oriflamme

1 an inspiring symbol or ideal that serves as a rallying point in a struggle

2 a red or orange-red flag used as a standard by early French kings

English

Alternative spellings

• auriflamme

Etymology

From Old French oriflambe, oriflamme, in medieval Latin auriflamma, "golden flame", from aurum, gold, + flamma, flame.

Pronunciation

• /'ɒɹɪflæm/

Noun

1. In the context of "historic": The red silk banner of St Denis, which the abbot of St Denis gave to French kings as they rode to war.
2. Any banner, idea or principle which serves as a rallying point for those involved in a struggle.

   • 1963, Please remember that the vocabulary of our readers isn’t very extensive, so don’t go using words like ‘oriflamme’ or ‘inelectable’. — Anthony Burgess, Inside Mr Enderby

Translations

• German: Oriflamme
• Italian: orifiamma

French

Etymology

Old French, from mediæval Latin auriflamma, from aurum + flamma.

Pronunciation

/ɔʀiflam/

Noun

oriflamme

1. the oriflamme
2. a banner, a standard

The Oriflamme was the royal standard of the King of France.

It was originally the sacred banner of the Abbey of St. Denis, a monastery near Paris. The banner was red or orange-red and flown from a lance. It was suggested that the lance was originally the important object, with the banner a decoration - but that this changed over time. Its colour stems from the legend of it being dipped in the blood of the recently-beheaded St. Denis. The Oriflamme later became the royal standard of the King of France, and it was carried at the head of the king's forces whenever they met another army in battle. The bearer of the standard, the Porte Oriflamme, became an office (like that of Marshal or Constable) and a great honour, as it was an important and very dangerous job to take charge of such a visible symbol in battle.

Originally Latin, aurea flamma, it translates to "flame of gold."

"Oriflamme" is also the name of a short story written by Tennessee Williams in 1944. It is an incredibly beautiful and poetic piece of prose, the concept of the oriflamme used to perfection.

It was mentioned in the eleventh century ballad the Chanson de Roland as a royal banner, first called Romaine and then Montjoie.

Notable Bearers of the Oriflamme

• Geoffroi de Charny - 14th century knight and author of several works on chivalry. Died at Poitiers defending the banner.
• Arnoul d'Audrehem - 14th century former Marshal of France.

References