The last King of France, Charles X, was usurped by his cousin Louis Philippe (1773-1850), who became known as just the King of the French from 1830 to the Revolution of 1848. During his reign the French Army Unit flag finial was the Gallic Cock or Rooster. Louis Philippe restored the red, white, and blue tricolor to France, which had been banned by the Bourbon Kings after the defeat of Napoleon the First.
“Le vaillant coq Gaulois,
Grattant sur le fumier,
A fait sortir le roi
Louis Philippe Premier;
Qui par juste reconnoissance
Le mit dans les armes de France.”
From late 1848 to mid 1852 the French Army Unit Flag Top was a solid brass three pointed spear pattern finial with the letters "R.F" below. After 1852 some of these spear points were modified to
have a small imperial eagle in place of the "R.F" (Republic of France)
letters, with most of the spear points being retired after the introduction of the 2nd Empire "N.III" Eagle in late 1852.
********* Now back to the Napoleonic Eagles...**********
