FLAG OF PARAGUAY: HISTORY AND MEANING - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The flag of Paraguay is the national flag that represents the South American country since it became independent from the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata (1842). It has presented various alterations throughout its history, but almost all have closely resembled each other, including the current flag of the country.

It is made up of three horizontal stripes, each one color, but the same size. The upper strip is red, the central one is white and the bottom one is blue. In the center it has a shield formed by two branches (palm and olive tree) surrounding a star.

Paraguayan flag. By Orange Tuesday at English Wikipedia (Original text: Orange Tuesday (talk))

As with the flag of Argentina, the national flag of Paraguay has been influenced by the Virgin Mary and, in fact, its first design was based entirely on the Virgin of the Assumption.

Paraguay spent several centuries under the rule of Spain and participated, during the time of independence, in wars against the armies of Argentina to maintain its sovereignty after declaring its autonomy.

History

- Spanish governorates and viceroyalties (1527 - 1811)

During the nearly three centuries that Paraguay was under the rule of the Spanish crown, the country used the same royal flag of Spain as its official banner. In fact, this was the flag that flew in the main cities of Paraguay throughout the colonial era, representing the local allegiance to the royalist forces of the crown.

Paraguay always belonged to different divisions of the Spanish government within South America until the moment of its independence. Beyond the official use that was given to the flag of Spain, the country also used the flag of the Cross of Burgundy during the Habsburg rule of the Spanish throne. This was the flag with which the royalists carried out their military campaigns in America.

There were two marked historical periods in which Paraguay definitely used both flags. While it belonged to the Viceroyalty of Peru and after joining the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata.

Flag of the Viceroyalty of Peru and the Government of Paraguay

The Viceroyalty of Peru, being the main headquarters of the royalist forces in America for a long time, used the flag of the Cross of Burgundy as its official standard, shortly after having adapted the Peruvian coat of arms to the flag. The territory that today makes up Paraguay was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru since its creation in 1534.

However, in 1617, the Spanish devised a way to better control the territory in America, since the great territorial extension that the colonies occupied was difficult to manage from a single Viceroyalty. Thus, the Spanish Crown divided its viceroyalties into governorates, in order to exercise more marked regional control.

As a consequence of this, in 1617 the Government of Peru was created. Both the Viceroyalty of Peru and the Government of Paraguay used, mainly, the flag of the Cross of Burgundy to represent the crown in America.

Flag of the Cross of Burgundy (1527 - 1811). By Erlenmeyer

Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata

In 1777, the Spanish Crown decided to separate its viceroyalties in order to exercise more marked control of the region, further dividing its territories. Thus, the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata was formed, to which Argentina, Uruguay, Upper Peru (Bolivia), Paraguay and Peru belonged. The Viceroyalty of Río de la Pata used the same flag of Spain as its official flag.

Paraguay belonged to the Viceroyalty, in the form of a province, until its independence in 1811, having to fight against Argentine troops to maintain its sovereignty.

Flag of Spain and the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata (1527 - 1811). By previous version User: Ignaciogavira; current version HansenBCN, designs from SanchoPanzaXXI

- Independence of Paraguay and first autonomous flag (May and June 1811)

When Napoleon Bonaparte took control of Spain during the Napoleonic Wars, the American colonies seized the moment to gain independence from the authority of Ferdinand VII. However, many provinces had significant differences in their vision of a new independent America.

The Congress of the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata, after Napoleon's seizure of power, called an emergency council to define what would be the steps to follow for the management of a new government in America. Without the authority of Spain so deep, the next step for the colonies would be to destroy the royalist troops on the continent to become independent.

The government of Paraguay, however, declared its allegiance to the Council of Regency of Fernando VII, which was in charge of governing the colony in America during the Napoleonic occupation.

This decision did not sit well with the leaders of the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata. Manuel Belgrano, one of the fathers of Argentina's independence, led his armies to the gates of Paraguay to try to gain support from the locals to make the Paraguayan province part of the United Provinces of Río de la Plata (the new name of the independent viceroyalty).

Belgrano's idea was not supported by the people of Paraguay, nor by its military. Thus, Belgrano and his troops fought two battles on Paraguayan soil (Paraguarí and Tacuarí, both in 1811). After two resounding defeats, the Argentines withdrew from Paraguay.

