Six Flags Over Texas
Encyclopedia : S : SI : SIX : Six Flags Over Texas
- This article is about the national flags of Texas. For the theme park, see Six Flags Over Texas.
Six flags over Texas is the slogan used to describe the six nations that have had sovereignty over various parts of the land now known as
Texas. This slogan has been incorporated into shopping malls, theme parks (
Six Flags) and other enterprises. The "six flags" are also shown on the reverse of the
Seal of Texas.
Spain
The first
flag belonged to
Spain, which ruled parts of Texas from
1529 to
1685 and from
1690 to
1810. There were two versions of the
Spanish flag used during this period. Both designs incorporate the "lion and castle" emblems of
León and
Castile.
France
The second flag belonged to
France from
1685 to
1690. In
1684, French nobleman
Rene Robert Cavelier founded a colony on the
Texas Gulf Coast called
Fort Saint Louis. The colony was unsuccessful, and was soon abandoned. During this time, there was no official
French flag, so a number of different designs are used in displays of the "six flags".
Mexico
The third flag belonged to
Mexico from
1810 (Mexico's
declaration of independence) to
1836 (Texas's
declaration of independence).
Republic of Texas
The fourth flag belonged to the
Republic of Texas from
1836 to
1845. The republic had two national flags during its history, the first being the so-called "Burnet Flag" (
see Flag of Texas). The "Lone Star Flag", the final national flag, is also the state flag.
United States of America
The fifth flag belonged to the United States of America from 1845 to 1861 and from 1865 to the present day.
Confederate States of America
The sixth flag belonged to the
Confederate States of America from
1861 to
1865. During this time, the Confederacy had three official national flags. The first national flag, the
Stars and Bars, is the flag most commonly used in the "six flags".
Historical sidenote
There is a seventh flag for those who live in the southern part of Texas along the Rio Grande river: The flag of the Republic of the Rio Grande. It is not considered one of Texas's flags because the Republic of Texas and the Republic of the Rio Grande both claimed some of the same land. However, in Laredo, the capital of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande, the local newspaper displays seven flags instead of six.
Resources
See also
External links
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