Cross of Camargue

File:Joseph d'Arbaud.jpg with a gardian's trident]]

The Camargue cross was designed in 1926 by the painter-illustrator Hermann-Paul (1864–1940),{{Cite book |last=Cassely |first=Jean-Pierre |title=Provence insolite et secrète |publisher=Éditions Jonglez |year=2006 |location=Paris |page=181 |language=fr}} at the request of his friend the marquis-writer-manadier Folco de Baroncelli (1869–1943), considered to be the "Inventor" of the Camargue. After having founded the Nacioun Gardiano association in 1904, to "maintain and glorify the costume, customs and traditions of the country of Arles, the Camargue and the bullfighting countries", he was inspired by the naval anchors to represent with this cross the "Camargue nation" of herdsmen and fishermen.{{Cite book |last=Grive |first=Catherine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yCoa5CVXqBAC&q=%22croix+camarguaise%22&pg=PA20 |title=Camargue |date= January 1, 2010 |work=Petit Futé |publisher=Déclics |isbn=978-2-84768-194-9 |language=fr |access-date= August 16, 2016}}{{Citation |title=En 1904, le marquis de Baroncelli-Javon (1869-1943), manadier avignonnais, crée la Natioun gardiano, association s'engageant à maintenir l'élevage taurin, les traditions camarguaises et le costume traditionnel |language=fr}}

File:Folco de Baroncelli-Javon.jpg-writer-manadier Folco de Baroncelli (1869–1943)]]

The poet Joseph d'Arbaud carried a gardian's trident made in wrought iron for him by Joseph Barbanson, a blacksmith from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, in his workshop at Place de la Révolution (now Place du Grenier à Sel). It was d'Arbaud who suggested replacing the three fleur-de-lis (on a cross anchory) that were planned with camargue tridents as a symbol of the region.{{Cite web |title=Une croix du pont du Mort, sur le site du musée de la Camargue |url=http://www.museedelacamargue.com/index.php/les-acquisitions |language=fr}}

The statue was inaugurated by the Committee of Friends of the Marquis de Baroncelli on July 7, 1926, in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on a platform next to the post office (opposite the current "Grand Large" building). During this celebration, many personalities, including the Marquis de Baroncelli and his friends, were present: the poet Joseph d'Arbaud, Rul d'Elly, Maguy Hugo (granddaughter of Victor Hugo), Madame de la Garanderie, Fanfonne Guillierme, the family of the owners of {{ill|Maison Aubanel|fr}}, Pauline Ménard-Dorian, and her husband, the painter Hermann-Paul.{{Cite book |last=Gourdin |first=Henri |date= February 17, 2016 |title=Les Hugo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D8uECwAAQBAJ&q=inauguration+croix+camarguaise&pg=PT341 |access-date= August 10, 2016 |publisher=Grasset | language=fr |isbn=978-2-246-85728-0}}

The cross was transferred ten years later to the Pont du Mort (or the Maure), at the western entrance to the village on the road to Aigues-Mortes. After being slightly moved, the original cross was stolen. A copy of the original still stands there. In July 2016, the Camargue cross celebrated its 90th anniversary.{{Cite web |title=Croix Camarguaise {{!}} Provence 7 |url=http://www.provence7.com/portails/religion/histoire-du-christianisme-en-provence/croix-camarguaise/ |access-date= August 8, 2016 |website= provence7.com|date=March 30, 2016 }}

It is seen throughout all of Camargue. It is also present in Marseille (Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, {{ill|Church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens de l'Estaque|fr|Église Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens de l'Estaque}}, esplanade de la Bonne Mère{{Cite web |title=Monument des Marins – Site officiel de la Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde Marseille |url=http://www.notredamedelagarde.com/Monument-des-Marins.html |access-date=August 8, 2016 |website=notredamedelagarde.com |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812042946/http://notredamedelagarde.com/Monument-des-Marins.html |url-status=dead }}), in Toulon,{{Cite web |date= January 11, 2008 |title=la croix de camargue |url=http://gitane-de-toulon.skyrock.com/1470749876-la-croix-de-camargue.html |access-date=August 8, 2016 |website=gitane-de-toulon}} in Istres, and in Avignon. The town of Radolfzell, Germany, is a twin city with Istres, so the cross can be found there.{{Cite news |year=2014 |title=RADOLFZELL Ville jumelée avec Istres depuis 1974 |language=fr |page=25 |work=Les Amis du vieil Istres |url=http://www.lesamisduvieilistres.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/radolfzell.pdf}}

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The Camargue cross symbolizes the "Camargue Nation" (or "{{ill|Gardian Nation|fr|Nacioun gardiano}}") by associating the symbols of the gardians, fishermen and Holy Marys of the Camargue.

{{Cite book |last=Fermine |first=Maxence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zaThyleoEAIC&q=%22croix+de+camargue%22&pg=PT17 |title=Noces de sel |date= May 9, 2012 |publisher=Albin Michel |isbn=978-2-226-27250-8 |editor-last=Albin Michel |language=fr |access-date= August 7, 2016}} With its elements of early Christian symbolism, it embodies the three theological virtues:

• Faith (represented by tridents of the gardians on a Christian cross);
• Hope (represented by the anchor, which also represents fishermen); and
• Charity (represented by the symbol of the heart of the Marys of the Sea).{{Cite web |title=Camargue Cross (Cross of the Cowherds) |url=http://symboldictionary.net/?p=2288 |access-date=June 19, 2010 |website=symboldictionary.net |language=en |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619035321/http://symboldictionary.net/?p=2288 |url-status=dead }}

2003 saintes croix de gardians Photo 829.jpg|1930 replica of the first Camargue cross at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

File:Croix camarguaise au centre paroissial.jpg| Saint-Martin-de-Crau

File:Entrée de l'église des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.jpg|Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer

File:Maison des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.jpg|House of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

File:Méjanes - Croix camarguaise.jpg|{{ill|mas de Méjanes|fr}}

File:Croix-camargue-radolfzell.jpg| Radolfzell

File:CroixCamargueCadranSolaire.jpg| Sundial

File:Croce camargue.JPG|Church of the Saintes Maries de la Mer

File:Croix camarguaise (Notre-Dame de la Garde de Marseille).jpg |Square in front of the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica in Marseille, facing the Mediterranean

File:Flag of Principality of Aigues-Mortes.svg|Flag of Principality of Aigues-Mortes

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• Anchored cross

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{{reflist}}

{{Christian crosses}}

• {{Cite book |last=Siméon |first=Jacky |title=Dictionnaire de la course camarguaise |year=2013 |isbn=978-2-84626-424-2 |page=40 |language=fr |author-link=:fr:Jacky Siméon}}
• {{Cite book |last1=Blanchet |first1=Philippe |title=La croix camarguaise |last2=Venture |first2=Rémi |last3=Turc |first3=Jean-Michel |work=La Provence pour les nuls |year=2016 |isbn=978-2-7540-8502-1 |location=Paris |language=fr |author-link=:fr:Philippe Blanchet}}

{{commons category|Croix camarguaise}}

• [http://www.saintesmaries.com/la-croix.html Camargue traditions - La Croix. on the Saintes Maries de la Mer Tourist Office website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008092201/http://www.saintesmaries.com/la-croix.html |date=October 8, 2020 }}

Category:Camargue

Camargue