The origin and history of Marianne, symbol of the French Republic
She is the symbol of the Republic. She is depicted in all her majesty on the square of the same name in Paris and is a mandatory feature in each of the thousands of town halls across France. Marianne also appears on our stamps. She embodies the French Republic, which has its origins in the French Revolution...
The origin of the name Marianne: a popular first name that has become a symbol
France wearing a Phrygian cap / 1790 / Carnavalet Museum, Paris
"Marie Anne" or "Marianne" was the most common name given to female servants in 18th-century France. For aristocrats, it was a name associated with the poor, with women who were only spoken to in order to give them orders. So when the French Revolution rejected the birthright that allowed nobles to enjoy privileges simply by virtue of their birth and ultimately imposed the Republic, and therefore equal rights, the aristocrats, shocked to be considered equals by those who had been their inferiors for centuries, ended up calling the Republic, like those who had served them, something poor and old-fashioned, and they called it "la gueuse" (the beggar) or even... Marianne.
The idea was taken up by the Republicans, who welcomed the fact that this popular name symbolized a regime born of the will of the people. "Marie Anne" became Marianne to be less associated with the names of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Christ, and Marianne even became a code word for Republicans fighting for the return of the Republic during the Empire or the Restoration of the monarchies. In short, Marianne is the name of a woman of the people. This is the common idea among monarchists and republicans alike.
Marianne and Liberty: when the Phrygian cap became a symbol of the Republic
The Phrygian cap, symbol of the revolutionaries in 1792. Period engraving.
When the Republic was founded in France in 1792, a symbol was needed to represent it. Liberty was chosen. Its representation was inspired by Greek and Roman figures. She was depicted in various ways: with a mace to crush evil, with a scepter, but most often wearing a Phrygian cap. This cap was the symbol of freed slaves in the Roman Empire.
The Phrygian cap is worn by revolutionaries to show their commitment to the Republic. It is red and can be seen on many heads in Paris. Gradually, Liberty merges with the Republic, wears a Phrygian cap, and becomes "Marianne."
Marianne and the Republic: a symbol that is reborn in every era
Marianne presented to Victor Hugo by sculptor Jacques Paul LECREUX / Bust in the round on a square pedestal, representing the Republic. This Marianne wears a scarf across her chest from her right shoulder to her breast. This scarf is punctuated by three oak crowns bearing the dates: 1789 on the first, 1848 on the second, and 1870 on the third. Hauteville House, Guernsey.
With the definitive fall of the July Monarchy and the advent of the Second Republic in 1848, Marianne made a strong comeback, even though her appearance was the subject of much debate. Some wanted to represent her as a fighter, with her hair down and a Phrygian cap on her head; others preferred her to be calmer, more hard-working, with her hair tied back and her breasts covered. In fact, everyone wanted to see their own conception of the Republic. The return of the Empire put an end to the discussions.
Marianne under the Second Empire: return of the republican symbol in 1871
There was no question of having Marianne, and therefore the Republic, as a symbol when you were an empire. With the installation of Napoleon III, Marianne disappeared once again, even though her name remained a code word for Republicans. She made a strong comeback in 1871, with the fall of Napoleon III and the establishment of the Third Republic.
Victor Hugo, a staunch republican, depicted with Marianne, "whom he helped to grow," since he fought Napoleon III, who exiled him, and was present at the establishment of the Third Republic in 1871. Engraving by Adolphe Léon Willette Print from 1899.
She made her entrance into all town halls in 1877, and her bust is still mandatory there. She has appeared on coins and stamps since 1871, and since 1999, on all official ministry documents with the three colors and the motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity."
The faces of Marianne: an icon of the Republic through time
Armed in 1792, bare-breasted in 1848, demure and well-coiffed in 1871, Marianne changes her appearance according to the times and regimes. When the government is conservative, she is demure; when it is progressive, she regains her color.
To call for the abolition of slavery in 1848, the Freemasons of Toulouse even depicted her as a freed black slave, a work that was forgotten and then rediscovered in the 20th century.
Freedom for France... Freedoms for the French (FD/120) / Anglo-American Information Office, Publisher In 1944 / Museum of the Liberation of Paris -
Artists and faces of Marianne, symbol of the French Republic
In 1899, Jules Dalou sculpted Le Triomphe de la République (The Triumph of the Republic), which can be seen at Place de la Nation in Paris. Also in Paris, the Monument à la République (Monument to the Republic) by the Morice brothers (1883) stands at Place de la République: Marianne stands 9 meters tall on a 15-meter pedestal, surrounded by allegories of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. This is often where the French gather to celebrate or pay their respects, particularly after the attacks of 2015. Famous women have also lent their features to Marianne: Brigitte Bardot, Mireille Mathieu, Laetitia Casta... Marianne is the Republic personified: a free, committed, protective woman. She embodies the entire French people.
Marianne, the embodiment of the Republic, is a legacy, a woman who fights for freedom, a woman who is committed to equality and democracy, and who also protects the children of the Republic. This woman is all of us. Marianne is the French people.
The Marianne statue on Place de la République in Paris, created by the Morice brothers in 1883/ Photo by Mathias Reding on Unsplash
FAQ – Marianne, symbol of the French Republic
Why is Marianne called that?
Because "Marie-Anne" was a common name among the people in the 18th century, adopted ironically by the aristocracy, then proudly by the republicans.
Why is she wearing a Phrygian cap?
The Phrygian cap was the symbol of freed slaves in ancient Rome, adopted by revolutionaries in 1792 to represent liberty.
Since when has Marianne been in town halls?
Since 1877, his bust has been mandatory in all town halls in France.
Who inspired the modern faces of Marianne?
Several famous women have lent their features: Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Laetitia Casta, and Mireille Mathieu.
What does Marianne symbolize today?
She embodies the values of the French Republic: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.
