Texas Flag, Texas State Flag, Texas Pledge, Flag of Texas, Lone Star Flag

Texas Flag Colors and Symbolism

The flag of Texas comprises three colors. These are dark red, white and royal blue. Each color of the flag has its own significance. While white signifies purity, blue stands for loyalty. The color red signifies bravery. The Lone Star, which is located on the part that is blue, represents all of Texas. The Lone Stands for unite as one God, State and Country.

However, the Lone Star even predates the flag itself. The Lone Star earlier was a symbol of the solidarity of Texans in declaring their independence from Mexico. Thus, the star is a symbol of the independent spirit of Texas.

The design of the flag is thus: One third of the flag is blue. This part of the flag comprises the Lone Star. The remaining part of the flag is divided horizontally between the two bars of white and red.

Color	Cable color	Pantone	Web color	RGB Values
Dark Red	70180	193 C	#BF0A30	(191,10,48)
White	70001	Safe	#FFFFFF	(255,255,255)
Royal Blue (traditional)	70075	281 C	#002868	(0,40,104)

The Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag and Protocol

The pledge of allegiance to the flag of Texas is as under:

"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."

There is an interesting fact associated with the pledge of the flag of Texas. The pledge, which was adopted, initially referred to the Texas flag of 1836. It was the Texas Legislature that introduced the pledge in the year 1833 and the opening line was "Honor the Texas Flag of 1836..." It was only in the year 1865 that the pledge was corrected to the current one by doing away with the words ‘of 1836’.

A further addition was made to the pledge in 2007, when the phrase "one state under God" was added to it; however, it has been challenged in the court.

There are certain protocols associated with the state flag of Texas. Unless the flag of Texas is properly illuminated, one should not fly it earlier than sunrise or later than sunset. Moreover, the flag should not be flown when the weather is bad.

As per the law, the flag should be displayed either on or near the main administration building of each state institution. This should be done on each national or state holiday as well as any occasion, which is of historical significance.

As per the state law, the flag also needs to be flown at an International Port of Entry or near to it.

When the flag is displayed vertically, the blue stripe needs to be at the top. The white stripe of the flag needs to be to the left side of the red part, as per the perspective of the observer.

Vertical Texas Flag

	Proper vertical display of the Texas flag
160x240 320x480 400x600 512x768 682x1023 720x1080

Historical flags of Texas

Spain (1519 to 1685; 1690 to 1821)

From 1519 till today, many flags have flown over Texas. The first flag that flew over Texas was of Spain. In fact, there were two Spanish flags that flew over the soil of Texas. Spain ruled over Texas from the years 1519 to 1685 and again from 1690 to 1821. So, there were two different flags that were flown over Spain during these years.

The earlier flag was the banner of Castile and Leon. The flag comprised a pair of castles and a pair of lions. However, one can still see the flag today at the Capitol building on the floor of the rotunda. The second flag was the one adopted by King Charles III. The flag, which comprised horizontal stripes of red and gold along with the classic arms of Castile and Leon, was the flag of Spain till 1931.

France (1685 to 1690)

From 1685 till 1690, the royal banner of the Kingdom of France flew over the Texan soil. The banner was used by René-Robert Cavalier, a French nobleman, who founded a colony on the Texas coast. However, at the time when Cavalier was undertaking his exploration, there was no official flag of France, hence a number of designs are used in the display of the six flags.

Mexican Federal Republic (1821 to 1836)

Following the independence of Mexico from Spain in 1821, the flag of Mexico became the flag of Texas. It remained the flag of Texas till 1836.

Republic of Texas (1836 to 1845)

In 1836, Texas achieved independence after a victory over Mexico. Texas became an independent country and hence had its own flag. However, during its history, Texas had two flags. The first flag, which was ‘The Burnet Flag’, was the flag of the Republic of Texas from 1836 till 1845. This flag comprised a dark blue background. A single yellow star was placed in the center of the flag. In 1845, Texas became a US state and the Lone Star Flag became the flag of the state of Texas.

The United States of America (1845 to 1861 and 1865 till present)

The flag of the United States is the fifth and the current flag of Texas. It has flown over Texas since 1845 when it became a state of the US, except for a brief period during the Civil War.

