Six flags over Texas
by phil on Wednesday Apr 12, 2006 3:30 PM
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 first flag belonged to Spain, who 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 LeÃ³n and Castile.
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".
Republic of Texas
The fourth flag belonged to 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
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".
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.