Flag and coat of arms of Saint Barthélemy

Saint Barthélemy
Flag of France
Saint Barthélemy is an overseas collectivity of France
Tricolore
UseNational flag, civil and state ensign
Proportion2:3
Adopted15 February 1794; 230 years ago (1794-02-15)
Unofficial flag of Saint Barthelemy

An unofficial flag of Saint Barthélemy consisting of the coat of arms of Saint Barthélemy centered on a white field is used on the island.[1][2][3] Officially, only the flag of France, of which Saint Barthélemy is a self-governing overseas collectivity, is flown in the territory.

Coat of arms

Coat of arms of Saint Barthélemy.
Square banner of arms for Saint Barthélemy
Coat of arms of Saint Barthélemy on a vehicle registration plate.

The coat of arms of Saint-Barthélemy is a shield divided into three horizontal stripes (parted per fess), three gold fleurs-de-lis on blue, above a white Maltese cross on red, over three gold crowns on blue, and "Ouanalao" is what the indigenous people called the island. On top of the shield is a mural crown.

The fleurs-de-lis, Maltese Cross, and gold crowns are heraldic reminders of the island's history as a colony ruled by first the Kingdom of France, then the Knights Hospitaller and in turn the Kingdom of Sweden. Eventually, the island returned to French rule.

On a white background, the arms serves as an unofficial flag for Saint Barthélemy.

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". stbartsvilla.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 30 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Saint-Barthélemy (Overseas Collectivity, France)".
  3. ^ "Saint Barthélemy". worldstatesman.org. Retrieved 2023-10-03.