Flag of Dr. Francia (May and June 1811). By Orange Tuesday

Revolution and independence

After Belgrano was repelled from the country by royalist forces, the Paraguayan government under the influence of Spain was full of internal conflicts. Pedro Juan Caballero led a revolutionary movement together with Fulgencio Yegros, both military and political from Paraguay.

With the revolution, who was the governor in charge of the Spanish domain was deposed and Fulgencio Yegros himself was appointed as the new head of the independent Congress of Paraguay.

During the independence process, the Spanish flag was also used due to the influence of the royalists in the country. However, in conjunction with this, a blue flag was also hoisted with a six-pointed white star on its upper left. This was the flag of the Virgin of the Assumption, considered the first flag of the Paraguayan people.

- Temporary Flag of Congress (August 1811)

After the establishment of Paraguay as an independent nation in one of the most peaceful processes of American independence, the country adopted a new flag, according to the declaration of Congress in August 1811. It was only in force for a month, but the flag was based on the colors of Spain and incorporated the blue of the Virgin into the design.

Temporary Flag of Congress (August 1811). By It Is Me Here at English Wikipedia

- Third flag of Paraguay (1811 - 1842)

A month after the establishment of the yellow, blue and red tricolor, the Congress of Paraguay once again altered the design of the flag so that it represented the current tricolor that the country has. However, unlike later designs, this flag had the middle white stripe much wider than the other two.

Since the white in this design represents peace, the stripe was much wider than the other two. This was done precisely with the intention of emphasizing the pacifism that should govern the new Republic of Paraguay.

The flag was designed by the same members of Congress chaired by Fulgencio Yegros.

Third flag of Paraguay (1811 - 1842). By It Is Me Here at English Wikipedia

Alternation with the blue flag (1826 - 1842)

Although the official design of the tricolor flag would already become the new Paraguayan standard, during the government of Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia (creator of the six-pointed star flag), the blue banner was reused on some occasions with the star officially.

According to some historical records of the Paraguayan military garrisons, there were many barracks that never stopped using the blue flag with the six-pointed star due to lack of material to produce the new tricolor. However, the red, white and blue design never lost its validity and was used in conjunction with the blue one.

Flag of Dr. Francia, used again between 1826 and 1842. By Orange Tuesday

- Current Design (since 1842)

The current design of the Paraguayan flag has only been altered in regards to its proportions. Of the rest, starting in 1842, Congress decided that the only official flag of the country would be the new red, white and blue tricolor with stripes of equal proportions, to give a better visual harmony to the national flag of the country.

In addition, in the decree issued on November 25, 1842, the country's coat of arms was also incorporated into the official design of the flag.

Official flag, decreed in 1842. By Orange Tuesday on en.wikipedia

Between the period between 1842 and the present, the only changes that have been made to the national flag of Paraguay are visual and proportional. The size of the stripes or the shield has not been altered; only in 1990 was a red stripe added inside the shield and in 2013, the shield became completely white on the inside.

The small changes that were made to the current official flag occurred in 1954, 1988, 1990 and 2013, respectively. The 2013 change remains in effect today.

Change of dimensions (1954 - 1988). By Orange Tuesday at English Wikipedia (Original text: Orange Tuesday (talk))

New dimension change (1988 - 1990). By Kaiser Torikka

Redesign in shield and dimensions (1990 - 2013). By Kuba G on the Public Domain.

Last redesign (2013 - Present)

Meaning

The first red, blue and white flags were used during the Battle of Buenos Aires in 1806. The colors have remained in use throughout the country's history. The color red symbolizes the bravery and patriotism of the Paraguayans; white is the color of peace and blue is the symbol of freedom and knowledge.

In addition, the current flag of Paraguay has a shield on its reverse, which reads the inscription "Peace and Freedom." It is the only flag in the world with a shield on its back.

References

1. Meaning of the Flag of Paraguay, Portal of Meanings, (nd). Taken from meanings.com
2. Paraguay, Flags of the World Website, 2009. Taken from fotw.info
3. Flag of Paraguay, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
4. History of the flag of Paraguay, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org
5. History of Paraguay, Wikipedia, 2019. Taken from Wikipedia.org