Lorraine — Coat of Arms and Flag

Blazon

Or, a bend Gules charged with three alerions Argent.

Elements and Symbolism

• Gold field (Or) — the golden background signifies prestige and sovereignty, characteristic of a major duchy.
• Bend Gules — a red diagonal band running from the upper-left to lower-right of the shield, a fundamental heraldic ordinary.
• Three alerions Argent — silver limbless eagles (without beak, feet or displayed wings) placed on the red bend. The alerion is closely identified with Lorraine; no other major heraldic tradition features it so prominently.

Historical Development

The arms appear on the seal of Simon II, Duke of Lorraine, in 1183 — making them among the earliest dated heraldic arms in France. They were borne continuously by all subsequent dukes of Lorraine until the duchy's definitive incorporation into France in 1766. According to late-medieval legend, the alerions commemorated a feat of Godefroy de Bouillon, who allegedly killed three birds with a single arrow during the First Crusade's capture of Jerusalem in 1099 — a tale invented to legitimise the ducal lineage through a crusading hero, though historically unfounded. The modern administrative region adopted these medieval arms unchanged in 1972.

Colors and Design

The regional flag reproduced the coat of arms on a white or gold field. The combination of gold, red and silver gave the emblem a bold, immediately recognisable appearance. The Cross of Lorraine (a double-barred cross) was also widely used as an informal regional symbol alongside the heraldic arms.

Historical Origin

The Cross of Lorraine was adopted by General de Gaulle in 1940 as the emblem of the Free French Forces, giving this Lorraine symbol worldwide recognition. It derives from the Patriarchal Cross used by the Archbishops of Trier and became associated with the duchy through the d'Anjou-Vaudémont branch of the ducal family.

Modern Usage

Since Lorraine's merger into Grand Est in 2016, the Cross of Lorraine and the alerions arms continue to be used informally to assert regional identity, particularly in contexts relating to the World Wars, in which Lorraine — and above all Verdun — played a central role.

What does the coat of arms of Lorraine represent?

The arms show a golden field with a red bend bearing three silver alerions (limbless eagles). They have been the arms of the Duchy of Lorraine since at least 1183 and are among the oldest continuously used heraldic arms in France.

What is an alerion in heraldry?

An alerion is a heraldic bird resembling a small eagle but without beak or feet, displayed with its body spread. Three silver alerions on a red bend are the defining feature of Lorraine's arms.

What is the legend behind the alerions?

Medieval legend held that the alerions were won by Godefroy de Bouillon, who allegedly killed three birds with one arrow at the siege of Jerusalem in 1099, earning the kingship of the city. This tale is legendary rather than historical.

When was Lorraine finally incorporated into France?

The Duchy of Lorraine passed definitively to France in 1766 upon the death of Stanislas Leszczynski, former King of Poland, who had held it for life. His son-in-law Louis XV then received it for the French crown.

When did Lorraine merge into Grand Est?

On 1 January 2016, Lorraine merged with Alsace and Champagne-Ardenne to form the new administrative region of Grand Est.

• Michel Parisse, Histoire de la Lorraine, Privat, 1977.
• Gilles Bédague, Les armoiries des régions françaises, Editions du Heraut, 2003.
• Archives départementales de Meurthe-et-Moselle — heraldic collections.
• Musée lorrain, Nancy — ducal arms and history.

Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on June 29, 2026.