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The fleur-de-lis (or '''fleur-de-lys'''; plural: fleurs-de-lis) is a stylised design of an . While it has appeared on countless European Coats Of Arms and flags over the centuries, the fleur-de-lis is particularly associated with the French Monarchy . It is an enduring symbol of France , but, being regarded most notably as the emblem of the monarchy, was not adopted officially by any of the French Republics . In North America the fleur-de-lis is often associated with areas formerly settled by France, such as Louisiana and Quebec and with the Francophones in other Canadian provinces. It is also the emblem of the Swiss Municipality of Schlieren, Zürich . It appears on military insignia and the Logo s of many different organizations, and during the 20th century it was adopted by various Scouting organizations worldwide for their Badge s. Architects and designers may use it alone or as a repeated Motif in a wide range of contexts, from Ironwork to bookbinding. As a religious symbol it may represent the Holy Trinity , or be an Iconographic attribute of the archangel Gabriel , notably in representations of the Annunciation .Hall, James (1974). ''Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art''. Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-433316-7. p.124. It is also associated with the Virgin Mary . ORIGINS Fleur-de-lis is literally translated from French as "flower of the lily", and is widely thought to be a stylized version of the species '' Iris Pseudacorus ''. Decorative Ornaments that resemble the fleur-de-lis have appeared in the artwork from the earliest Civilization s.
It has consistently been used as a royal emblem, though different cultures have interpreted its meaning in varying ways. Gaulish coins show the first designs which look similar to modern fleurs-de-lis.Michel Pastoureau, ''Heraldry: its origins and meaning'' p.99 ROYAL SYMBOL King Clovis I According to legend, the French monarchy first adopted the fleur-de-lis for their royal Coat Of Arms as a symbol of purity on the conversion of the Frankish King Clovis I to the Christian religion in 493.Lewis, Philippa & Darley, Gillian (1986) ''Dictionary of Ornament'' The story takes various forms, many of which relate to Clovis' conversion, and support the claim of the Anointed Kings of France that their authority came directly from God , without the mediation of either the Emperor or the Pope. Some versions of the legend enhance the mystique of royalty by describing a vial of oil sent from heaven to anoint and sanctify Clovis as king,Ralph E. Giesey, ''Models of Rulership in French Royal Ceremonial'' in ''Rites of Power: Symbolism, Ritual, and Politics Since the Middle Ages'' ed. Wilentz (Princeton 1985) p43 perhaps brought by a Dove to Saint Remigius . Another variation says a lily appeared at Clovis' baptismal ceremony as a gift of blessing from an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary , who is often associated with the flower. A.C. Fox-Davies, ''A Complete Guide to Heraldry'' (London 1909) p273 Clovis' Burgundian wife, Clothilda , later to be Saint Clothilda, is usually significant in these stories. As well as her part in encouraging her husband to become a Christian, her presence helps emphasise the importance of Burgundy 's support for the monarch. British Library commentary on the legend presented in the Bedford Book of Hours. A story which places less emphasis on Christianity and the Divine Right of the French kings tells of Clovis putting a flower in his helmet just before his victory at the Battle Of Vouillé , leading him to choose the fleur-de-lis as a royal symbol. François R. Velde From Frankish to French kings Through this connection to Clovis, the fleur-de-lis has been taken to symbolize all the was '' Azure semé-de-lys Or '' (a blue shield "seeded" (''semé'') with small golden fleurs-de-lis), but Charles V Of France changed the design from an all-over scattering to a group of three in about 1376 . These two coats are known in Heraldic Jargon as ''France Ancient'' and ''France Modern'' respectively. In the reign of King Louis IX (St. Louis) the three petals of the flower were said to represent faith, wisdom and chivalry, and to be a sign of divine favour bestowed on France.''Chronicles'' of Guillaume de Nangis quoted in ''Nouvelle collection des mémoires pour servir a l'histoire de France'' (1839)] During the next century, the 14th, the tradition of Trinity symbolism was established in France, and then spread elsewhere. In 1328 , King Edward III Of England inherited a claim to the crown of France, and about 1340 he accordingly Quarter ed ''France Ancient'' with the Arms Of The Kingdom Of England . After the kings of France adopted ''France Modern'', the kings of England imitated them from about 1411 .Fox-Davies The monarchs of England (and later of Great Britain) continued to quarter the French arms until 1801 , when George III abandoned his formal claim to the French throne. King Charles VII ennobled Joan Of Arc 's family on 29 December of 1429 with an inheritable symbolic denomination. The Chamber of Accounts in France registered the family's designation to nobility on 20 January, 1430. The grant permitted the family to change their surname to du Lys. ''France Modern'' remained the French royal standard, and with a white background was the French national flag until the . ''France Modern'' was also on the Coat Of Arms of the old French Province Of Île-de-France (for instance, as a badge on the uniforms of the local Gendarmerie ). Other European monarchs and rulers Fleurs-de-lis feature prominently in the Crown Jewels of England and Scotland . In English heraldry, they are used in many different ways, and can be the Cadency mark of the sixth son. The (flowered border) has been a prominent part of the design of the Scottish royal arms and flag since James I Of Scotland .