The Confederate Flag (1861 to 1865)

In 1861, Texas seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America. During the four-year period (1861 to 1865) when Texas was a part of the Confederacy three flags flew over the state. The first official flag of the Confederacy was known as Stars and Banners. It flew over the state from 1861 to 1863. The second flag, the Stainless Banner, flew over Texan soil from 1863 to 1865. The third flag was the Blood-Stained Banner, which was adopted in 1865.

National flags over Texas

Flag	Years of Use		Type
	1685-1689		French flag possibly used by Sieur de La Salle, Rene-Robert Cavelier, during the French colonization of Texas.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 10242x683 1280x853 1500x1000
	1690-1785		Ensign of New Spain and state flag, known as the Cross of Burgundy flag.
	320x213 640x427 800x500 8002x533 1024x683 1280x853
	1785-1820		Spanish state flag on land.
	320x213 640x427 750x500 800x533 1024x683 1280x853
	1821-1823		The first Mexican Empire flag.
	320x183 640x366 700x400 800x457 1024x585 1280x731
	1823-1836		The Mexican Republic first flag, flown over land claimed by Mexico until the Texas Revolution.
	320x183 640x366 700x400 800x457 1024x585 1280x731
	1836-1839; 1839-1879		The Burnet Flag, used from Dec 1836 to 1839 as the national flag of Texas until it was replaced by the current Lone Star Flag; it was flag of the de jure war from then until 1879.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 900x600 1024x683 1280x853
	1839-1845/1846		National flag of Republic of Texas from 1839-1845/1846 (similar to modern state flag).
	320x213 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1080x720 1280x853
	1845-1861, 1865-present		United States of America flag in 1846 when Texas admitted to Union.
	320x168 640x337 800x421 1024x539 1235x650 1280x674
	1861-1865		Confederate states of America flag in 1861 when state of Texas became a part of the Confederacy.
	320x178 640x356 800x444 810x450 1024x569 1280x711

Pre-Revolutionary Flags

Flag	Years of Use		Type
	1812-1813		Emerald flag of Bernardo Gutierrez and Augustus W. Magee's short lived coup of 1812-1813.
	320x206 420x270 640x411 800x514 1224x658 1280x823
	1816-1817		Louis Michel Aury used it as Civil and Military Governor of Texas.
	320x212 343x227 640x424 800x529 1024x678 1280x847
	1817-1821		Pirate Jean Lafitte used it at Galveston Island.
	320x213 640x427 750x500 800x533 1024x683 1280x853
	1819		The 1^st individually Texan flag to primarily feature a lone star.
	320x213 450x300 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1280x853
			Colonel James Long's flag - the 2^nd of the flags of Texas with a Lone Star after the Jane Long flag.
	320x208 640x417 734x478 800x521 1024x667 1280x834
	1826		Fredonian Rebellion Flag.
	320x212 343x227 640x424 800x529 1024x678 1280x847
	1821-1836		Alleged flag of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas, though the design and color of the stars are hypothetical.
	320x183 640x366 800x457 1024x585 1280x731 1400x800

