Coats of arms were originally hereditary marks of nobility. They belonged to Lords. After the Revolution, most of the towns in France, including Alès, kept them as an emblem.
- The Coat of Arms of Alès
(according to the order of the commissioner-generals of August 2nd, 1697)
Arms: Gules field, a dexter wing argent.
Charges: Two Palms vert tied to the tincture of the field.
- Evolution
A mural crown was added afterwards
The palms vert are replaced by laurel.
- There are several theories about the origins of Alès Coat of Arms
In “Alès, capitale des Cévennes”, Marcel Bruyère draws on the fact that the coat of arms appeared during the first crusade to attribute them to Lord Raymond Pelet, who left for the Holy Land. The wing might be a symbol for velocity and would have no connection with the name of Alès (the French word for wing being “aile”, a connection could have been made between “Aile” and “Ales”).
According to the “Armorial du Languedoc”, it would be the coat of arms of another Lord of Alès, Bérard de Montalet whose first blazon was “ gules and a dexter wing argent”.
Jacques de Bérard, baron of Alès, marquis of Montalet, died in 1684 and was buried in the choir of Alès Cathedral, as his descendants will be after him.
For financial purposes, Louis XIV had the arms of the town registered on condition that Alès bought the right on these arms.
Mise à jour le Friday 08 October 2010
