List of Puerto Rican flags

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Puerto Rico
state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
AdoptedAugust 3, 1995; 28 years ago (1995-08-03) by elected Puerto Rican government after issuing regulation identifying colors but not specifying color shades; medium blue replaced dark blue as de facto shade of triangle[1]
  • Flag of Puerto Rico (1952)
    • Dark Blue Shade
    • Azul Oscuro (Spanish)
state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
AdoptedJuly 24, 1952; 71 years ago (1952-07-24) by elected Puerto Rican government with the establishment of the commonwealth after issuing law identifying colors but not specifying color shades; dark blue became de facto shade of triangle, replacing presumed original light blue[2][3]
  • Flag of Puerto Rico (1895)
    • Light Blue Shade
    • Azul Claro (Spanish)
state ensign Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion2:3
AdoptedDecember 22, 1895; 128 years ago (1895-12-22) by pro-independence members of the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico exiled in New York City; members identified colors as red, white, and blue but did not specify color shades; some historians have presumed members adopted light blue shade based on the light blue flag of the Grito de Lares revolt[4]
DesignFive equal horizontal stripes, alternating from red to white, with a blue equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bearing a large, white, upright five-pointed star in the center
Designed byDisputed between Puerto Ricans Francisco Gonzalo Marín in 1895 and Antonio Vélez Alvarado in 1892; Based on Cuban flag by Venezuelan Narciso López and Cuban Miguel Teurbe Tolón in 1849

This is a list of the flags of Puerto Rico. These flags represent and symbolize

Puerto Rican people. The most commonly used flags of Puerto Rico are the current flag, which represents the people of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico; municipal flags, which represent the 78 municipalities
of the archipelago; political flags, which represent the different political beliefs of the people; and sports flags, which identify Puerto Rico as the country represented by its athletics during competitions.

Each of the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico has adopted flags which represent the municipality and its people, employing designs that oftentimes derive their symbolism from the municipality's coat of arms. Most of the political parties in Puerto Rico also have their own flags, which represent and symbolize the political ideals of its members. These political party flags are usually displayed in public during political rallies, meetings, or parades in a show of political strength and unity. Various sports associations in Puerto Rico have adopted flags which represent them and which are used during competitions and other sport events.

First flags used in Puerto Rico

Captain's Ensign of Columbus's Ships.

The introduction of a flag in Puerto Rico can be traced to when Christopher Columbus landed on the island's shore and with the flag appointed to him by the Spanish Crown claimed the island, which he named "San Juan Bautista", in the name of Spain. Columbus wrote in his logbook that on October 12, 1492, he used the Royal Flag, and that his captains used two flags which the Admiral carried in all the ships as Ensign, each white with a green cross in the middle and an 'F' and 'Y', both green and crowned with golden, open royal crowns, for Ferdinand II of Aragon and Ysabel (Isabel I).[5] The conquistadores under the command of Juan Ponce de León proceeded to conquer and settle the island. They carried as their military standard the "Spanish Expedition Flag". After the island was conquered and colonized, the flag of Spain was used in Puerto Rico, same as it was used in all of its other colonies.[6]

Once the Spanish armed forces established themselves on the island they began the construction of military fortifications such as

Fort San Cristóbal and San Gerónimo. The Spanish Army designed the "Burgundy Cross Flag" and adopted it as their standard. This flag flew wherever there was a Spanish military installation.[7]

The first flag of Puerto Rico

The original Lares revolutionary flag of 1868, also known as the "First Puerto Rican Flag" in Puerto Rico, on display in the UPR.

The independence movement in Puerto Rico gained momentum with the liberation successes of

El Grito de Lares (The Cry of Lares).[10] The flag was proclaimed the national flag of the "Republic of Puerto Rico" by Francisco Ramírez Medina, who was sworn in as Puerto Rico's first president, and placed on the high altar of the Catholic Church of Lares, thus becoming the first Puerto Rican Flag.[11] The original Lares flag was taken by a Spanish army officer as a war prize. Many years later it was returned and transferred to the Puerto Rican people. It is now exhibited in the University of Puerto Rico's Museum.[11]

In 1873, following the abdication of Amadeus, Duke of Aosta, as King (1870–1873) and with Spain's change from Kingdom to Republic, the Spanish government issued a new colonial flag for Puerto Rico. The new flag, which was used until 1873, resembled the flag of Spain, with the difference that it had the coat of arms of Puerto Rico in the middle. Spain's flag once more flew over Puerto Rico with the restoration of the Spanish kingdom in 1873, until 1898 the year that the island became a possession of the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1898) in the aftermath of the Spanish–American War.[12]

Historical flags

The following are historical flags related to Puerto Rico:

Historical flags flown in Puerto Rico

Flag of the Kingdom of Castile (1492)
Burgundy Cross Flag (Spanish military flag)
Flag of Spain (1701-1793) in fortresses and castles
First Puerto Rican flag, the original revolutionary flag of the Grito de Lares revolt (1868)

