FLAG OF ARGENTINA: HISTORY AND MEANING OF THE COLORS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Argentina is the national symbol of the South American country. It has three horizontal stripes: the upper and lower light blue and the central white. In the white strip, the Sun of May is located in the center, which is the national shield. The original flag did not have the Sun, being this officially added two years after its ratification, in 1818.

This flag is, together with the Uruguayan flag, one of the two national banners that present the blue color in Latin America. The flag has changed several times throughout its history, starting with darker shades of blue compared to the one present in two of its stripes today.

Argentina's flag. See File history below for details.

It is believed that it was designed around 1812 and the creation of the flag is attributed to the military and politician Manuel Belgrano, who played a fundamental role in the fight for the country's freedom. The first celestial flag was raised by Belgrano himself, but it is not known specifically what was the tone of the celestial that that banner presented.

History

Like most Latin American nations, with the exception of Brazil, Argentina was under the control of the Spanish Crown for many years. Before Manuel Belgrano raised the first official flag of Argentina, the country used the royal standard of Spain for almost three centuries.

- Flag of Argentina during the Spanish government (1512 - 1812)

The first colonial settlement founded by the Spanish in Argentina was created by Pedro de Mendoza. Although at first this area did not have an official name, it was later called Buenos Aires, arising from here the current capital of the country.

During most of the colonial rule in the hands of the Spanish, the territory that today belongs to Argentina was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru, one of the main Spanish commands in Latin America. In that period, Argentina used the flag of Spain as its Royal standard.

However, the Viceroyalty of Peru also used the Cross of Burgundy as an official standard. This cross was the flag displayed by the Crown troops during the conquest of Latin America and was present in all the Spanish colonies of America, even after their conquest and for a good part of their colonial period.

Both flags were in official use throughout the colonial period and until the independence of Argentina.

Creation of the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata in 1777

Although Spain controlled the territory of America using the Viceroyalty of Peru, King Carlos III was advised to create a new viceroyalty to be able to exercise better territorial control in the region. Thus, in 1776, the creation of the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata, also known as the Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires, was unofficially decreed.

It was through the creation of this viceroyalty that Buenos Aires obtained greater importance at the administrative level, something that it had not had before, since the center of power was in Peru.

In fact, the Viceroyalty of Peru was so large that Spain was forced to create a couple more viceroyalties to simplify colonial control in the region. This is how the viceroyalties of Río de la Plata and Nueva Granada were born.

The Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata was, among the great Spanish viceroyalties, the one that lasted the fewest years. Less than half a century after its establishment, the Republic of Argentina became independent from Spanish rule.

However, during its existence, it used the royal flag of Spain as its official banner. The use of the Burgundy Cross remained common, even after the establishment of this viceroyalty.

Burgundy Cross used by the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata and after the founding of Buenos Aires (1506 - 1812). By Erlenmeyer

Flag of Spain, used by the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata (1777 - 1812). By previous version User: Ignaciogavira; current version HansenBCN, designs from SanchoPanzaXXI

- First flag of Argentina (1812)

The first flag that represented Argentina during its independence period was created by Manuel Belgrano and was raised for the first time in the city of Rosario. Regarding the origin of the flag, it is only known exactly that it was a design by Belgrano himself, but there is no clear reference to how its colors were distributed.

By historical references, it is known that the flag was raised next to the artillery cannon called "Independencia", which was also inaugurated by Manuel Belgrano. This cannon was located in the city of Rosario, but the current design of the flag was not registered but only through letters from the Argentine military.

The problem with this is that Belgrano did not use clear terminology in his letters, nor did he explain for sure how the stripes of the flag were distributed. He sent a letter to the independence government of Argentina in which he assured that the flag would be "white and light blue."

The flag of Argentina designed by Belgrano was based on the colors of the cockades that had been used so far to represent the independence movement. These rosettes were, precisely, white and blue.

It is intuited, by the words of Belgrano, that the flag had only two stripes (it was divided in two). The left side of the flag was white and the right side was light blue. This is the design that, from what is assumed, is considered the first official flag of Argentina.

According to other historical records, it is also thought that Belgrano may have used the three-striped flag during this event in Rosario. It is not known, for sure, which event is the most successful.

