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Saint Lucia

 

Contents

Flags

Historical Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Map

Numbers and Facts

History

Origin of the Country's Name



Flags

Flagge Fahne Flag National flag Handeslflagge national flag merchant flag State flag state flag St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
since 2002,
National, state and merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Generalgouverneur Governor General St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
since 1979,
Flag of the Governor General,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World



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Historical Flags

Saint Lucia

Flagge Fahne flag Frankreich France
from 1650,
Flag of France,
Source, by: Sodacan [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons




Flagge Fahne flag pavillon dreapeau St. Lucia Martinique
1766–1796,
Merchant flag for Saint Lucia and Martinique,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne flag England Großbritannien Great Britain
1664–1707,
Flag of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen




Flagge Fahne flag England Großbritannien Great Britain
1707–1801,
Flag of United Kingdom,
Source, by: Die Welt der Flaggen




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Naval jack jack State flag state
1801–1967,
Union Flag → quasi national flag,
Flag of United Kingdom,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)




Flagge Fahne Flag Großbritannien Vereinigtes Königreich United Kingdom UK Great Britain Merchant flag merchant civil ensign
1864–1979,
Merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations




Flagge Fahne Flag Flagge der Regierung State flag flag of the government state flag St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1875–1939,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Gouverneur Administrator Kommissar Administrator Commissioner Governor St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1875–1939,
Flag of the Administrator/Commissioner,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Flagge der Regierung State flag flag of the government state flag St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1939–1967,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Gouverneur Administrator Kommissar Administrator Commissioner Governor St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1939–1979,
Flag of the Administrator/Commissioner,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag National flag Handeslflagge national flag State flag state flag St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1967–1979,
National and state flag,
ratio = 5:8,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag National flag Handeslflagge national flag merchant flag State flag state flag St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1979–2002,
National, state and merchant flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Wikipedia (EN)




Windward Islands (1838–1958):

Flagge Fahne flag Nationalflagge Staatsflagge national flag state flag der Windward-Inseln Windward Islands Colony
1903–1958, doubtful,
Flag of the government (state flag),
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Nationalflagge der Windward-Inseln Windward Islands Colony Obergouverneur Governor-in-Chief
1885–1960,
Flag of the Governor-in-Chief,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Federation of the West Indies (1958–1962):

Flagge Fahne Flag Westindische Föderation Federation of the West Indies
Flag of the Federation of the West Indies,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne Flag Gouverneur Governor Westindische Föderation Federation of the West Indies
Flag of the Governor General,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of the World



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The flag of Saint Lucia was introduced – in its basic form – on 1st of March in 1967 for the associated state, and officially adopted on 22nd of February in 1979 when independence was achieved. It was designed by the local artist Dunstan St. Omer and shows three superimposed triangles in the colours yellow (today: orange/gold), black and white on a blue (today: sky blue) background. The blue represents the sky and the sea, the triangular pattern the island rising out of it; a stylised representation of the twin peaks of the two cone-shaped volcanoes Gros Piton and Petit Piton on the south-west coast of the country rising out of the sea. Yellow symbolises sunshine, sandy beaches and prosperity, while the black refers to the volcanic origins of the island state on the one hand and white and black stand for the two population groups on the other. When independence was gained in 1979, the design of the flag was changed slightly. From that year onwards, it has a 1:2 format and the stylised mountain is more pointed and steeper. Since 2002, a much lighter blue (sky blue) has been used as the colour of the bunting. The colours are probably not defined.

Initially, the island was disputed between France and England/United Kindom. In the Treaty of Paris of 1814, United Kingdom was officially awarded the island, so that from that year onwards the flag of the United Kindom flew unchallenged over the islands. From that point in time on, individuals, citizens and also the authorities represented their status as citizens or organs of the British nation, embodied in the United Kingdom, through the use of the Union Jack, then called the "Union Flag". At sea, the British merchant flag, the Red Ensign, was intended for British citizens from 1864. In a few cases, the citizens of a colony were authorised by the Admiralty to use their own Red Ensign with the colony's badge at sea. The Union Jack in the top corner of these flags signalled the connection to United Kingdom.

