The official shade of the blue stripe on the French flag has experienced two significant adjustments in the modern era, oscillating between a historic dark navy and a lighter, brighter cobalt. Because the French Constitution does not explicitly specify exact color hex code - stating only that the emblem is the "blue, white, and red" tricolour—these adjustments have been implemented through presidential and administrative decisions rather than legislative reform.

Above the archers, men-at-arms, horses and mud of the battle at Agincourt flew another important part of the medieval battlefield: banners, standards and pennons.  Unlike the flags seen at Hastings nearly 350 years earlier, the flags carried in Henry V's time belonged to a world in which heraldry was firmly established. Colours, badges and coats of arms could identify not simply a country, but a king, nobleman, family or body of fighting men. On a battlefield crowded with thousands of people, they also performed the very practical job of showing soldiers where their leaders and comrades could be found.