Revolutionary flags

Flag	Years of Use		Type
	1835		The Come and Take It Flag used in 1835 - Texas settlers used this flag at the Battle of Gonzales in October 1835.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 900x600 1024x683 1280x853
	1835		Flag flown over the Declaration of Independence of Goliad; likely the Bloody arm flag noted to have accompanied the "Dodson flag" at the Declaration of Independence of Texas.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 900x600 1024x683 1280x853
	1835-1836		The Alamo Flag used in 1835-1836 and created in 1835, it was a reference to the Mexican constitution of year 1824, in support of which the rebels of Texas were battling; allegedly flew at the Alamo.
	320x184 640x369 699x403 800x461 1024x590 1280x738
	1836		1836 - Brown flag of Independence, probably the Bloody Arm Flag noted to have used the "Dodson flag" at the Declaration of Independence of Texas.
	320x200 343x214 640x399 800x499 1024x639 1280x799
			The Dodson Flag or the Dodson Tricolor flag - During the Revolution, it is drafted and sewn by a Mrs. Sarah Dodson.
	320x107 640x213 800x267 900x300 1024x341 1280x427
			Flag drafted by Stephen F. Austin between Dec 1835 and Jan 1836 while working as a commissioner to the US.
	320x142 600x267 640x285 800x356 1024x456 1280x570
	1836-1839; 1839-1879		Known as Burnet Flag, used from 1836 to 1839 as the national flag of Texas until it was replaced by Lone Star Flag (currently used); it was the flag used in de jure war from then until 1879.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 900x600 1024x683 1280x853
	1836-39		The Lone Star and Stripes / Ensign of the 1^st Texas Navy / War Ensign; it was the de facto national flag between 1835 - 1839.
	320x168 640x337 800x421 1024x539 1235x650 1280x674
	May 11, 1836		The purported 1^st official flag of the Republic of Texas, reportedly designed or drafted by Lorenzo de Zavala.
	320x212 343x227 340x424 800x539 1024x678 1280x847
	October 28, 1835		Captain William Scott's Liberals used this flag on October 28, 1835 in the Battle of Concepcion.
	320x212 343x227 640x424 800x529 1204x678 1280x847
			Under this flag, the Georgia Battalion of Volunteers marched to Texas to take part in the battle against Mexico.
	320x199 342x213 640x399 800x498 1024x638 1280x797
			Started by Gail Borden Jr., this flag was believed to have been flown at San Jacinto battle.
	320x200 640x400 800x500 833x552 1024x640 1280x800
			A company from Ohio and Captain George H. Burroughs came to Texas under this banner.
	320x205 640x410 797x511 800x513 1024x657 1280x821
	March 27, 1826		The New Orleans Grays engaged in driving the Mexicans from San Antonio and many were killed at Goliad on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1826.
	320x213 345x230 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1280x853
	March 27, 1836		The flag of the Alabama Red Rovers who were killed or massacred with Colonel James Fannin in the fight of Goliad on March 27, 1836.
	320x213 450x300 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1280x853
			San Jacinto Liberty Flag - The Sherman regiment used this flag to victory at the conclusive battle of San Jacinto.
	320x204 533x340 640x408 800x510 1024x653 1280x817
	1840		Republic of the Rio Grande, which declared control over a large part of South Texas.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1200x800 1280x853

Republic of Texas flags

Flag	Years of Use		Type
	1836-1839; 1839-1879		The Burnet Flag, used from 1836 to 1839 as the national flag of Texas until it was replaced by Lone Star Flag (the currently used flag); it was flag of the de jure war from then until 1879.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 900x600 1024x683 1280x853
	1836-1839		De facto national flag and war ensign between 1835 - 1839; replaced by the Lone Star Flag (currently used) upon its adoption; it was also the ensign of the 1^st Texas Navy from 1836 - 1839, when it was officially recouped by the Lone Star Flag as the naval ensign.
	320x168 640x337 800x421 1024x539 1235x650 1280x674
	1839-1845/6		The Lone Star Flag, the national flag of Republic of Texas from 1839-1845/6; official naval ensign for the navy of Texas from 1839.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1080x720 1280x853
	1839-1845		Revenue Service Flag.
	240x240 480x480 600x600 768x768 1024x1024
	1839-1845		Coasting Trader Ensign.
	320x165 351x181 640x330 800x413 1024x528 1280x660
	1839-1845		Pilot flag.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1500x1000

State flags over Texas

Flag	Years of Use		Type
	1824-1835		The State of Coahuila y Tejas flag in the Republic of Mexico.
	320x183 640x366 800x457 1024x585 1280x731 1400x800
	1845-present		Flag of the State of Texas in the USA.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 1024x683 1080x720 1280x853

Secession flags of Texas, 1861

Flag	Years of Use		Type
	February and March of 1861		Possible secession flag based on the state of Texas flag.
	320x213 640x427 800x533 900x600 1024x683 1280x853
	February and March of 1861		Possible secession flag based on the Blue Flag of Bonnie.
	320x199 551x342 640x397 800x497 1024x636 1280x794

Proposed Governor's flag

Flag	Years of Use		Type
			Proposed standard of the Governor of Texas. The Legislature of Texas failed to adopt this flag.
	320x205 640x410 800x512 1000x640 1024x655 1280x819

Texas Flag (Lone Star Flag)

History and Adoption

Index