Originally St Lucia was part of the British colony of the Windward Islands, later the West Indies Federation. The country became an independent colony in 1962.

United Kingdom introduced a flag system in 1864 in which:
• war ships fly the "White Ensign" (naval flag), a white flag often with an uninterrupted red St. George's-Cross and with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag,
• merchant ships fly a "Red Ensign" (also named "Civil Ensign" → civil flag, the real merchant flag), a red flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag, and
• governmental ships fly the "Blue Ensign" (flag for the use by the gouvernment → the actual state flag), a blue flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag.

From 1865, the ships of the colonial governments were allowed to use a Blue Ensign with a badge at the flying end. The respective governments were to provide appropriate badges. Merchant ships and seafaring privateers from colonies were only allowed to use a Red Ensign with a badge if the British Admiralty had issued a corresponding licence for that colony.

Such a badge was often a regional landscape depiction on a disc, often showed ships, historical events or could simply be a kind of logo. Very often a badge also contained the name of the country or a motto. However, some possessions had a coat of arms from the beginning or were given their own coat of arms over the years and the badge was abolished. To ensure a largely uniform appearance in the flying end of the flags, coats of arms and other symbols were displayed on a white disc in the size of the former badges.

However, there were also exceptions, as some colonies dispensed with this white disc and placed their coat of arms or even just the shield – sometimes enlarged – directly on the bunting. As early as the 1940s, the white disc was removed and the coat of arms was applied directly or enlarged. This conversion process took place gradually, nowhere simultaneously and completely. In some British possessions flags with the white disc are still in use today, in others no longer and in some areas both variants exist side by side.

St Lucia received its own badge in 1875. It showed a coastal landscape with a British merchant ship with reefed sails in the foreground and the silhouette of a town on a mountain in the background. Also in 1875, an own "Blue Ensign" was introduced as the state flag at sea, a dark blue bunting with a flag depiction – the British Union Jack – in the upper corner, which showed the badge in the flying end of the flag. In 1939, the badge on the flag was replaced by the escutcheon of the newly granted coat of arms.

From 1838 to 1958, the area was part of the British colony of the Windward Islands, a federal colony consisting of individual sub-areas, sub-colonies or islands. These individual colonies had their own flags, also called "Blue Ensigns" with their own badge, for use by the governments of these colonies. The overarching political entity of the British Windward Islands most likely did not have an additional Blue Ensign of its own, but its own badge. This badge was created in 1886 and showed an heraldic shield divided into four parts with the colours red, yellow, green and white, surrounded by a white belt with the inscription "Governor in Chief, Windward Islands", with the British crown above. Below is a white banner with the motto of the islands: "i pede fausto" → "Walk with a blessed foot". In 1903, the design of the crown was changed slightly (to the Tudor crown). The Governor of Barbados was always also the Governor-in-Chief of the colony of the British Windward Islands. The Governor-in-Chief used the Windward Islands badge on his flag after all. He was represented locally by a governor in the associated sub-territory, sub-colony or island. The federal colony ceased to exist when it was incorporated into the Federation of the West Indies, led by a Governor-General. Locally, in the associated sub-territory, sub-colony or island, the highest representative of the Crown retained his rank. He remained an administrator or governor. The local flags (e.g. blue or red ensigns, i.e. separate state or merchant flags) have been retained.

From 1958 to 1962 the territory was also part of the British colony "Federation of the West Indies". This political project was an attempt to unify the administration and to create a state modelled on Canada, but also to counteract the independence efforts of the associated islands and colonies. However, jealousies arose between the large and small islands and even led to open dispute. The flag of the "Federation of the West Indies" was a light blue flag with four horizontal white wavy lines and a golden disc in the middle. It symbolized the sun over the Caribbean Sea. There is some doubt about the color of the blue; it is often assumed to be the usual British heraldry blue. However, a contemporary description calls it an "imperial blue" which would be light blue and many contemporary prints also show this light blue.

