Paris... its motto, and its coat of arms! Do you know its history? No ? Well, don't panic: the editorial team at Sortiraparis would like to take you on a tour of its history and what it represents. So you can tell your story at your next big dinner party, and impress your guests - or the guests present if you're not the host.
The official coat of arms of the city of Paris, as it is known today, depicts a silver nef sailing on blue waves, on a gules (red) field, surmounted by an azure chief sown with golden fleurs-de-lis. It is accompanied by the motto " Fluctuat nec mergitur ", meaning " It is beaten by the waves, but never sinks ". This symbol, still visible on Parisian public buildings, is the legacy of a long historical tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.
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The origin of this coat of arms can be traced back to the 1210 seal used by the powerful corporation of "water merchants"(Nautae Parisiaci), ancestors of the Paris municipality. The seal depicted a river boat, symbolizing their monopoly on river trade between Paris and Mantes. As early as 1190, Philippe Auguste formalized this coat of arms with a nave on a red background and a golden fleur-de-lys semis. These colors - blue and red - are at the origin of the tricolor flag, combined with the white of the monarchy.
Over the centuries, the boat's design has undergone many changes. It was depicted with the goddess Isis under the First Empire, transformed into a washboat in 1848, before reverting to the medieval design in 1942. The fleur-de-lys, absent during the French Revolution, were replaced by bees, then stars, and finally reinstated after 1871. In 1358, they were introduced "as a token of reconciliation" with royalty, according to the chronicles of the time.
Today, the coat of arms retains its ancient form, enriched with modern decorations such as the Légion d'honneur, the Croix de guerre 1914-1918 and the Croix de la Libération. A testament to the capital's resilience, it still embodies this city " battered by the waves but never sinking ".
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Fluctuat nec mergitur: what does the City of Paris’ motto mean?
