In politics, symbols and symbolic behavior play a vital role. Often, symbols and symbolic comportment are even more important than actual substance. History provides us with a multitude of examples.
There is perhaps no more striking or pertinent example than what happened in France in 1875. After the election of a royalist president and National Assembly, the assembly voted to convert the nation from an interim republic to a monarchy and offered the throne to the grandson of France’s last Bourbon king. The Comte de Chambord was invited to return to the vacant throne of France as Henry V.
He readily accepted. As a condition of his acceptance, however, he insisted that France reject the revolutionary tricolor flag that had been France’s banner and a powerful symbol of France since the French Revolution and Napoleonic era in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and readopt the Bourbon dynasty flag of fleurs-de-lis on a white background. While the royalist assembly was prepared to restore the monarchy and have a Bourbon become king, it seemed unable to accept eliminating the tricolor banner.
The assembly voted to reject Chambord’s condition. Chambord, clearly neither the most brilliant man nor the most astute politician, stubbornly insisted on his condition. He had to have his Bourbon flag, or he would not ascend the throne.
The reason for his insistence has remained unclear; perhaps he was playing to his royalist base, or possibly he did not understand the true feelings .