On 27th of February in 1967, internal self-government was granted by United Kingdom, and Saint Lucia became an autonomous state associated with United Kingdom. In this context, the current flag was introduced.

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Flags of the World, Wikipedia (EN), Volker Preuß

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Coat of Arms


Wappen Abzeichen Badge coat of arms St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
since 1979,
Coat of arms of Saint Lucia,
Source, by: Corel Draw 4


Wappen Abzeichen Badge coat of arms Windward-Inseln Windward Islands
1886–1958,
Windward Islands,
Badge of the Windward Islands,
Source, by: Flags of the World


Wappen Abzeichen Badge coat of arms St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1875–1939,
Saint Lucia,
Badge of Saint Lucia,
Source, by: Flags of the World


Wappen Abzeichen Badge coat of arms St. Lucia Sankt Lucia Saint Lucia
1939–1967,
Saint Lucia,
Escutcheon and badge of Saint Lucia,
Source, by: Flags of the World

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Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the state was awarded on 16th of august in 1939, and was several changed; On 1st of march in 1967, when Saint Lucia gets an associated state, and on 22nd of february in 1979, as Saint Lucia achieves the independence. The blazon is divided by a suspended cross from bamboo, in the quarters two roses and two lilies, which refer for the British and French colonial reign in the past. As shield holders officiate to the left and on the right of the shield two green parrots. Above the shield a European helmet with a abundant helmet ornamentation. In the middle, on the helmet, a human arm with a torch. Below the blazon the motto ribbon with the motto of the state: "The Land, the People, the Light".

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Wikipedia (EN), Volker Preuß

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Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 238 square miles

Inhabitants: 178.696, thereof 85% Black, 11% Mulatto, 2% Indians, 1% Europeans

Religions: 67% Roman Catholic, 10% Protestant, 2% Rastafari, 2% Anglican

Density of Population: 751 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: Castries, 3.661 inh. (2010)

official Language: English

other Languages: French Creole

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD, EC-$) = 100 Cents

Time Zone: GMT – 4 h

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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History

probable possibilities of the discovery of the island:

• 1499 · the Spanish seafarer Juan de la Cosa discoveres the island and names it "El Falcon"
• 13th of December in 1502 · the Spanish seafarer Christoph Columbus discovers the island and names it "Isla de Santa Lucia", the island becomes a Spanish possession but was not colonized
• 13th of December in 1502 · at the day of the Holy Lucia of Syracus shipwrecks a French sailing vessel, the survived crew names the island by the Holy Lucia ("Sainte Lucie"), that day is today the national holiday

1600 · for some years Dutch base

1605 · first English settlement fails because of the resistance of the Caribs on the island

1639–1640 · second English settlement fails because of the resistance of the Caribs on the island

1647 · French settlement

1650 · the French are successful in expand of their zone of influence on the island

1650–1664 · Saint Lucia is French colony, decimation of the Caribs

1664–1667 · Saint Lucia is occupied by England, decimation of the Caribs

1667–1803 · the ownership of the island changes very often between France and England/United Kingdom, just as it was declared for two times to a neutral zone, decimation and eradication of the Caribs

1814 · the British ownership of the island becomes confirmed by treaty

1838 · Saint Lucia becomes a crown colony

1838–1958 · part of the British Colony of the Windward Islands

1958–1962 · part of the British Colony of the "Federation of the West Indies"

27.02.1967 · United Kingdom grants interior self administration (autonomy as with United Kingdom associated state)

22.02.1979 · United Kingdom grants independence within the framework of the Commonwealth of Nations

Source: Atlas zur Geschichte, World Statesmen, Wikipedia (EN)

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Origin of the Country's Name

The name "Saint Lucia" was awarded to this island by Columbus or by shipwrecked French sailors on the day of Saint Lucy in the year 1502. Saint Lucy lived ca. between the years 285 and 310 in Syracus on Sicily. She died a dreadful martyr-death for her religion. She is the patron of the light.

Source: Wikipedia (EN)

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