Cross of Lorraine – France Libre
On July 1, 1940, General Charles de Gaulle adopted the Cross of Lorraine as the emblem of Free France during World War II. He deliberately chose this symbol to counter the Nazi swastika.
Since then, the Cross of Lorraine has incorporated several elements to represent the different organisations and military corps that adopted it.
The Free French Forces thus incorporated a red Cross of Lorraine on the white background of their tricolour flag.
Vice Admiral Muselier, a native of Lorraine in Eastern France, played a key role in popularising this symbol.
He also designed the Pavillon de Beaupré (ensign), which adorned the warships of the Free French Forces. This French tricolour flag features a red Cross of Lorraine inscribed within a white lozenge. This distinctive cross is also frequently depicted on French battlefields and war memorials.
From the True Cross to the Cross of Lorraine
The cross, a symbol deeply rooted in Christian iconography, of course originates from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Traditionally represented by a vertical bar crossed by a horizontal one, it symbolises the instrument of Jesus’s torture. According to biblical accounts, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, ordered that the inscription “INRI” (Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum – Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews) be placed on the cross.
With the approval of the patriarchs of Jerusalem (bishops in charge of the Holy Land), the cross later became an emblem of the Knights Templar‘s commitment to their religious and military duties during the medieval Crusades.
Over time, variations of the cross appeared, notably the Cross of Lorraine, characterised by its two horizontal bars of equal length.
In ecclesiastical heraldry, the cross with two horizontal bars symbolised the authority of archbishops and other high-ranking members of the clergy. It was incorporated into their coats of arms, symbolising their spiritual role within the Church.
Thus, the cross possesses a rich and multifaceted symbolism, representing not only the foundations of Christianity but also aspects of chivalry, military bravery, and ecclesiastical authority throughout history.
Cross of Anjou
The origins of the Cross of Lorraine are closely linked to various royal dynasties of medieval Europe.
It was indeed incorporated into the coat of arms of the Dukes of Anjou in the 14th century and became logically known as the Cross of Anjou. Legend has it that this Cross was fashioned from a relic of the True Cross, discovered in Byzantium and brought to the Abbey of Boissière in Anjou in 1244. The Dukes of Anjou venerated this relic, which was temporarily kept at the Jacobin convent in Angers during the Hundred Years’ War.
In 1431, René of Anjou inherited the title of Duke of Lorraine following the death of his father-in-law, Charles II of Lorraine. His marriage to Isabelle of Lorraine strengthened his ties with the region, leading to the adoption of the Cross of Anjou as the Cross of Lorraine.
The kings of Hungary also adopted the Cross of Lorraine through a series of royal marriages and political alliances. Thus, Charles I of Anjou, crowned King of Sicily by the Pope in 1266, married Mary of Hungary in 1270. This union extended the influence of the House of Anjou-Sicily not only to Hungary but also to Croatia, Provence, Poland, and Jerusalem. The Cross of Lorraine subsequently appeared on the coats of arms of Hungary, Slovakia, and Lithuania, becoming an emblem of the ties between several royal European dynasties.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Free French Naval Forces Public Domain – King of Dalmatia blason by João do Cró Public Domain
