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Paris (Department and Municipality, France)

by Arnaud Leroy

Source: Mairie de Paris

Administrative data
A short presentation of Paris
Description of the flag
Flag of the Mayor of Paris

See also:

Administrative data

Code: 75
Region: Ile-de-France
Traditional province: Ile-de-France
Bordering departments: Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne

Area: 105 km²Population (1995): 2,130,900 inhabitants

The city of Paris has been a department since1964. It was formerly part of the department of Seine (75).

A short presentation of Paris

In the Roman era, Paris was known as Lutetia and was the capital city of the Parisii Gaul tribe. The name Paris seems to have appeared in the IIIrd century only. The saint patron of the city is St. Geneviève, who protected the city against the Huns in 451.
The expansion of the city really started with the Capetian dynasty (987). In the XIIth century, king Philippe-Auguste ordered the building of a second wall around the city; the first Halles (market) and the cathedral Notre-Dame were also built at that time. The University of Paris was founded in 1215 and the building of the Sorbonne started in 1257.
The Parisians always had difficult relationships with the king of France, and popular riots and revolts have been numerous, e.g.:

In 1356-1358, during the Hundred Years' War, the prévôt des marchands (a kind of mayor) revolted against the Dauphin Charles.
On 24 August 1572, known as St.Barthelémy's night, the Protestants were slaughtered in their houses and the streets of the city.
In 1588, king Henri III had to leave Paris under the pressure of the Ligue led by the nobles who got the support of the Parisians.

Most of the important historical and political events of the XVIIIth, XIXth and XXth centuries started or took place in Paris (the French Revolution, changes of political regime, the Commune...).

In 1841-1845, a new surrounding wall was built (later destroyed) and in June 1859, 11 neighbouring municipalities were incorporated to Paris. Paris is nowdivided in arrondissements, whose number increased in 1860 from12 to 20.

The administrative status of Paris was changed on 31 December 1975: Paris is a territorial collectivity with both the status of municipality and department. In 1977, Jacques Chirac was elected mayor and reigned over Paris for nearly 20 years. His successor Jean Tiberi was not able to keep the municipality under the administration of conservative parties, and the socialist Bertrand Delanoé succeded him in 2000.

Ivan Sache, 2 January 2002

Description of the flag

The flag of Paris has vertical stripes blue and red, with or without the coat of arms of the city in the middle. Proportions 2:3. These are the old colours of the city. There is another flag which is red with a blue stripe at the hoist and a stylised white merchant ship on the red part. Proportions 2:3. The arrondissements of the city have coats of arms.

Pascal Vagnat, 14 December 1997

Flag of the Mayor of Paris

by Jaume Ollé

The flag of the Mayor of Paris is divided diagonally (per bend) blue and red. On the obverse, there is the full coat of arms of Paris, slightly different of the usual one. The shield is red with a golden ship and blue water charged with a wavy line gold. The chief is charged with three gold fleur de lys. The border of the shield, the mural crown and the ribbon, the two branches of oak and larel, as well as the three decorations are fimbriated in gold. The motto 'FLUCTUAT NEC MERGITUR' appears in white. On the reverse (diagonally divided per bend sinister) appear the words 'VILLE DE PARIS' in golden letters. The dimensions of the flag are 35 cm x 40 cm and it has a golden fringe. The flag has a blue and red ribbon, golden fringed.

Source: Lucien Philippe, Emblèmes et pavillons [eep], #9, February 1987.

Pascal Vagnat, 16 March 1998

The flag was adopted on 20 March 1977.

Jaume Ollé, 30 March 1997

Fahnen / Flaggen