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Colors of the Paris National Guard (France) during the French Revolution (1789-1792)

3. Description (4/6)

Last modified: 2019-06-26 by ivan sache
Keywords: paris national guard |
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  • Part 1. Historical background
  • Part 2. Sources describing the colors and analysis

See also:


Saint Jacques l'Hôpital District (4th Division, 1st Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 1st Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district, presided by Revil, was named for the Saint Jacques de l'Hôpital church, indeed the church of the Saint Jacques aux Pèlerins hospital founded by King Philip V the Tall (c. 1293-1322, crowned in 1317) to house pilgrims (pèlerins) on the Way of St. James (St. Jacques), or to other pilgrimage places, as well. Queen Joan of Burgundy put up the cornerstone of the building on 18 February 1319. The buildings were sold in 1812-1821, while the church was demolished in 1829. The only remains of the foundation are five apostle statues kept in the Cluny Museum, Paris (presentation).

White flag. In the centre a military allegory featuring a cannon, flags, a shield, fasces, a figure holding a spear topped with a Liberty Cap. At the bottom of the scene, a rectangular board with the motto "LOIS ET CONSTITUTION" (French, Laws and Constitution). Below the scene, a silver scroll with the motto "IL REPOSE SOUS LEUR OMBRE" (French, He rests in Their Shadow).
White sash.
Flag offered by Mrs. La Fayette.
Sépet gives the color's size as 6 ft, plain white.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Bonne Nouvelle District (4th Division, 2nd Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle (lit., Our Lady of the Good New) church, built in 1551 and destroyed in 1591 during the siege of Paris. The cornerstone of a new sanctuary of the same name was put up by Ann of Austria in April 1628, which was established a parish church in 1673. Nearly ruined during the Revolution, the church was rebuilt from scratch in 1823-1830.

Flag quartered by a white cross, the quarters diagonally divided blue-red, in the blue triangles a yellow fleur-de-lis pointing centrewise. In the centre, fasces topped by a radiating sun, over branches crossed in saltire. All over, an oval shield placed in bend sinister, with the motto "UNION FORCE LIBERTE" (French, Union Strength Liberty). Behind the fasces, a red scroll inscribed "BONNE NOUVELLE".
White sash.
Flag offered by Mrs. Mahieu.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


La Jussienne / Saint Leu District (4th Division, 3rd Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district, presided by Gibert, municipal councillor (quartenier), was named for the St. Leu church, built in 1320 and made a parish church in 1617. Used during the Revolution as a powder magazine, the church was reestablished in 1813.

Flag quartered red-blue by a white cross. In each quarter, a yellow fleur-de-lis in the corner of the flag, pointing centrewise, and a yellow star in each of the other corners of the quarter. In the centre a ship. In each arm of the cross, a wreath with the writing "LA JUSSIENNE" (top), "COURAGEUX" (French, Courageous; left), "PRUDENT" (French, Careful; right), and LIBRE (French, Free; bottom).
White sash.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Lazare District (4th Division, 4th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 4th Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the St. Lazar convent, partially used as a jail before the Revolution and afterwards.

Flag quartered red-blue by a white cross, In each quarter, a yellow fleur-de-lis pointing centrewise. All over, a radiating sun charged with an allegory. Above the scene, a silver scroll with the motto "SANS LOIS, POINT DE LIBERTE" (French, Without Laws, no Liberty).
White sash.
Flag offered by the inhabitants of the district.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Grands Augustins / Sainte Opportune District (4th Division, 5th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 5th Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the St. Opportuna church, built in the 13th century; it had a big tower and kept highly venerated relics. The matching parish was suppressed in 1790 and merged with Saint Jacques la Boucherie (today, Saint Jacques le Majeur). The church was sold and demolished in 1792.

Flag gyronny of eight quarters blue-white-red. In each white quarter, three yellow fleurs-de-lis 2 + 1. All over a yellow radiating sun charged with a pink disc inscribed "LA LOI" (French, The Law). Below the disk, a silver scroll with the motto "VIVRE OU MOURIR POUR ELLE" (French, To Live or to Die for It).
White sash.
Flag offered by Mr. (unreadable).
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Jacques la Boucherie et les Saints Innocents District (4th Division, 6th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 6th Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district, presided by Gibert, was named for the St. James church, built in 1240-1520 on the site of an old chapel dedicated to the saint. The church was demolished during the Revolution. Only remained the St. James Tower, said to have been inhabited by the alleged alchemist Nicolas Flamel (c. 1330/1340-1418), which was purchased by the State in 1836.