In Florentine fleurs-de-lis, the Stamen s are always posed between the Petal s. This heraldic charge is often known as the Florentine lily to distinguish it from the conventional design. As an emblem of the city, it is therefore found in icons of the bishop Zenobius .Hall, James (1974). ''Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art''. Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-433316-7. p.124. The currency of Florence, the Fiorino , was decorated with it, and it influenced the appearance and name of the Hungarian Forint and other Florin s. Elsewhere in Italy, fleurs-de-lis have been used for some Papal crowns and coats of arms, Farnese Dukes Of Parma , and by some Doges Of Venice . The fleur-de-lis was also the symbol of the house of Kotromanic , a ruling house in medieval Bosnia in recognition of the Angevin , where the flower is thought of as a '' Lilium Bosniacum ''. It was used on the Bosnia And Herzegovina flag between 1992 and 1998. Other countries using the emblem heraldically include Spain in recognition of the Bourbons . The heraldic fleur-de-lis is widespread: among the numerous cities which use it as a symbol are some whose names echo the word 'lily', for example, medieval banking family. North America ]] ]] Fleurs-de-lis crossed the and St. Louis, Missouri where the three-petalled symbol also denotes the convergence of three rivers (the Mississippi , Missouri and Illinois ). SYMBOLISM IN RELIGION AND ART n .]] In the Middle Ages the symbols of lily and fleur-de-lis (''lis'' is French for "lily") overlapped considerably in religious art. Michel Pastoureau , the historian, says that until about 1300 they were found in depictions of Jesus , but gradually they took on Marian symbolism and were associated with the Song Of Solomon 's "lily among thorns" (''lilium inter spinas''), understood as a reference to Mary. Other scripture and religious literature in which the lily symbolizes purity and chastity also helped establish the flower as an Iconographic Attribute of the Virgin. The fleur could also draw its design from Jewish tradition. The design is very similar to a Lulav , made with a Palm frond which sticks up straight and the branches of Willow and Myrtle trees, which are not as rigid. In medieval England, from the mid-12th century, a noblewoman's seal often showed the lady with a fleur-de-lis, drawing on the Marian connotations of "female virtue and spirituality".Susan M. Johns, ''Noblewomen, Aristocracy and Power in the Twelfth-Century Anglo-Norman Realm'' (Manchester 2003) p130 Images of Mary holding the flower first appeared in the 11th century on coins issued by cathedrals dedicated to her, and next on the , they are often seen in pictures of the Annunciation , famously in those of Botticelli and Filippo Lippi . Lippi also uses both flowers in other related contexts: for instance, in his ''Madonna in the Forest''. The three petals of the heraldic design reflect a widespread association with the Holy Trinity , F.R.Webber, ''Church Symbolism 1938'' (Kessinger 2003) p.178 a tradition going back to 14th century France,Michel Pastoureau, ''Heraldry: its origins and meaning'' p.99 added onto the earlier belief that they also represented faith, wisdom and chivalry. "Flower of light" symbolism has sometimes been understood from the archaic variant ''fleur-de-luce'' (see Latin ''lux, luc-'' = "light"), but the Oxford English Dictionary suggests this arose from the spelling, not from the Etymology .A "fanciful derivation", ''Oxford English Dictionary '' (1989) MODERN USAGE , 2005]] Also see North America section above Some modern usage of the fleur-de-lis reflects "the continuing presence of heraldry in everyday life", often intentionally, but also when users are not aware that they are "prolonging the life of centuries-old insignia and emblems".Michel Pastoureau, ''Heraldry: its origins and meaning'' p.93-94 Fleurs-de-lis feature on military badges like those of the Israeli Intelligence Corps and the First World War Canadian Expeditionary Force . They may be chosen for sports teams, especially when it echoes a local flag, as with the former Quebec Nordiques NHL Hockey team and the New Orleans Saints Football team, and in coats of arms and logos for universities (like the University Of Louisiana At Lafayette and Saint Louis University and Washington University in Missouri), schools (in St. Peter, Minnesota) and companies (like the Royal Elastics shoe company). The Madison Scouts Drum And Bugle Corps have a fleur-de-lis as their official logo, with members and past members sporting exclusive fleur-de-lis tattoos. The Lincolnshire, England flag has a fleur-de-lis in the middle. It is also one of the symbols of the national women's fraternity, Kappa Kappa Gamma . The symbol may be used in less traditional ways. After have named an elegant looping flight demonstration manoeuver after the flower as well, and there are even two surgical procedures called "after the fleur." Symbol of Scouting of the World Organization Of The Scout Movement , elements of which are used by most national Scout organizations]] The fleur-de-lis is the main element in the logo of most (duty to God and the King (or to God and my Country), to help others and to obey the Scout Law ) in much the same way as the three leaves of the Trefoil represent the threefold promise for the Guides. The symbol is also often used on a Compass Rose to mark the North direction, a tradition started by Flavio Gioja . Robert Baden-Powell , the founder of the Scouting movement, explained that the Scouts adopted the fleur-de-lis symbol from its use in the compass rose because it "points in the right direction (and upwards) turning neither to the right nor left, since these lead backward again". IN LITERATURE The symbol has featured in modern fiction on historical and mystical themes, as in the bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code and other books discussing the Priory Of Sion . It recurs in French literature, where examples well-known in English translation include the Fleur de Lys character in the Hunchback Of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo , and the reference in Dumas ' The Three Musketeers to the old custom of Branding a criminal with the sign. (''Fleurdeliser'' in French). In Elizabethan English literature it is a standard name for an iris, a usage which lasted for centuries,OED but occasionally refers to lilies or other flowers. It also appeared in the novel A Confederacy Of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole on a sign composed by the main character. The lilly, Ladie of the flowring field, The Flowre-deluce, her louely Paramoure :: Edmund Spenser , Faerie Queene , 1590 Edmund Spenser, ''Faerie Queene'' 2:vi SEE ALSO
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