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| | Arms of France |
 | | The arms of France, since the late 12th century, have been Azure, a semis of fleurs-de-lis or, changed in 1376 to Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or. |
 | | In 1589, when Henri, king of Navarre, ascended the throne as Henri IV of France, the arms of French kings became per pale France and Navarre, which is Gules, a cross, saltire, (double) orle of chains, all linked, or. |
 | | In 1905, during a visit of the king of Spain to France, an informal coat of arms for the French Republic was devised: Azure, a fasces on a laurel branch and an oak branch per saltire, bound by a scroll inscribed with the words "liberté égalité fraternité", all or. |
| www.heraldica.org /topics/france/frarms.htm (2328 words) |
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