Federated States of Micronesia

The National Flag of Micronesia

After WWII, Micronesia was part of the United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. These where islands formally under UN control, but administered by the United States. Prior to being under the United Nations, these islands where all part of the Japanese Empire.

The flag that flew alongside that of the UN was the Pacific Islands Territory. A sky blue field with 6 stars representing the 6 territories that made up the Trusteeship.

In 1978, Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US, and formally withdrew from UN control, and became an independent nation in its own right. The flag that was adopted on November 10, 1979, is light blue, with 4 white stars set like the points on a compass. The 4 stars represent the 4 island groups that make up the Federated States of Micronesia, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap. The light blue is both in memory of its path to independence under the United Nations, as well as representing the Pacific ocean.

The United Mexican States

The National Flag of Mexico

Mexico was settled by Spain in the 16th century under the red saltire banner of Spain. 

Later, this was replaced by the new royal Spanish flag with the state coat of arms in the central yellow stripe, close to the hoist.

However, after a massive struggle for independence, Mexico finally won its independence from Spain in 1821. The Provisional Government adopted the flag of the Three Guarantees. Flown by the army during its campaigns against the Spanish. A diagonal tricolour of red, green and white. With 3 gold stars.

As Mexico moved towards becoming a monarchy, the Three Guarantees flag was altered. With the gold stars being changed to match the colours of the flag, and a crown being placed in the centre.

Once the first Mexican Empire was declared, the flag was altered again. This time, settling on a standard tricolour in the same pattern of Italy. Green, white, and red. In the centre, they placed the Mexican coat of arms. A Mexican Eagle standing on a cactus with a crown on its head. This image is taken from the legend of Tenochtitlan. The crown was placed on the Eagle to represent the Empire.

The Empire was very short-lived, with a revolt in 1823 turning Mexico into a republic. The new flag kept the tricolour, but altered the coat of arms. The crown was removed, and the eagle was changed to be attacking a snake. Again, from the legend of Tenochtitlan. However, the legend was slightly misconstrued, and the snake was taken to represent evil, and the Eagle represents good. Also, two wreaths of laurel and oak leaves placed surrounding it.The green in the flag represented independence, the white represented religion, and red represented union.

In the 1860's, France invaded Mexico, and helped establish the second Mexican Empire, this time under Archduke Maximillian of Austria, later, Maximillian I of Mexico. His flag kept the tricolour, but altered the meanings. Green now represented hope, white represented purity, and red represented religion. Also, his personal coat of arms was placed in the centre of the flag, with gold eagles placed in each corner of the flag. It was introduced in 1864.

In 1867, Mexican republican forces managed to overthrow Maximillian I, and he ended up being executed. The new Mexican Republic re-adopted the previous Republican flag of Mexico.

Under Porfirio Diaz, Mexico altered its flag yet again in 1893. This time, altering the Eagle, and removing the cactus plant.

In 1910, with Diaz winning the election for the 5th time under a cloud of massive fraud, the 1910 Mexican Revolution got under way. Mexico dissolved into chaos and finally, in 1917, a new constitution was agreed to. At the same time, a new flag came in. Keeping the theme of the eagle on a cactus with a snake, but updating the artwork into something similar to the flag today. It also saw the nation change its name to "The United Mexican States."

In 1934, the flag was tweaked a little, with the 2 wreaths of oak and laurel where extended to nearly encircle the eagle.

Then finally, in 1968, the current flag was adopted. The eagle was placed into an slightly more upright stance, and the wreaths where shortened. The colours meaning had been altered again with the creation of the new republic.Green represents hope, white represents union, and the red represents the blood of Heroes. 

The current coat of arms has many meanings for the Mexico.

The Eagle represents the Mexican people, and its stance represents the peoples desire to face all challenges. The snake represents the enemies of Mexico. The fact that the snake is being eaten means that the Mexicans will prevail over their enemy. The Nopal (Cactus) represents the challenges before the Mexicans. The Eagle standing on it represents the Mexicans desire to overcome. The earth and water represents the mix of people, and the wreaths represents victory.

Since the end of the second Mexican Empire, the colours where given new meanings. The green represents hope, white represents union, and the red represents the blood of Mexico's heroes.

The Republic of Mauritius

The National Flag of Mauritius

Mauritius had been part of the Dutch empire, until they abandoned it, then the French empire. Then, during the Napoleonic wars, Britain captured the island, and kept it until independence. 

Independence was achieved on 12 March, 1968, with the new flag being registered with the Royal College of Arms in London the January before.

During Mauritius time under British control, they used the standard blue ensign. Charged with the state coat of arms in the fly. The first ensign placed the coat of arms on a white disc.

Then, from 1923 to independence, the white disc was removed.

The coat of arms themselves where kept by Mauritius post-independence, and are notable as one of the supporters is the Dodo. Mauritius is the only known place in the world to have been home to the animal First discovered around 1600, and extinct 80 years later!

The new flag for Mauritius is a horizontal quad colour flag. The top, red stripe stands for the struggle for independence, the next blue line stands for the Indian Ocean, when Mauritius is located, then the yellow line stands for the light of independence, and the green stands for the lush vegetation of the island.  

