Flags over California

In this post we are going to speak about the flags that we can see in the following photography:

         We are going to name and to explain them from right to left. First of all, we have to say that this is a photo of Santa Barbara’s port, and is suitable to see the evolution of the colonization in California:

1.       The flag of Charles V.

This Spanish standard was placed for the first time by Juan Carrillo, the captain of the first Spaniards who came to California, in 1542.

2.       The Cross of Burgandy

This flag was the first flag of Spain, and it is the flag of the “Duque de Borgoña”, Philip I “The Beautiful”, who introduced them because it was the flag of her mother, Mary of Burgundy. Charles V established it as flag of Spain in 1520. We have to say that this was the flag of Spain until 1785, but it has continued in use until the present.

3.       Flag of Sir Francis Drake, or the British flag

Francis Drake was a English privateer, slaver and sea captain. The Queen Elizabeth I gave Drake the task of disturbing the Spanish Crown and ships. He put this flag in 1579, in today’s Drake’s Bay.

4.       The Spanish flag of the 18th century.

Even though California was ignored by Spaniards, when England and Russia threatened to conquer this land, Carlos III decided in 1769 to colonize it. As we can see, it is quite similar to the present Spanish flag.

5.       The Russian-American company.

When Spaniards moved to the north of California, this chartered company, which was dedicated to build forts in Alaska, moved to the south. They arrived to the north of San Francisco, where they established Fort Ross. The relation with the Californios was good, but the aims of Russians was to obtain the sovereignty of California. They ceased this aim in 1826, and left the country in 1841.

6.       The flag of Argentina.

In 1818, Hyppolite de Bourchard, an argentine privateer who led a small fled arrive in California. He received the authorization to attack the lands controlled by Spaniards. Even though they attacked areas close to Santa Barbara, they did not add this land. Then, after hitting on San Juan Capistrano, they left California.

7.       Flag of the Mexican Empire.

The power of Spain was harmed because of the Napoleon’s conquest of Spain. That is why Mexican natives decided to revolt. They were inspired by American and French revolutions. In this revolution we have to remark the presence of Miguel Hidalgo, a parish priest who fight and died for the independence of Mexico. He was executed in 1811, but Father Morelos and Pavon continued with the struggled of Father Miguel. Finally, in 1821 Mexico won its independence, with Agustin de Itubide as Emperor of Mexico ( 1821-1823).

8.       Flag of the Mexican Republic

After achieving independence and be proclaimed an Empire in 1823 Mexico was declared a Republic ,in the style of the United States. This was the flag of the Mexican Republic, but only for 23 years, because in 1846 the United States of America took the control of this territory.

9.       California Battalion's Banner

                Captain John Fremont was an American explorer and military, who came to California stating scientists and topographic interests, but what he really did was encourage Americans who live in Mexico to rebel against the Mexican Government, and that’s how the war began. Finally, California was taken over by United States.

10.   Sonoma's Rebel Flag

American settlers who lived in Sonoma, unhappy with the treatment they received by the Spanish-Californian authorities, so they rebel against these authorities in 1846 and declared themselves independent for a month, in which this flag flew. After that month, John Fremont, who had captured the capital of California, Monterey, a short time before, put the American flag instead of this.

11.   California's First U.S. Flag

In 1846 the first American flag was raised in California by Commodore John C. Sloat. We can see that this flag has 28 stars, in reference of the 28 states that were under the control of the Unites States of America.

12.   Flag 12 California's First State Flag

This is the last flag that we can see there. This is the California’s first state flag, and it was created in 1911 by the modification of the Sonoma Rebel’s flag.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMAQH4_Twelve_Flags_over_California_Santa_Barbara_CA  (2014/05/26, 12:24)

“Flags over California, a History and Guide”, State of California, Military Department, March 2002.