Presentation

The Provençals are a nationality defined by a shared history and culture, and by a heritage language known as Provençal (a Gallo-Romanic langue d’oc, chiefly southern Occitan). The Provençal territory, lying almost entirely east of the Rhône, originates from the Kingdom of Arles. The Provençals are joined by the Dauphinois d’Oc, whose language (northern oc) is traditionally called Alpine Provençal.
The Niçois (of the Countea de Nissa), the Monégasques (of Mónegue, speakers of the Ligurian monegascu), and the Brigasques (of the Tera Brigasca) share Provençal identity while preserving their particular traits.

The Provençal area uses a flag of golden pales—the flag of the Kingdom of Arles—which reappeared in Provence through Catalonia, which had borrowed it, as established by M. Pastoureau. It is sufficient on its own to represent the lands of Oc on the left bank of the Rhône, the “Imperial shore.”

A major emblem of the Provençal area (Provence, Comtat Venaissin, Dauphiné d’Oc, Alpine Valleys, County of Nice, Monaco, Brigasque Country) is the heraldic star known as the Astrado, most often with seven rays, which carries a meaning of destiny (astrar “to place under the influence of a star,” astrat “placed under the influence of a good or bad star”; astrado “destiny, predestination, fate, luck,” F. Mistral, Lou Tresor dóu Felibrige, s.v.). The “star of destiny” is an ancient concept also found in Italy. It survived in Provençal jewelry (generally beaded) and was revived from the 19th century onward by movements defending the language.

In Alpine Provence, the Astrado may be accompanied by the Dauphin of the Dauphiné; in the Niçois country, combined with the eagle and the three mountains of Nice; in Monaco, joined with the lozengy cross of Mónegue; and among the Brigasques, paired with the red “sun of the Alps.”

The Provençal lands make wide use of various kinds of stars: pentacrine jewelry, the “Star of Saint Vincent” of Digne, and the “comet cross.” Other Provençal symbols include:
– the Provençal or Arlesian Jeannette cross made of several diamonds;
– the Capucine cross with narrow arms and five large conical bosses (one at the center and one at each arm, totaling five);
– the quadrilobed “coulas” outline enclosing a Maltese cross;
– the Provençal “butterfly cross” with slender arms separated by four double flowers and five cabochons; the “badine” cross is similar.
A heart adorns the great Provençal pendant cross (grand clavier). The cross of the Alpine Gapençais region is slender, with slightly flowered or trefoil ends. The “Mistralian cross” (late 19th c.) reprises the five cabochons characteristic of most crosses of the Provençal lands.

The emblem shown here is a Provençal star.