- 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.
The Texas State Historical Commission adopted standard designs for the Six Flags over Texas, which are published in the June 20. 1997 issue of the Texas Register, volume 22, pages 5959-5967.
Spain
The first flag belonged to Spain, which ruled parts of Texas from 1529 to 1685 and from 1690 to 1821. There were two versions of the Spanish flag used during this period. Both designs incorporate the "castle and lion" emblems of the Crown of Castile and Leon. The Spanish flag used in the reverse of the Texas state seal, which was also adopted by the Texas State Historical Commission, is the flag adopted by King Charles III, containing horizontal stripes of red-gold-red and the simple arms of Castile and Leon. This flag was used by Spain from 1793 to 1931.
France
The second flag belonged to France from 1685 to 1690. In 1684, French nobleman Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle founded a colony on the Texas Gulf Coast called Fort Saint Louis. The colony was unsuccessful, and after La Salle's murder, 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 flown (1821 through 1836) was the the Mexican flag. Mexico obtained sovereignty from Spain in 1821. The Mexican flag displayed in the Austin Capitol is the one of the Mexican Republic of 1823 through 1864.
This flag was in use in Texas until its independence from Mexico in 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.
Confederate States of America
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The fifth 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". It should be noted that its inclusion as a flag is controversial. Because the Confederacy lost the American Civil War, its legitimacy as a sovereign nation is disputed.
United States of America
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The sixth flag belonged to the United States of America from 1845 to 1861 and from 1865 to this day.
Historical footnote
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.
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