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

3. Description (6/6)

Last modified: 2018-07-14 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:


Oratoire District (6th Division, 1st Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 1st Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the church (lit. oratory) of the Oratorians, built in 1621-1630 by architect Lemercier. After the suppression of the congregation in 1792, the building was used by the Louvre section. Later on, it was used by scientific societies. In 1802, the church was transferred to the Protestants.
The district formed the Gardes Françaises section, later on the Saint-Honoré borough, part of the 4th arrondissement.

Flag gyronny of eight pieces blue-orange, the blue quarters semé with yellow fleurs-de-lis (same layout as Saint Honoré). In the center, an octagonal panel with a thick yellow border showing fasces piercing a wreath. At the bottom a ship. At the top a white scroll with the motto "AMOUR DES PEUPLES, FORCES DES ROIS" (French: Love of Peoples, Strengths of the Kings).
White sash.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Feuillants (6th Division, 2nd Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 2nd Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the convent established at the end of the 16th century by the Feuillants. The order had a very severe rule: the monks ate grass and drank water from human bones.
On 16 July 1791, members of the Jacobins Club upset by the proposal of dethroning the king moved to the Feuillants Convent, where they formed the Feuillants Club. Among the famous members of the Club were Lafayette, Siéyès, Bailly and Mirabeau. Once very popular, the Feuillants decreased in importance and the club was dissolved; however, the aristocratic party was still called Feuillants while the former members of the club were accused of "feuillantism" during the Terror.

Flag quartered blue-red by a white cross. In the first quarter, the yellow writing "LOUIS XVI" surmounted by a crown. In the second quarter, a silver ship. In the third quarter, the monogram "HB" surmounted by 10 stars and surrounded by two branches. In the fourth quarter, 4 + 3 + 4 + 3 + 4 (18) yellow fleurs-de-lis. In the center, fasces surmounted by a silver Liberty cap and surrounded by two twisted branches. The horizontal arm of the cross inscribed "LA FRANCE REGENEREE" (French: Regenerated France).
White sash.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Filles de Saint Thomas District (6th Division, 3rd Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the convent established by the Daughters of St. Thomas of Aquino, an hospitaler order, in 1626. The convent was demolished in the middle of the 19th century.
The Filles de Saint Thomas Battalion was the last battalion of the National Guard to remain faithful to Louis XVI. In 1792, the battalion's grenadiers had a violent altercation with a group of federals from Marseilles in a pub on the Champs-Élysées. During the riots that broke out on 10 August, the battalion was Louis XVI's last support.

Flag horizontally divided blue-white-red. In the upper left and lower right corners, a yellow ship. In the upper right and lower left corners, a yellow fleur-de-lis pointing centerwise. In the center of the flag, a sword pointing upwards, surrounded by a wreath. In the blue stripe, the writing "SIXIɈME DIVISION". In the white stripe, the motto "Vivre libres ou mourir" (French: To live free or to die). In the red stripe, the writing "TROISIɈME BATAILLON". White sash.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Philippe du Roule District (6th Division, 4th Battalion)

[Flag]

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

TThe district, presided by de la Voiepierre, was named for a church originally dedicated to Sts. James and Philip. When rebuilt in 1784, the church kept only St. Philip's patronage. In the ancient times, when the Roule borough was still a village, the judges sat under a big elm planted near a cross in front of the church.

Flag quartered red-blue by a white cross. In the red quarters, the coat of arms of Paris in an oval shield. In the blue quarter, the Royal arms in a triangular shield. In the center, a red octagonal panel framed by a yellow border and surrounded by four crowns, with the motto "Pour la Patrie les Lois et la Liberté" (French: For Homeland, Laws and Freedom; "loix" is an old form of "lois"). Above a "B" framed in a curved lozenge. Below "1789 Bataillon 56" framed in a similar lozenge, surrounded in base bt "L" and "N".
White sash.
Flag offered by the ladies of the district.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Germain l'Auxerrois District (6th Division, 5th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 5th Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district, presided by Mercier, Knight of the Order of the King, was named for a church built in the early 7th century, ruined by the Northmen and subsequently rebuilt. This was one of the richest parishes in Paris, the church ruling several convents and colleges. Hardly damaged during the Revolution, the church was transformed in 1793 in a powder workshop, and then used by the Théophilanthropes. Given back to the Catholic cult in 1803 by Bonaparte, the church was nearly looted in February 1831.

