Fleur de Lys and Iris
The Fleur de Lys has been the official emblem of the Kings of France since the 12th century.
This iconic symbol represents a stylized yellow iris, although it is often mistaken for a lily (lys or lis in French).
But why a yellow iris?
Legend traces the origin of the Fleur de Lys back to the late 5th century when Clovis, the first King of France, converted to Christianity.
While there are variations in the stories, three legends attempt to explain the significance of this symbol on the coat of arms of the French monarchy.
First legend
The Frankish king Clovis was initially a pagan, but his conversion to Christianity at the Battle of Tolbiac (near modern Cologne) in 496 AD marked a pivotal moment.
According to legend, an angel appeared and promised him victory if he replaced the three toads adorning his shield with three golden Fleurs de Lys. Clovis emerged victorious over the Alamanni and promptly adopted the Fleur de Lys as his emblem.
You might be wondering why a king would have toads on his coat of arms in the first place. The Franks’ territory, which included present-day Flanders in Northern France, consisted of flat, marshy lands where toads thrived.
These amphibians were equally adept in the water (the Kingdom-Below) and on land (the Kingdom-Above). According to Frankish beliefs, marshes and waterways served as portals connecting these two realms, and the toad was seen as a shamanic creature capable of traversing between them, symbolizing its power and significance.
Another version of the legend suggests that the Lord of Armentières in Flanders incorporated yellow irises into his coat of arms, as they grew abundantly along the banks of the Lys River, which flowed through his domain. When the king of France annexed the fiefdom of Armentières, he adopted the Fleur de Lys (the flower of the river Lys) as his own emblem.
Second legend
In 507 AD, Clovis and his forces clashed with King Alaric II and his Visigoths. After being forced into retreat by the Visigoths to the swamps of the river Vienne near the town of Vouillé, south of modern-day Poitiers in southwestern France, Clovis found himself in a dire situation. The battle appeared to be slipping from his grasp until he witnessed a deer crossing the river amidst water irises, indicating the presence of a ford. Seizing this opportunity, Clovis and his army crossed the river under the cover of a moonless night. Under the cloak of darkness, they launched a surprise attack on the unsuspecting Visigoths as they slept, ultimately resulting in the demise of King Alaric II in the early hours of the morning. In the wake of this decisive victory, Clovis promptly adopted the yellow iris as his emblem, forever commemorating the pivotal role it played in securing his triumph.
Third legend
Clovis, along with his wife Clotilde, a Christian Princess of Burgundy, resided in the Château de Montjoie situated in the Forêt de Cruye, which is known today as the Forêt de Marly to the west of Paris. Clotilde, known for her piety, would frequently engage in prayer with a hermit residing near a fountain close to the castle. One day, an angel appeared to the hermit, conveying a divine message that Clovis was to replace the three toads, a pagan symbol as you now know, on his coat of arms with three golden Fleurs de Lys. Although the Fleur de Lys began to be utilized in subsequent centuries, it did not officially feature on the royal coat-of-arms until the 12th century.
Emblem of the Kings of France
In fact, the use of the blue talar toga adorned with stars and constellations, akin to the High Priest of Israel’s attire, was prevalent in the royal coat-of-arms before the Fleur de Lys gained prominence. It wasn’t until Louis VII in 1150 that the Fleur de Lys officially became the emblem of the kings of France. But why did the yellow iris become known as the Fleur de Lys if it wasn’t a lily?
The name Louis, which many kings of France bore, traces its origins back to Clovis, who was initially known as Chlodowech in the Frankish language, meaning famous warrior. Over time, this name evolved into various forms such as Chlodowichus, Lodovicus, Ludovicus, and Ludovic, as well as Lodoïs, Loys, and eventually Louis.
The yellow iris, adopted by Clovis as the royal emblem, was initially referred to as the Flor de Loys, meaning Flower of Clovis. This name eventually became assimilated into Flor de Lys, signifying Flower of (the river) Lys. The association with the river Lys led to the assimilation of the yellow iris with the Fleur de Lys.
Philippe-Auguste was the first king to utilize a blue banner adorned with Fleurs de Lys during his departure for the 3rd Crusade in 1191, and the corresponding royal shield emerged in 1207. The number of Fleurs de Lys was officially standardized to three in 1376. Commonly depicted as a stylized yellow iris set against a blue background, the Fleur de Lys served as the official emblem of the French Monarchy from 1150 to 1830.
Iris – A few facts
Irises are a diverse group, encompassing around 300 botanical species, some characterized by rhizomes and others by bulbs.
Among them, Iris Germanica stands out with its striking blue-purple flowers, serving as the foundation for numerous hybrid varieties. Native to the Mediterranean region, this beautiful iris has a rich history, dating back millennia. Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans alike adorned their surroundings with its decorative patterns.
The Greeks, captivated by the iridescent quality of its petals, observed how its texture seemed to shimmer and change in different lights. They named the flower after Iris, the Goddess who served as the Messenger between gods and mortals, believing the rainbow to be her divine scarf.
In later centuries, Christians imbued the iris with symbolism, associating it with the purity and innocence of the Virgin Mary. However, this symbolism became entwined with that of white lilies, leading to confusion between the two flowers.
As clarified earlier, the yellow iris, or Iris pseudacorus, holds a special place as the beloved Fleur de Lys. Known in French by various names including Iris faux acore, Iris jaune, and Flambe d’eau, this iris thrives in marshy and even flooded areas, symbolizing the gateway to the Kingdom-Below.
Photo via Wikimedia commons: Coat of arms by Sodacan CC BY-SA 3.0