- Use of the flag in the Battle of Salta

After the creation of the flag by Belgrano, the general used the flag in the battle of Salta. It is considered that this was the first historical battle for the independence of Argentina in which this banner was used. Prior to this event, the general blessed the pavilion through a priest who was in favor of independence.

The Argentine troops carried this flag with them to battle and, after a notable triumph by Belgrano's army, the celestial and white banner began to be used throughout the Northern Army of Argentina.

This flag was also used by the armies of José de San Martín. According to historical records, it is intuited that the white distribution in the upper part and the blue in the lower part was the first flag used by the independence armies of the country.

Flag of Manuel Belgrano (1812). By Manuel Belgrano, according to (vector graphics by Guilherme Paula)

- The flag of the three stripes

While it was long believed that the light blue and white flag was the one used by Argentina for most of its independence struggle, a three-stripe flag design (similar to the current one, but without the Sun of May) was also found.) in a chapel where Manuel Belgrano hid during his fight for independence.

This is how some historians consider that Belgrano also waved the Albiceleste flag similar to the current one in his campaign for independence. It is known exactly that the flag existed, but it is not known how common its use was in the independence of Argentina.

Possible design of the Belgrano flag (1812 and in sporadic use since 1816). By Manuel Belgrano (1770-1820)

- Flag of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata (1818 - 1831)

The United Provinces of Río de la Plata was the name that was given to the states that made up the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata when the independence movement was created. It was also the first official name that the Republic of Argentina had during its independence stage.

Upper Peru (what is now Bolivia), the territory that today makes up Paraguay and the territory of the Republic of Uruguay, were also part of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata.

The United Provinces were formed after the May Revolution, in which the Spanish viceroy Baltasar Hidalgo was dismissed and his authority was replaced with a Governing Board made up of local political leaders.

The banner created by Manuel Belgrado was used until 1818. Then, according to the country's historical records, it was replaced with a flag very similar to the one Argentina uses today, but with two shades of blue much darker than the design. light blue. However, it was not used officially during the first years of independence.

The United Provinces of Río de la Plata and its government, although the intention was to adopt a flag similar to that created by Manuel Belgrano, penalized its use during the first five years of its foundation. In other words, the use of the celestial and white flag was unofficial, as the country continued to maintain the Spanish standard for political and military reasons.

In 1818, two years after the signing of Argentina's act of independence, the Provinces used a flag similar to the current one, but with darker colors.

Flag of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata (1818 - 1831). By Juan Martín de Pueyrredón (1777-1850), according to Ministerio del Interior website (vector graphics by Guilherme Paula)

Mask of Ferdinand VII (used sporadically until 1816)

The Mask of Fernando VII is the name given to the use of the Spanish royal flag by the South American independence troops, to prevent the Spanish troops from attacking the independentistas. The United Provinces of Río de la Plata kept the Spanish standard as their official flag until the country's proclamation of independence.

During the battles carried out by the nation's generals, the celestial and white flag was used. In fact, after its creation, José de San Martín also adopted the flag as the standard carried by his troops in battle.

The government of the United Provinces received, on the part of Manuel Belgrano, a request to officially use the celestial and white flag, but it was denied because it was of interest that, officially, the flag of Spain should continue to be used to confuse the realistic troops. Belgrano was fined for using the flag, but he continued to do so anyway, as did San Martín.

The South American use of the Spanish flag to avoid problems with the royalist troops was called "Mask of Fernando VII".

Mask of Fernando VII (Used sporadically until 1816). By previous version User: Ignaciogavira; current version HansenBCN, designs from SanchoPanzaXXI

Independence of the Provinces

During the war of independence against Spain, tensions existed between the same provinces that later caused their own separation and independence. In fact, during the war of independence, Argentine troops also had to fight local armies to try to control the sovereignty of the country.

In 1811, for example, Manuel Belgrano had tried to subjugate the province that is now Paraguay, but was unsuccessful. This caused Paraguay to administer itself since before the independence of Argentina, since the Spanish troops no longer had influence in the country or how to access it.

By 1815, the United Provinces of Argentina no longer had control of Paraguay or what was called Upper Peru. Argentina lost control of Upper Peru in the same year, when Bolivian troops defeated the Argentines at the Battle of Sipe. However, the official independence of Upper Peru occurred in 1825.

