French heraldry

French heraldry

French heraldry is the use of <a href="/en/Heraldic" title="Heraldic" class="mw-redirect wl">heraldic</a> symbols in <a href="/en/France" title="France" class="wl">France</a>. Although it had a considerable history, existing from the 12th century, such formality has largely died out in France, as far as regulated personal heraldry is concerned. <a href="/en/Civic_heraldry" title="Civic heraldry" class="wl">Civic heraldry</a> on the other hand remains a visible part of daily life.

<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">The use of heraldic symbols in France</div>
<figure class="mw-default-size wiki-thumb"><a href="/en/File:Fleur_de_lys_(or).svg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" data-hash="File:Fleur_de_lys_(or).svg"><img loading="lazy" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Fleur_de_lys_%28or%29.svg/220px-Fleur_de_lys_%28or%29.svg.png" decoding="async" data-file-width="158" data-file-height="221" data-file-type="drawing" height="308" width="220" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Fleur_de_lys_%28or%29.svg/330px-Fleur_de_lys_%28or%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Fleur_de_lys_%28or%29.svg/440px-Fleur_de_lys_%28or%29.svg.png 2x" alt="Fleur_de_lys_%28or%29.svg"></a><figcaption>A <a href="/en/Fleur-de-lis" title="Fleur-de-lis" class="wl">fleur-de-lis</a>, the most common symbol in French heraldry</figcaption></figure>
The role of the herald (héraut) in France declined in the 17th century. Today the law recognises both assumed and inherited arms, considering them under law to be equivalent to a visual representation of a name, and given the same protections. However, there is no central registry of arms; in case of dispute, the individual who can prove the longest right to the blazon must be decided in court.

Many of the terms in international heraldry come from French.

French heraldry is the use of heraldic symbols in France. Although it had a considerable history, existing from the 12th century, such formality has largely died out in France, as far as regulated personal heraldry is concerned. Civic heraldry on the other hand remains a visible part of daily life. The role of the herald in France declined in the 17th century. Today the law recognises both assumed and inherited arms, considering them under law to be equivalent to a visual representation of a name, and given the same protections.  However, there is no central registry of arms; in case of dispute, the individual who can prove the longest right to the blazon must be decided in court. Many of the terms in international heraldry come from French. 