Puerto Rico Provincial Flag (1873–1875)
Flag of Spain (1793-1873, 1875–1898)
Spanish American War flag
Flag of the Batallón Provisional No. 3 de Puerto Rico (3rd Provisional Battalion of Puerto Rico)
Flag of Spain (1873-1874) First Spanish Republic

Puerto Rican flag aboard the
Space Shuttle Discovery
March 15, 2009
Historical flags of the United States flown in Puerto Rico (1898 - 1959)
(from 1898 to 1952 the American flag was the only one permitted in Puerto Rico)

45-star American flag,
the first U.S. flag flown in Puerto Rico
(1898 - 1908)
46-star American flag
(1908 - 1912)
48-star American flag
(1912 - 1959)

Municipal flags of Puerto Rico

Each of the municipalities of Puerto Rico, including the islands of

Caguas also have their own flags.[14]

Many of the municipal flags of Puerto Rico pay tribute to the

Taíno tribes (the native Puerto Rican tribe) who ruled the island before the arrival of the Spaniards and who were the rulers of the land where the town now stands. The flag of Utuado for example has a Taino Sun in honor of the Supreme Taino Cacique Agüeybaná whose name means "The Great Sun".[15] Other flags, such as San Germán's, contain a mural crown. The crown pays tribute to Spain and the Spanish who settled the area.[16]

Flags of the municipalities of Puerto Rico
Adjuntas Aguada Aguadilla Aguas Buenas Aibonito Añasco
Arecibo Arroyo Barceloneta Barranquitas Bayamón Cabo Rojo
Caguas Camuy Canóvanas Cataño Carolina Cayey
Ceiba Ciales Cidra Coamo
Comerio
 Corozal
Culebra Dorado Fajardo Florida Guánica Guayama
Guayanilla Guaynabo Gurabo Hatillo Hormigueros Humacao
Isabela Jayuya Juana Díaz Juncos Lajas Lares
Las Marias Las Piedras Loíza Luquillo Manatí Maricao
Maunabo Mayagüez Moca Morovis Naguabo Naranjito
Orocovis Patillas Peñuelas Ponce Quebradillas Rincón
Rio Grande
 Sabana Grande Salinas San Germán San Juan San Lorenzo
San Sebastián Santa Isabel Toa Alta Toa Baja Trujillo Alto Utuado
Vega Alta Vega Baja Vieques Villalba Yabucoa Yauco

Political flags

Cadets of the Republic, commanded by Raimundo Díaz Pacheco, with both the Nationalst and Puerto Rican flags

Throughout Puerto Rico's political history various parties have designed and displayed flags representing their ideals. Political flags in Puerto Rico are usually displayed in public during rallies, meetings, or parades in show of political strength and unity. The

coqui" as its symbol with the words "Por Puerto Rico" (For Puerto Rico) in the middle. Another political flag is that of the Boricua Popular Army, also known as Los Macheteros an underground pro-independence group which believes and has often resorted to the use of violence.[19]
This ensign displays a green machete and a red star imposed on a black background.

Political Flags of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican Nationalist Party

(Partido Nacionalista Puertorriqueño)
founded 1922
Puerto Rican Independence Party
(Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño)
founded 1946
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico

(Partido Nuevo Progresista de Puerto Rico)
founded 1967

Sports flags

The standard representative symbol carried by Puerto Ricans at international sports events, such as the

Jesus of Nazareth, and a book with the seven seals where the lamb sits, in reference to the Book of Revelation
.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Reglamento de Puerto Rico 1995". www.lexjuris.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  2. ^ "Ley del 24 de julio de 1952" (PDF).
  3. ^ "Reglamento de Puerto Rico 1952". www.lexjuris.com. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  4. ^ "¿Cuál es el azul correcto de la bandera puertorriqueña?". Primera Hora (in Spanish). December 23, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Enchanted Learning, Zoom Explorers, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009
  6. ^ Christopher Columbus' Flags 1492, Flags of the World, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009
  7. ^ Spanish Burgundy Flag, University of Georgia, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009
  8. ^ "Beauchamp family". Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2012-01-24.
  9. ^ Lares
  10. ^ Peres Moris, José, Historia de la Insurrección de Lares, 1871 (in Spanish), Library of Congress, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009
  11. ^ a b The First Puerto Rican Flag
  12. ISBN 978-0-8130-1594-1
  13. ^ Banderade Lares
  14. ^ Barrios" Flags - Overview, Flags of the World, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009
  15. ^ Flag of Utuado (in Spanish), City of Utuado, Feb. 26, 2009
  16. ^ San German, Flags of the World, Retrieved Feb. 27, 2009
  17. ^ "FBI Files"; "Puerto Rico Nationalist Party"; SJ 100-3; Vol. 23; pages 104-134. Archived 2013-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ Political Flags of Puerto Rico, Flags of the World, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009
  19. ^ Political Flags of Puerto Rico, "DC's Political Report", D.C. Finegold-Sachs, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009
  20. ^ Flag at the Olympic Games in London 1948, Flags of the World, Retrieved Feb. 25, 2009

Primary sources

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Puerto Rico.

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