History
The first seals were created by the Merovingian kings to authenticate their orders. Merely rings originally, later worn on a necklace, the royal seals grew bigger and bigger under the House of Capet to reach around 12 centimetres. These are the modern dimensions of the seal.
All the seals under the Ancien Régime featured the king sitting on this throne and giving justice, yet every king had his own personal seal, a unique item which passed with him. All edicts, orders, decrees and declarations were then sealed.
After the abolition of Monarchy and installation of the Republic on the 21 September 1792, the end of monarchy was symbolised by the seals of the State being broken and sent to the Monnaie (the place where seals and coins are made and stored). In September 1792, Danton (then minister of Justice) had the first seal of the Republic made: a personification of Liberty standing, supported by a fasces and holding a spear with a phrygian cap.
Napoléon, Louis XVIII and Charles X all took back the seal of majesty, Louis-Philippe showing only his bust.
The present seal dates back to the Second Republic, which briefly used the seals of the First Republic before having a new design made by the artist Jacques-Jean Barre on the 8 September 1848.
Read more about this topic: Great Seal Of France
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