Six national flags have flown over Texas, including those of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and the United States. The six flags currently flying over Texas reflect the state's history and were officially adopted in 1996 by the Texas Historical Commission.

Spanish Rule

While two different Spanish flags are sometimes flown in Texas, the most common is the 1785 version. Spain established colonies in Texas from 1519 to 1685 and again from 1690 to 1821. The Spanish flag used is red and gold with the "heraldic emblems of Leon and Castile," representing a lion and castle, according to the Texas Historical Commission.

French Colony

The French tried to colonize Texas in 1684, but the venture was abandoned by 1690. At the time, there were several flags in use by the French. A white flag sprinkled with gold fleur-de-lis is the flag adopted to represent this brief era.

United Mexican States

The flag representing the United Mexican States was used by Mexico from 1823 until 1863. The green, white and red flag with an eagle flew from 1821 to 1836 when Texas was under Mexican rule.

Republic of Texas

At different times, the current Texas state flag has been replaced in the six flags by the David G. Burnet flag, which represents the independent Republic of Texas that lasted from 1836 to 1845. This flag has a blue background and a large gold star. However, the most widely used is the current Lone Star flag, which looks similar to the U.S. flag, but has only two stripes and one star.

Confederate States of America

Although the Confederate flag had several versions, the one flown in the six flags of Texas is the 1861 "stars and bars," the first official flag of the Confederacy. Styled similarly to the U.S. flag, this version has seven stars, one for each state in the confederacy at that time. Texas was the seventh state to join. The Confederate States of America lasted from 1861 to 1865.

United States

Texas entered the union on Dec. 29, 1845, and, after a membership in the short-lived Confederate States of America, the U.S. flag become the final national flag to fly over the state.

Source:

Texas State Library and Archives

Resource:

Texas Historical Commission: Six Flags Over Texas