Flag with a white square lozenge touching the edges of the flag. The first and fourth quarters blue with 12 yellow fleurs-de-lis. The second quarter red with a yellow ship. The third quarter red with a white board inscribed "B de St Germain". In the center, a tree, fasces, a shovel. Above a silver scroll with the motto "LEUR UNION FAIT LEUR FORCE" (French: Their Unity Makes their Strength).
White sash.
Flag offered by Mr. Herbain.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Jacobins de Saint Honoré District (6th Division, 6th Battalion)

[Flag]

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

The district was named for a convent and church established by the Jacobins (Dominicans) in 1611. After the closure of the convent in 1790, the Jacobins Club met in its library and, subsequently, in its church, which was eventually demolished inv 1794 after the suppression of the club.
The Jacobins Club originated in the Breton Club, formed in Versailles and subsequently renamed to Revolution Club and Society of the Friends of the constitution. Very powerful, the club acted as a kind a parallel Constituent Assembly, with more than 2,000 branches all over France. The Convention reestablished its own power on 9 Thermidor, ordering the arrest of Robespierre and the suppression of the Jacobins. An attempt of reorganization the Jacobins was stopped in 1788 by the Minister of the General Police, Fouché, who had been expelled form the club years before.

Flag quartered red-blue by a white cross. In the center the Royal arms in a circular shield, over a spear topped by a Liberty Cap. Above a yellow scroll with the motto "NOVO FOEDERE JUNCTI" (Latin:?) In each quarter, a yellow scroll inscribed "LA NATION" (French: The Nation), "LE ROI" (French: The King), "LA LIBERTE (French: Liberty), and "LA LOI" (French: The Law).
White sash.
Flag offered by Mr. Lehoc (commander of the Battalion).
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Honoré District (6th Division, 7th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 7th Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district, presided by Agasse, was named for the St. Honoré church, founded in 1204. Increased in 1579, the church was in the 18th century the richest collegiate church in Paris. It was sold for demolition in 1792.

Flag gyronny of eight pieces blue-orange, the blue quarters semé with yellow fleurs-de-lis (same layout as Oratoire). In the middle, a square panel with a thick yellow border showing fasces piercing a wreath. At the right bottom a ship. At the top a white scroll with the motto "FORTS DE NOTRE UNION" (French: Strong of Our Unity).
White sash.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Capucins de Saint Louis - Chaussée d'Antin District (5th Division, 8th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 8th Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for the convent built for the Capuchins in 1780-1782 by the architect Brongniart (1739-1813) and settled on 15 September 1782 by the Capuchins of Faubourg Saint Jacques. In 1790, the convent was transfomed in a hospital for those suffering from venereal diseases. In 1802, it was transformed into Bonaparte Collège, renamed in 1814 to Bourbon Royal College, today Lycée Condorcet. The former convent's chapel is today the Saint Louis d'Antin parish church.

Blue flag quartered by a white cross. In the center fasces, a shield, a sword and a spear. Left and right a wreath. At the top, the Royal arms. At the bottom, a ship. In each quarter, a silver scroll inscribed "LIBERTÉ" (French: Liberty), "LOYAUTÉ" (French: Loyalty), "FIDÉLITÉ" (French: Fidelity), and "SURETɉ (French: Security).
White sash.
Flag offered by Mr. Pinon (commander of the Battalion).
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Champs Élysées / Capucins Saint Honoré District (6th Division, 9th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 9th Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district was named for another Capuchine convent, founded in 1530, used during the Revolution by the Constituent Assembly as an office. The convent and its church were demolished in 1790, replaced by Mont-Thabor Street.

Blue flag with a semy of yellow stars and a white diagonal bend inscribed in yellow with the motto "LIBERTE FIDELITE" (French: Liberty Loyalty). In each corner of the flag, a yellow fleur-de-lis pointing centerwise. In lower hoist, a ship. In upper fly, a crowned monogram "LB".
White sash.
Flag offered by the Duchess de Bourbon.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018


Saint Roch District (6th Division, 10th Battalion)

[Flag]

Color of the 10th Battalion of the 6th Division - Image by Lazare-Maurice Tisserand, 1875

The district, presided by Giroust, municipal councillor, who was denounced in 1789 after having intercepted a letter sent to a Representative, was named for the St. Roch church. Obe of the biggest in Paris, the church was erected from 1653 to 1722 after the plan drafted by Jacques Le Mercier. The church was the place of violent fighting during the Royalist insurrection of 13 Vendémiaire of the Year V (5 October 1795). Transformed into a Temple of Genius on 6 Brumaire of the Year VII (27 October 1798) and subsequently retroceded to the Roman Catholic cult, the St. Roch church was sacked on 7 January 1815 by 5,000 rioters, after the priests had refused to inter the actress Françoise Raucourt (1756-1815). Several other celebrities were interred in the church, such as the Royal gardener André Lenôtre (1700), the writer Pierre Corneille (1684), the philosopher Denis Diderot (1783), and the painter Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1806).

Flag quartered blue-red by a white cross, with a border (or fringe?) In the center an oval medallion charged with an allegoric figure, surrounded by branches extending on the horizontal arms of the cross. The red quarters inscribed, per bend, with writing, in the second quarter "INTREPIDITE PERSEVERANCE" (French: Intrepidity Perseverance), in the third quarter the motto "NOTRE UNION FAIT NOTRE FORCE" (French: Our Unity Makes Our Strength).
White sash.
Flag offered by the citizens of the district.
The color was blessed on 9 September 1789.
[Vieilh de Varenne's rendition; Margerand's rendition]

Ivan Sache, 24 January 2018