Flag and coat of arms of Saint Barthélemy
![]() Flag of France Saint Barthélemy is an overseas collectivity of France | |
Tricolore | |
Use | National flag, civil and state ensign |
---|---|
Proportion | 2:3 |
Adopted | 15 February 1794 |
File:Unofficial flag of Saint-Barthélemy.png Unofficial flag of Saint Barthelemy |
The flag of Saint Barthélemy is the French tricolor. This is because Saint Barthélemy is a self-governing overseas collectivity of France. An unofficial flag of Saint-Barthélemy consisting of the island's coat of arms centered on a white field is also used on the island.
Coat of arms
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Blason_St_Barth%C3%A9l%C3%A9my_TOM_entire.svg/250px-Blason_St_Barth%C3%A9l%C3%A9my_TOM_entire.svg.png)
The coat of arms of Saint-Barthélemy is a shield divided into three horizontal stripes (parted per fess), three gold fleurs-de-lis on blue, above a white Maltese cross on red, over three gold crowns on blue, and "Ouanalao" is what the indigenous people called the island. On top of the shield is a mural crown.
The fleurs-de-lis, Maltese Cross, and gold crowns are heraldic reminders of the island's history as a colony ruled by first the Kingdom of France, then the Knights Hospitaller and in turn the Kingdom of Sweden. Eventually, the island returned to French rule.
On a white background, the arms serves as the unofficial flag of Saint Barthélemy.