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The crew of Vengeur du Peuple nailing the colours. This is an element of the later propaganda surrounding the event, and did not happen historically.
Nailing the colours (also nailing the colours to the mast or nailing the flag) is a practice dating back to the Age of Sail that expresses a defiant refusal to surrender, and willingness to fight to the last man.
During the Age of Sail, ships would legally fight only while flying their national flag. Flying another flag was considered to be a legitimate ruse de guerre only until the beginning of the fight. Striking the colours was a sign of surrender. Indeed, when shot or shrapnel felled a ship's flag (such as by severing the halyard that held it up), her opponent would cease firing and inquire whether she was capitulating.
In contrast, fixing the battle ensign with nails would prevent it from being removed easily, and effectively prevented the surrender. It became an expression of defiance and willingness to force oneself to fight up to the bitter end.
The practice became a powerful and recurrent propaganda tool during the French Revolutionary Wars. It actually happened on the Tonnant at the Battle of the Nile[1] and on the San Juan Nepomuceno at the Battle of Trafalgar. It was also wrongly claimed that the Vengeur du Peuple had done so during the Glorious First of June, when she had in fact struck. In the Royal Navy, Jack Crawford became famous for the deed.
Nailingthecolours (also nailingthecolours to the mast or nailingthe flag) is a practice dating back to the Age of Sail that expresses a defiant refusal...
referencing that by literally nailingthe flags to the mast, the flags cannot be taken down to signify defeat. The word "colours" is a common way to describe...
ship, surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck. "Colours. A national flag (or a battle ensign). Thecolours ... are hauled down as a token...
among others. During the training, Flight Stewardess trainees are assigned the hair styles, makeup colours and nail polish colours they are required to...
(glitter nail polish that reflects all colours when light is shone on them) Prismatic micro-glitter or shimmer Fluorescent (Glow-in-the-Dark, Neon) Nail polish...
to nail one's colours to the mast as a humanist." Later that year, Fry joined 54 other public figures in signing an open letter published in The Guardian...
Liturgical colours are specific colours used for vestments and hangings within the context of Christian liturgy. The symbolism of violet, blue, white...
ensign (which was known as striking the colors). This is also the origin of the phrase "To nail one's colours to the mast", showing a determination to fight...
Wu collaborated with Creative Nail Design for his Spring 2011 collection to create a set of four nail polish colours that was to be retailed from May...
"Flag colour is azure thing: Politicians have finally nailed their colours to the mast by specifying the precise shade of blue in Scotland's national flag"...
The following is a list of RAL Classic colours from the RAL colour standard. The visual samples are approximate and informative only. Below is a list of...
Water Colours is the debut studio album by the American electronica band, Swimming With Dolphins. It was released on May 13, 2011 on iTunes and in physical...
in other parts of the Anglican Communion. Runcie's position on the matter had been described as "nailing his colours firmly to the fence"[citation needed]...
and nailing her flag to her aft, she disappeared under the waves at the cry of "Long live the Republic! — The Vengeur! I exclaimed. — Yes! sir. The Vengeur...
you’re going to reinterpret something, then really do something. Nail your colours to the mast and say, ‘This is different, and it isn’t everybody's cup...
Grace Petrie (17 March 2015). "Elections, Tours, and Nailing your Colours to the Mast". Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 6 May 2015. Peter...
players who have nailed their colours to the mast". The Mirror. Retrieved 4 February 2016. Livorno Fans see Red – all the Time by Ian Hawkey, The National, February...
The Presentation of Colours is a military ceremony that marks an anniversary or significant event in the history of a particular regiment or similar military...
Jean Vauquelin is shown standing on the deck of the frigate Atalante in front of the mast having nailed his colours to it. He fought for two hours with...
who do you trust to govern?". The Sunday Age. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2017. "The Tele nails its colours to its masthead". Australian Broadcasting...
insurrection on 31 January 1891, red and green had been established as the colours of the Portuguese Republican Party and its associated movements, whose political...
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