Lorraine (Traditional province, France)

Last modified: 2002-01-18 by ivan sache
Keywords: lorraine | eagles: 3 (white) | alerion | elsass-lothringen | alsace-lorraine |
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by Palac Cyberflag

• The banner of Lorraine
• Alsace-Lorraine/Elsass-Lothringen autonomist movement

See also:

• France
• Traditional provinces
• Regions
  • Lorraine
  • Champagne-Ardenne
• Departments
  • Meurthe-et-Moselle
  • Meuse
  • Moselle
  • Vosges
  • Haute-Marne

The banner of Lorraine

The arms of Lorraine are related to the legend of Godefroid de Bouillon. It is said that he wanted to capture Jerusalem and he awaited a sign from God. A man from his army told him to use his bow to kill a bird in the sky. When Godefroid shot the arrow, he didn't kill one bird but three: this was the sign from God and naturally Godefroid managed to capture Jerusalem. In fact, the origin is mysterious, the coat of arms without the alérions (small heraldic eagles without beaks nor nails) was certainly used by a Germanic family. On it were then added three eagles, which lost nails and beaks due certainly to the lack of space on seals for the engraver.

Pascal Vagnat,, 28 August 1997

There is also a theory that alérion is an anagram of Lorraine.

Nahum Shereshevsky,, 31 August 1997

Alsace-Lorraine/Elsass-Lothringen autonomist movement

There is in France an autonomist movement for the Alsace-Lorraine (Elsass-Lothringen), which wants to (re-) create an autonomous, if not an independent region / free state Alsace-Lorraine (that is: Alsace and the present department of Moselle). They are using the red-white Alsatian flag with a yellow cross of Lorraine in the canton. This flag was adopted and in use at the beginning of the 1910's.

Pascal Vagnat, 21 September 1998