Argentina also entered a series of armed conflicts with Brazil. This, added to their differences with José Artigas, who administered the eastern part of Río de la Plata, caused the Eastern Province of Río de la Plata to become independent in 1828, thus forming the Republic of Uruguay.

First Flag of Bolivia (1825). By Huhsunqu

First Flag of Paraguay (1811). By Orange Tuesday

First flag of Uruguay (1828). See File history below for details.

- Creation of the Argentine Confederation and adoption of a new flag (1831 - 1861)

After the various conflicts that the United Provinces of Río de la Plata had and the independence of Uruguay and Bolivia, the provinces were politically organized once again to act as a sovereign state, which led to the creation of the Confederation of Argentina..

It is said that the official origin of the confederation occurred in 1831, when 4 of the 13 member provinces of the United Provinces of Buenos Aires signed the Federal Pact, through which all would be governed independently but united in a confederate way. It would be a federated country, similar to the way the United States does today.

In 1833, the rest of the provinces that still belonged to Argentina also joined the pact, which caused the official creation of the Argentine Confederation. A flag similar to that of the United Provinces was used, but with the Sun of May painted in red and four symbols of the same color in each of its corners.

The flag was in force until 1861.

Second flag of the United Provinces (1831 - 1861). By Guilherme Paula

- Secession of Buenos Aires and creation of the flag of Buenos Aires (1852 - 1861)

In 1852, tensions between the states of the Confederation and the Province of Buenos Aires caused the overthrow of Juan Manuel de las Rosas, who was the governor of Buenos Aires. This caused that, in protest mode, Buenos Aires became independent from the Confederation and declared itself an independent country.

The region adopted a new flag and managed autonomously, creating its own constitution in 1854. This new constitution, although similar to that of the Argentine Confederation, had marked differences such as the decrease in the term of the president's government and the way more formal in which laws were approved in the country.

After the victory of Buenos Aires at the Battle of Pavón in 1861, Argentina was once again unified under the same banner and all the provinces adhered to the constitution created by Buenos Aires in 1854.

Flag of Buenos Aires after the secession (1852 - 1861). By here

- Creation of the Republic of Argentina and current flag (1861 - Present)

The current Republic of Argentina was created after the Battle of Pavón, where all the states were once again unified under the same banner.

However, conflicts continued to exist between the newly independent countries of the region. The borders of the current Republic of Argentina were adapted after the War of the Triple Alliance, in which Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina fought against Paraguay.

The flag that the Republic of Argentina adopted was similar to that of the state of Buenos Aires and, in fact, it is the same flag that Manuel Belgrano made official during the country's independence. The rest of the flags have been variations of the original design, and the flag of Argentina is considered to have been in force for more than two centuries.

After the creation of the Republic, the flag of two celestial stripes and a white stripe with the Sun of May in the center was used in a unique and official way throughout the country.

Current flag, adopted after the unification of Argentina (1861 - Present). See File history below for details.

Meaning

The flag that Belgrano raised for the first time in Rosario, made by a local citizen, had in its design the colors light blue and white, although the exact distribution of the colors or the shape of the flag is not known exactly.

The colors of the flag represent the sky and the firmament. However, the colors are also the same as the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception has always had. It is said that the colors of the flag of Argentina, in addition, were those used by the troops of King Carlos III, which were also based on the clothing of the Immaculate Virgin.

The Sun of May was incorporated into the flag in 1818. It is also known as the “sun of war”, and was added to the national banner to represent the May Revolution that precipitated the definitive independence of the country.

Flag Day

In Argentina, Flag Day is celebrated with a holiday on June 20 of each year, in memory of the death of Manuel Belgrano, who died that day in 1820.

Among other official acts, students in the fourth year of primary schooling (10 years) from all schools in the country swear the flag on the dates close.

References

1. Meaning of the Flag of Argentina, Official Portal of Meanings, (nd). Taken from meanings.com
2. Flag of Argentina, World Atlas Website, (nd). Taken from worldatlas.com
3. Flag of Argentina, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018. Taken from Britannica.com
4. Argentina, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
5. Argentine Confederation, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
6. United Provinces of Argentina, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org