La polonité des Hauts-de-France telle qu’inscrite sur les étendards. Une étude d’objets jusque-là négligés alors que riches d’informations

Abstract

The authors have considered the topic, rarely mentioned in the scientific literature, which are the inscriptions and symbols placed on polonical banners. A three-volume dissertation by Monika Salmon-Siama, entitled Vexillological heritage of the Polish immigration in northern France (1919-2018), turned out to be a contributing factor to this kind of scientific digression. In the introduction, they analyzed the state of research on Polish emigration, settled in northern France, indicating the main reasons for their poor representativeness in comparison with the entire emigre history of the Polish diaspora. Referring to the proper vexological studies, they brought closer the richness of sources that we deal with in the discussed region, and then showed the complexity of this type of bibliological-semiotic research. Taking up the subject matter from the Westphalian-French borderline, inevitably, after M. Salmon Siama, they showed aesthetic and axiological values, including patriotic values, a group of symbols and inscriptions discussed, and in turn showed the durability of the Polish immigrant identity of subsequent generations living in northern France. The article is also an attempt to show the reader the diversity and richness of organizational and social life over almost a century, introduces the mentality and customs of the Polish Diaspora, and shows the underestimated role of the Polish banner.