Colombia

Colombia
Adopted	November 26, 1861
Designed by	General Francisco de Miranda
Proportions	2:3

The flag of Colombia consists of three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red.

The aspect ratio of the national flag is not officially specified.

Symbolism

• The yellow stands for generosity, sun, soil, gold, justice, and agriculture.
• The blue stands for truth, loyalty, justice, perseverance, water, and sky.
• The red stands for bravery and strength.

Other national flags

Civil ensign

Naval ensign

Presidential ensign

Naval jack

Air force flag

Air force ensign

History

Francisco de Miranda's banner

The contemporary flag of Colombia is based on the flag raised by General Francisco de Miranda over the brigantine Leandro on March 12, 1806, during his failed invasion to La Vela de Coro.

In 1811 the United Provinces of New Granada adopted a flag similar to Miranda's but with green stripe instead of blue one. It's design was re-arranged in 1814.

The victory of "The Liberator," Simón Bolívar, at the Battle of Boyacá on August 7, 1819, assured the independence of Colombia, and in December of that year Colombia adopted as its national flag similar to the current one: the horizontal tricolour of yellow, blue, and red under which Bolívar fought.

In 1834 the stripes were changed from horizontal to vertical, and a white eight-pointed star was added in the centre. Subsequently coats of arms appeared on the flag for specific official purposes. The present national flag was established when the government reverted to the horizontal yellow-blue-red on December 10, 1861. In doing so, however, it made the yellow stripe twice the width of either of the other stripes. Provision was made for distinctive symbols in the centre of the flag for such purposes as identification of the diplomatic service, navy ships, privately owned vessels, and the armed forces. Essentially the same symbols had already been in use for half a century, but the exact artistic rendition had varied from one regime to the next in reaction to the changing political landscape.

The United Provinces of New Granada, November 27, 1811 – April 26, 1814

The United Provinces of New Granada, April 26, 1814 – July, 1816

Great Colombia, December 17, 1819 – January 10, 1820

Great Colombia, January 10, 1820 – October 6, 1821

Great Colombia, October 6, 1821 – July 11, 1822

Great Colombia, July 11, 1822 – May 9, 1834

The Republic of New Granada, May 9, 1834 – May 22, 1858

The Granadine Confederation, May 22, 1858 – July 26, 1861

The United States of Colombia, July 26, 1861 – November 26, 1861

Colombia, since November 26, 1861

Trivia

The flag of Ecuador.

• The flag is very similar to the flag of Ecuador, the only differences being that the flag of Ecuador uses the country's coat of arms on it and a different shade of blue.

References

Featured Article	Colombia
This page was featured on the VexiWiki main page on March 30-April 5, 2009.