Flag of Gran Colombia

Flag of Gran Colombia
	The Third Flag of Gran Colombia
Use	National flag and state ensign
Proportion	2:3
Adopted	1821
Relinquished	1830
Design	A horizontal tricolour of yellow, blue and red with the Emblem of Gran Colombia in the center of the flag with an olive branch surrounding the emblem.
Designed by	Francisco de Miranda

The flag of Gran Colombia was based on Francisco de Miranda's Venezuelan tricolour which served as the national flag of the First Republic of Venezuela, It was served as the basis for the current flags of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, which emerged as independent nations at the breakup of Gran Colombia in 1831.

Colours and symbolism

According to the current interpretation, the colours signify:

Yellow: Represents Hispanic America.
Blue: Represents the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Red: Represents bloody Spain.

Flags

First flag of Gran Colombia, 1819–1820. Stripe ratios 2:1:1
Second Flag of Gran Colombia 1820–1821. Stripe ratios 2:1:1
Third Flag of Gran Colombia 1821–1830. Stripe ratios 1:1:1
Proposed fourth Flag of Gran Colombia 1822.

First flag

The first flag was adopted in late 1819. Originally used without arms, the first design of the state flag was based on the Venezuelan flag of 1811. Some variations have the coat of arms in the centre of the flag. This flag was in use officially until 10 January 1820.

Second flag

On 10 January 1820, the Department of Cundinamarca, one of the three official departments of the republic, adopted arms of its own alleging that the arms of the republic were only used in Venezuela. On 12 July 1821, the national congress decreed that the arms of Cundinamarca must be used on the common flag as part of the national coat of arms until new arms could be decreed. Thus, the departmental flag of Cundinamarca was converted into the national flag of Gran Colombia and was officially used in the department of Venezuela. Some variations have the coat of arms in the centre of the flag. It would be the national flag until late 1821.

Third flag

A third flag was adopted in late 1821, with a different coat of arms. Some variations have the writing "Republica de Colombia" around the coat of arms, and others have the coat of arms encircled. This flag served as the national flag until the country's dissolution in 1830.

Proposed fourth flag

On 11 July 1822, Guayaquil was incorporated and Gran Colombia reached its largest size. New arms were adopted, and the coat of arms was taken off the flag, and replaced with stars. It had three stars, but was upped to six, then nine, then finally twelve. Some variants had no stars, however. The color of the blue stripe was also changed to the dark blue seen on the flags of its successors. Some variants have no star.

Later countries

After Dissolution

Flags of Gran Colombia's successor states after dissolution
Republic of New Granada
State of Venezuela
State of Ecuador
British Guiana

After the Dissolution of Gran Colombia three of the nations flags remained a yellow-blue-red tricolor, except for British Guiana which took on the Union Jack. The flag of Republic of New Granada is a vertical red-blue-yellow tricolor flag. The flag of State of Venezuela was a horizontal yellow-blue-red tricolor with the coat of arms of Venezuela in the middle of the flag. The flag of Ecuador was a basic yellow-blue-red horizontal tricolor flag with no emblems.

Modern Countries

Current flags of Gran Colombia's successor states
Colombia
Ecuador
Venezuela
Guyana^[a]
Panama^[b]

The Colombian flag is similar to the first Grand Colombian flag, without the coat of arms. The Ecuadorian flag is similar to the Colombian flag, only with the lighter shade of yellow, blue and red, and a centered coat of arms. The Venezuelan flag resembles the Ecuadorian and Colombian flags, but with equal tricolor bands and 8 stars forming an arch.

Notes

^ Guyana was part of Gran Colombia region which is modern day Venezuela.
^ Panama was formerly part of Gran Colombia and Colombia.

External links

Flags of The World, Gran Colombia

[1] Guyana was part of Gran Colombia region which is modern day Venezuela.

[2] Panama was formerly part of Gran Colombia and Colombia.

[a]

[b]