The Islamic Republic of MAuritania

The National Flag of Mauritania

Mauritania has enjoyed a tumultuous time since gaining its independence from France in 1960. Ould Addah took on the presidency at independence, and formed the new nation into a one party state, arguing Mauritania was not ready for multi-party democracy. He was re-elected 3 times, until being ousted in a bloodless coup by the military.

Another military coup followed (2), and led to Ould Taya being installed as president, a position he held as the nation transited from military to civilian rule. In 2003, there was an unsuccessful, but bloody, coup attempt (3).

After ruling for 21 years, Taya was successfully ousted in another coup (4), which brought in a new constitution. Part of which limited the number of terms a president can serve. 2007 saw new presidential elections, only for another coup in 2008 (5), and finally, in 2009, a move back to civilian rule. Though it is by no means clear if it will work!

Through all this, Mauritania has used the same flag all the time. There has been no changes to it. It was adopted back in 1959, and uses two of the colours of the pan-African movement, yellow and green. The flag itself is a green field, on which is a yellow star and crescent. The green represents Islam, as does the star and crescent, and the yellow in the star and crescent represents the sands of the Sahara.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands

The National Flag of the Marshall Islands

Little is known of the Marshall Islands, other than they where settled by Micronesians in the 2nd Millenium, BC. People moved between islands by canoe, with the traditional stick chart. It was the Spanish who first found them, but it was not until Captain Marshall of the Royal Navy found them, that they where actually mapped. 

They where administered by the Spanish until 1884, when Germany bought them. The islands fell under Japanese control after WWI, when Japan sided with France and Britain. After the war, all of Germany's Pacific claims north of the equator where awarded to Japan.

During WWII, the US fought to capture the islands from Japan, and the heavy fighting resulted in heavy loss of life. Once the war was finished, the islands entered into Trust status with the UN. The Marshall Islands where merged into the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. This was a UN territory, administered by the US. The Marshall Islands chain was used by the US for nuclear testing.

The Trust Territory used a pale blue flag, taking the same blue as the UN flag. On the flag are 6 white stars. Each star represents each of the territories in this Trust. The Marshall Islands, The Marianas, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and Palau.This flag was chosen in 1962, and approved in 1965.

In 1979, the government of Marshall Islands was formed, making the territory self-governing, then through the  1986 Compact of Free Association, the Marshall Islands gained their independence. The new flag was created by Emlain Kabua, one of the "First Ladies" of the republic. 

The Marshall Islands flag is dark blue, with a rising orange and white band. The band represents the equator, the orange represents sunrise, and the white represents sunset. They also represent peace and courage. In the upper hoist of the flag is a 24 point star. Each point represents a district in the Marshall Islands. With 4 elongated points representing the 4 cultural centres of the Marshall Islands. 

The Republic of Malta

The National Flag of Malta

Malta's first flag whilst being part of the British Empire took its inspiration from Britain's White ensign. The cross of St George, with the Union Jack in the upper hoist. In Malta's history, there where the Knights of Malta, who used a red field with the white Maltese Cross. The flag for Malta as part of the British Empire took these colours and used them in the ensign. This time, a red flag, with a white cross. With the Union Jack in the upper hoist.

The second ensign moved back to a blue ensign with a Maltese shield in a white disc. The Maltese shield is bicolour white and red, overlaid with the Maltese cross, and surrounded by gingerbread.

From 1898 to 1923, the ensign was altered again with the shield being simplified. It lost the Maltese cross, and took a pointed top, and edged in gold.

From 1923 to 1943, another minor change. This time, the shield was directly laid on the flag, losing the white disc.

The final ensign from 1943 to Malta's independence included the newly awarded St George Cross. A red flat top bicolour shield on a white circle. Now, the St George Cross was placed on a blue square in the upper left canton of the shield.

Malta gained its independence from Britain in 1964, and adopted its current flag at the same time. The Maltese flag is a simple bicolour flag of white and red, set against each other vertically. It is widely believed that Malta took the colours of red and white as their national colours, when in 1019, Count Roger I of Sicily gave to Malta, a set of banners. His banners where red and white check designs.

On the Maltese flag, in the upper hoist, is the St George Cross.This medal was awarded by King George VI who gave the St George Cross for gallantry to the entire island in 1943. He was so moved with their heroic struggle to survive under constant attack from Germany and Italy, that he awarded Britain's highest civilian honour to all the islanders. Malta was unique until in 1999, when the Police Service of Northern Ireland was awarded the medal as a group.

The St George Cross is fimbriated with a thin line of red, and within the medal, it declares "For gallantry." Malta is the only nation in the world that displays an award on its flag from another country.

The Republic of Mali

The National Flag of Mali

Mali was, originally, French Sudan. Whilst it was part of the French Empire. From 1920, to 1959, French Sudan used the French tricolore flag, with a depiction of a man in black (Kanaga) placed on the central white stripe.

In 1959 French Sudan was merged with Senegal to make the Mali Federation. An independent nation within the French Community. And entirely independent early in 1960. The flag took the tricolour design, and used the pan-African colours of red, yellow, and green. The flag kept the Kanaga figure on the central yellow stripe. The flag itself was an imitation of the flag of Ghana. But vertical.

In August 1960, due to political disagreements, Senegal split from the Mali Federation, adopting its own flag. Mali kept the Mali Federation until 1961. In 1961, the Kanaga figure was dropped due to Islam's aniconism. Its stance against drawing depictions of the human form.