The flag of Texas is an azure,argent,and gules tri-color with each rectangle of equal size,the azure rectangle closest to the staff,vertical, the argent and gules rectangles horizontal, argent above and gules below.The galaxy represents the sovereign individuals of Texas.
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The flag of Texas is an azure (blue), argent (white), and gules (red) tri-color with each rectangle of equal size, the azure rectangle closest to the staff, vertical, the argent and gules rectangles horizontal, argent above and gules below. The azure represents honesty and faith, the argent purity and honor, the gules dignity and the blood of patriots and tyrants shed for the defense of liberty. On the azure rectangle is an or (gold) galaxy. The galaxy represents the sovereign individuals of Texas.
The colonials who formed the original united States of America adopted a flag bearing one star for each sovereign state in the country. Our approach is similar, but there are more sovereign individuals represented by our new country than would readily be represented by individual stars, no matter how densely packed. The millions of stars are represented as a spiral galaxy. Some are closer to the center, some further away, a few on the very periphery, but all are sovereign, all are represented by our flag and by our country.
The other flags which have flown over Texas since its discovery and settlement by Europeans are the flags of France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the united States, and the Confederacy. It is the case that several variations of these flags were flown, and that flags generally represent different aspects of a culture.
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Spain first claimed Texas roughly 1519 at which time the Texas coastline was mapped by Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda. Spanish rule was briefly interrupted by French settlement of Texas, and restored in 1690. Spanish dominion over Texas came to an end in 1821 when Mexico gained its independence. At the time, Texas was a part of a province within Mexico. The first Spanish settlement in Texas arrived in 1681 at Ysleta Mission where present day El Paso is found. Between 1519 and 1681 various Spaniards were shipwrecked on the coast of Texas. In 1810, the First Republic of Texas was formed, flying a solid Kelly green flag. This venture failed.
The earlier flag of Spain shown at left depicts a castle or (gold) on a field gules (red) and a lion gules on a field or in quarters. These symbolize Castile (the castle) and Leon (the lion). The later flag at right depicts castle and lion on a shield surmounted by a crown, all on a red and yellow banner. Both are flags of monarchy.
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France expanded from Louisiana in 1685 through the efforts of "La Salle," also Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. This adventurer founded a French colony on the Texas Gulf Coast known as Fort St. Louis. The effort was unsuccessful owing to shipwreck, disease, famine, and a hostile relationship with the native Indians. By 1690 the French claim to Texas was history.
The French flag shown at left was the Royal Ensign for ships and forts. It features a host of fleur-des-lis or (gold) emblazoned on a field argent (white).
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Mexico gained dominion over Texas in 1821. The flag of Mexico is shown at left. It depicts a tri-color of green, white, and red with the symbol of the Aztec people at center. That symbol is a snake clutched by an eagle sitting on a cactus. According to Aztec mythology, the city of Tenochtitlan was founded on the site where such an eagle was seen in just this posture.
People of Anglo-Saxon descent began to settle in Texas roughly 1809, while it was still under Spanish rule. Many of these "Anglos" entered Texas from Louisiana which had just recently been sold to the united States. Sabine County in Texas is recognized as the "Birthplace of Texas" because it was an early site of Anglo settlements. In 1821, Mexico became independent from Spain, and Tejas y Cohuila was a province of Mexico. The flag of this province is shown at right. It depicts two gold stars (one for Texas, one for Coahuila) on the Mexican tri-color.
An important flag of the period of Mexican rule is that of the Fredonia Revolt. This flag consisted of an argent (white) stripe above a gules (red) stripe, a motif which was later incorporated into the Lone Star Flag. On the argent stripe are the words Independence, Liberty, Justice.
Moses Austin was given permission by the Mexican government to found a colony in Texas. His heir, Stephen F. Austin, is more generally associated with this effort. The Austin colony flourished during the period when the constitution of 1824 was in effect. When Santa Anna came to power, he scrapped this constitution and imprisoned Austin. Among the highly valued rights guaranteed by the constitution of 1824 was the right to trial by jury. This right was not recognized by Santa Anna's government. For this right, the people of Texas joined in armed revolt in 1835. The first shot in the Texas Revolutionary War was fired on 2 October 1835. Some of the flags of the Texas Revolutionary War are shown below.
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Texas gained her independence for the first time in 1836. Independence was declared on 2 March 1836, which is still celebrated as Texas Independence Day. The forces of Santa Anna were finally defeated in April 1836 at San Jacinto.
The first flag of the Republic of Texas is often referred to as the Bonnie Blue or Zavala flag. It shows a white star on a blue field with the letters of Texas in the spaces between the points. Another flag which flew over the Republic of Texas is the Burnet Flag, named for David Burnet the first President of the Republic of Texas. The Burnet Flag bears a single gold star, and is also a solid blue field.
In 1839, the blue, white, and red flag of the Republic of Texas known generally as the Lone Star Flag was adopted. It is from this flag that we derive the galaxy flag of Texas Sovereigns.
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In 1845, the people of Texas voted to be annexed by the united States of America. There are a number of arguments which question whether Texas was properly annexed. However, the significance of popular sovereignty should not be overlooked. The dignity of the people of Texas requires that their vote to become a part of the united States be recognized. Accordingly, the flag of the united States flew for a time over Texas. It is shown here upside down to depict the distress of the people of Texas under its rule.
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In 1861, the people of Texas voted to secede from the united States, whose government had become unrecognizable. Four flags of the Confederate States of America joined the Lone Star Flag in flying over Texas. These were the first national flag, also known as the Stars and Bars, depicting two broad stripes of red surrounding one of white, with a blue canton on which stars representing the sovereign states of the Confederacy were placed. Ultimately, there were 13 such states. The Confederate Battle Flag is a red flag with a blue St. Andrew's cross on which are thirteen white stars representing the 13 sovereign states of the Confederacy. The second national flag included this battle flag as a canton, with a white field to indicate the honor of the Confederacy. The second national flag is also known as the Stainless banner. A third national flag was adopted subsequently, which added a red bar vertically opposite the canton. The third national was the Stainless banner dipped in the blood of patriots and tyrants.
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In 1865, Texas was defeated, her armies surrendered, and Texas was occupied by Federal forces. The military flag of the United States bearing a gold fringe was flown over Texas, and the Lone Star Flag was flown in subjugation beneath it.
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In 1995, the Burnet Flag was renewed and again flown as the flag of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Texas.
