Stories from a guide/speaker

April 2019

THE FRÉJUS COAT OF ARMS

In the 13th and 14th century cities in Provence joined the fashion for having a coat of arms. Fréjus chose to take an emblem marking an important event in its history. The crest decorated with a Latin cross probably commemorates its participation in the Crusades. As in 1096 thousands of crusaders left daily from Fréjus, which along with Marseille, Toulon, Antibes was one of the ports, it is likely that Fréjus decided to adopt the simple cross that adorns its escutcheon. First crusade announced by Urban V, in 1095 in Clermont, a city which also sports the Latin cross on its shield.

As Fréjus, whose bishop Berenger III participated in the Council of Clermont in 1095, was certainly the point of departure for several crusades, it is reasonable to assume that the city thus earned the cross on its coat of arms.

The cross is not the only honourable symbol adorning the Fréjus coat of arms. The chief (upper third) has three fleur de lys which are the reminder of the royal arms of France. Fréjus was among the kingdom’s ‘good cities’, which had the privilege of being represented in Reims for the coronation ceremony.

Although coming under the viguerie of Draguignan, Fréjus had the right to appoint people to the Provincial assembly.

The General Armorial of France is a heraldic census ordered by King Louis XIV in 1696, in order to establish a general record of all the coats of arms in use by individuals and towns throughout the kingdom and ensure exclusive ownership. This royal edict had no other purpose than as a fiscal measure since payment was made for registration.

The coat of arms of Fréjus is therefore recorded in the General Armorial of France:

“Silver cross gules, chief with the arms of France topped with crenelated towers”

Gules is a red heraldic colour. Blood red, red symbolizes life. It also symbolizes the soul, heart and passion. It is the colour of regeneration, resurrection.

A silver cross. In heraldry, silver represents the colour white. The cross unites horizontality with verticality. It is the junction of the human plane, the earthly world and matter, with the heavenly world and the mind. In heraldry its symbolism is linked to the four cardinal points.

This cross indicates that the city was one of the ports of embarkation for the first crusade. This crusade took place from 1096 to 1099, following the refusal of the Turks in 1078 to give Christians free passage to Jerusalem. This crusade ended with Jerusalem being captured in 1099.

Chief in the arms of France. The chief is the upper part of the shield, separated from the field by a horizontal line. Blue with golden fleurs-de-lis.

Crenelated towers on the crown topping the coat of arms means the city was a fortified royal domain and not an open city. The rampart dates from 1569, by Charles IX, so the coat of arms is certainly later than this.

Archives :

• Chronique du guide conférencier mars 2019 – “The Roland Garros bust”
• Chronique du guide conférencier février 2019 – “The Roman theatre”
• Chronique du guide conférencier janvier 2019 -“La Villa “les parasols” by Lucie Couturier
• Chronique du guide conférencier décembre 2018 – “L’hôpital Jean-Louis”
• Chronique du guide conférencier novembre 2018 – “The amphitheatre”
• Chronique du guide conférencier octobre 2018 – “Indochina war memorial”
• Chronique du guide conférencier septembre 2018 – “Place du Couvent”
• Chronique du guide conférencier août 2018 – “Roman Port”
• Chronique du guide conférencier juillet 2018 – “From Villa Virginie to Villa Marie”
• Chronique du guide conférencier juin 2018 – “The baptistery”
• Chronique du guide conférencier mai 2018 – “The Caquot hangar”
• Chronique du guide conférencier avril 2018 – “Painting of Cardinale de Fleury”
• Chronique du guide conférencier mars 2018 – “The Sainte Marguerite altarpiece”
• Chronique du guide conférencier février 2018 – “The Notre Dame de Jérusalem chapel – Cocteau”
• Chronique du guide conférencier janvier 2018 – “Archaeological crypt and Roman pond”
• Chronique du guide conférencier décembre 2017 – “Leopard mosaic”
• Chronique du guide conférencier novembre 2017 – “The exedra saved from the water”
• Chronique du guide conférencier octobre 2017 – “La Muiron”
• Chronique du guide conférencier septembre 2017 – “Saint-François de Paue chapel”
• Chronique du guide conférencier août 2017 – “The Roman Pont des Esclapes”
• Chronique du guide conférencier juillet 2017 – “Villa la Gabelle or Château Galiiéni”
• Chronique du guide conférencier juin 2017 – “Fontaine des Quatre Parties du Monde”
• Chronique du guide conférencier mai 2017 – “Who built Villa Aurélienne?”
• Chronique du guide conférencier avril 2017 – “The Hông Hiên Tu pagoda”
• Chronique du guide conférencier mars 2017 – “The Armée Noire memorial”
• Chronique du guide conférencier février 2017 – “Centenary of the death of Carolus Duran
• Chronique du guide conférencier janvier 2017 – “Modern rampart”
• Chronique du guide conférencier décembre 2016 – “Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès”
• Chronique du guide conférencier novembre 2016 – “Mosque or Tata”
• Chronique du guide conférencier octobre 2016 – “Marc Antoine Madeleine Desaugiers”
• Chronique du guide conférencier septembre 2016 – “Thomas Jefferson”
• Chronique du guide conférencier août 2016 – “Hermès de Fréjus”
• Chronique du guide conférencier juillet 2016 – “Sainte-Monique”
• Chronique du guide conférencier juin 2016 – “Roman columns in Fréjus”
• Chronique du guide conférencier mai 2016 – “Traces of Roam chariot wheels”
• Chronique du guide conférencier avril 2016 – “The Assumption – 17th century”
• Chronique du guide conférencier mars 2016 – “Hôtel des Quatre Saisons – Rue du Général de Gaulle”
• Chronique du guide conférencier février 2016 – “Hôtel de la Poste – Rue du Général de Gaulle”