Marine Lily Flower

The fleur-de-lis and the history of French royalty are closely linked. Present on the coat of arms and flags of the French monarchy, the emblem of the golden fleur-de-lis is in reality… a yellow iris! This symbol is said to have been introduced around the 9th century by the Frankish kings, in reference to the Battle of Vouillé (in 507), which ended with the victory of Clovis over the Visigoths. The confrontation took place on the banks of a river lined with marsh irises, a plant called “lisbloem” in Frankish, the Germanic language of the Franks.

In the 12th century, Louis VI and Louis VII began to use the emblem, thus linking their domination to this symbol of holiness and divine right. Also, it can be noted that this term is phonetically very similar to “Flor de Loys“ (Flower of King Louis). The fleur-de-lis has been present in the coats of arms of Royal France since the 12th century, but also in those of French provinces or cities or in the flag of Quebec.