31 January 2022 (UTC)
 * Except that there is no mandate as to the beginning or end of the paler colour use, so it is somewhere around 1974/7 to somewhere between 2020 and some uncertain date in the future when the darker tone might, or might not, again become universally used. And if the principle is established that it changes on the whim of the president, it might well depend on the outcome of the election.  Kevin McE (talk) 15:25, 1 February 2022 (UTC)