Presentation

PEOPLES OF THE FRANCOPROVENÇAL COUNTRIES

To the west of the Alpine Arc, a linguistic group of langue d’oïl known as Franco-Provençal or Arpitan emerged from a Gallo-Roman and Burgundian population. Heirs to very ancient organic democracies, they include the Romand Swiss, the Savoyards, the Aostans, and the Franco-Provençals of the Comté, and of the borderlands between Burgundy and the northern Dauphiné. A small community is also settled in the province of Foggia, in Calabria.

The Aosta Valley (Augusta Praetoria) is home to the Aostans, speakers of the Arpitan language. Originating in the Kingdom of Burgundy, the Aosta Valley entered into a real union with Savoy in 1025. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was governed by a council representing the three estates: “All persons born in the Duchy of Aosta are free and of free condition” (Customary Law of 1599). The annexation of Savoy to France—and the later denial of its special status—loosened the ties with neighboring territories. After a difficult struggle against assimilation and ethnic subversion, the Valdostan people obtained constitutional rights.
The lower valleys of Aosta are home to a small number of German-speaking Walsers (language: titsch, töitschu), while the Susa Valley and Cluson Valley—three of the five Briançonnais Escartons—as well as the Waldensian Valleys (La Tour-Pellis, etc.), share Valdostan characteristics.
The national status of the various members of the Franco-Provençal family is greatly clarified by recalling their common Arpitan origin.

There exists a flag common to all countries of Franco-Provençal linguistic stock: the six-petaled alpine flower or rozon, with colors white and red.
Note: A sun or six-rayed flower appears on several medieval Lyonnais coins (Boudeau Catalogue no. 1137, 10f).
The Savoyards may use, together with the alpine flower, the cross of Savoy accompanied by four S taken from the collar of the Order of the Annunciation, or simply place the rozon arpitan upon the Savoy cross (as below).
The Aostan flag, created in the first half of the 20th century, reprises the heraldic colors. The two bands, black and red, may be arranged horizontally or vertically (the latter being the official regional version).
Following the graphic principle of maximum legibility—the heraldic lion being insufficiently distinctive—the Aostans may add to the rozon, according to the Latin acronymic principle, the two letters A P for Augusta Praetoria and Augusta Patria, Augustiniensis Populus, the origin of their name.

Ligature of A and P

A common emblem of Savoyards and Aostans combines the rozon, the cross of Savoy, and the Aostan black.

Combination of Savoy and Aosta with the Arpitan rozon

At least a portion of the Franco-Provençals (Burgundians, Comtois) may join the alpine flower with the raguly saltire derived from the “batons of Burgundy.” For historical and cultural reasons (including the former northeastern extension of the Franco-Provençal area), all Jurassians (northern Comtois and Swiss of the Jura) could properly use this alpine sign. Its use is especially fitting for the Romand Swiss cantons.