Flag quartered blue-red by a white cross. In the middle a yellow sun charged with a triangle surrounded by three fleurs-de-lis. Charges (unreadable) at the top and bottom of the cross. Over the sun, a white scroll inscribed "DEO PATRIAE LEGI" (Latin, For God, Homeland and Law).
White sash.
Flag offered by Mr. Vincent.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Petits Pères de la Place des Victoires District (4th Division, 7th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 7th Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the convent established Place des Victoires by the Reformed Augustines, aka the Little Fathers (petits pères). The convent church was the basilica Notre Dame des Victoires. In 1614, Louis XIII vowed to eret a church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin if he won a decisive battle against the Protestants; in 1628, after the siege of La Rochelle, he ordered the erection of the Our Lady of the Victories church. Soon stopped because of the lack of funds, the building site resumed in 1656, the uncompleted church begin blessed in 1666 and eventually completed in 1740. The seat of the National Lottery, and then of the Stock Exchange, the church was given bck to the cult in 1802.

Flag quartered red-blue by a white cross. In the blue quarters, 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 (18) yellow fleurs-de-lis. In the fourth quarter, a silver sailing ship. In the centre an angel holding a palm and a wreath of everlastings. Above the allegory, a white scroll with the motto "ELLES NE SE FLETRIRONT JaMAIS" (French: They Shall Never Wilt).
White sash.
Flag offered by Mr. Quoniam.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Eustache District (4th Division, 8th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 8th Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district, presided by Gallet de Sous-Carrière, was named for the St. Eustace church, built in 1532 on thr site of a chapel dedicated to St. Agnes. The body of Mirabeau was exhibited in the church on 3 April 1791. In 1793, the celebration of the festival of Goddess Reason turned into an orgy.

Flag vertically divided blue/white (c. 1:2), white/pink red (c. 1:2), blue. In the middle a yellow horn surmounted by a sailing ship. In each corner of the flag, a yellow fleur-de-lis pointing centrewise. Yellow stars (19) scattered all over the flag. In the blue stripe, a sword topped by a conic device. At the top of the flag, the motto "COURAGEUX, LIBRE" (French: Courageous, Free).
White sash. Flag offered by Mr. Lamy.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Magloire District (4th Division, 9th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 9th Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the St. Magloire abbey, founded in 1138 around an older chapel. Originally a men's abbey, it was transformed in 1572 in a nun's conven tby Catherine de' Medici, while the monks were transferred to Saint Jacques du Haut Pas. The convent was sold for demolition on the 7 Vendémiaire of the Year V (29 September 1796).

White flag. In the centre, a yellow "M" above a rifle and a sword crossed per saltire. At the top of the flag, a yellow scroll with the motto "LIBERTE FAIT MA GLOIRE" (French: Liberty Causes My Glory). At the bottom of the flag, a yellow scroll inscribed "BATAILLON DE ST MAGLOIRE".
White sash.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Joseph District (4th Division, 10th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 10th Battalion of the 4th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the St. Joseph chapel, built in 1640, as a dependency of the St. Eustace church, on a plot offered by Chancellor Séguier, who was also churchwarden at St. Esutace church. The modest chapel, lacking baptismal fonts and a ciborium, was mostly used for funerary ceremonies, being located close to the St. Joseph cemetery. Molière (1673) and (maybe) La Fontaine (1695) were buried in the cemetery. The chapel was subsequently demolished and replaced by a market hall, while the remains of the two poets were transported in 1816 to the Père Lachaise cemetery.
During the Revolution, the chapel was used as its meeting room by the Saint Joseph district, and, later by the Saint Joseph section, renamed to Fontaine-Montmorency section, Molière et La Fontaine section, and, eventually, Brutus section.

White flag. In the centre, the coat of arms of Paris surrounded by a green wreath. At the top of the flag, the motto "LA LOIX et LA LIBERTÉ" (French: Law and Freedom; "loix" is a faultive rendition of "loi"), not shown on Tisserand's rendition.
Blue and red sash.
Flag offered by the Menus Plaisirs.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018