From the Plan of Iguala to the Homeland Labar
The history of the National Flag is related to the process of the Consummation of the Independence of Mexico, which began with the direct alliance between the insurgent forces commanded by Vicente Guerrero and the royalist general Agustín de Iturbide.
Agustín de IturbideArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Despite the fact that Iturbide had a fleeting withdrawal from the regiments, his renowned career in the Royalist Army convinced the then viceroy Juan Ruiz de Apodaca of being the ideal general to end the fight that the insurgent Vicente Guerrero was still fighting.
Vicente Guerrero (1873)Archivo General de la Nación - Mexico
However, Iturbide adhered to the interests that opposed the legislation of Spain that directly affected New Spain, thus beginning a direct negotiation with the insurgent forces to reach a peace agreement, resulting in an alliance between Iturbide and Guerrero.
Plan de Iguala (1821) by Agustín de IturbideArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Plan of Iguala
However, Iturbide adhered to the interests that opposed the legislation of Spain that directly affected New Spain, thus beginning a direct negotiation with the insurgent forces to reach a peace agreement, resulting in an alliance between Iturbide and Guerrero.
Plan de Iguala (1821) by Agustín de IturbideArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
On February 24, 1821, the Plan of Iguala was proclaimed, which consisted of 24 articles that defended the Catholic religion, the independence of New Spain and the equality of Americans without distinction of origin.
Plan de Iguala (1821) by Agustín de IturbideArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Caricatura de Insurgentes y Realistas (1812) by AnonymousArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Bandera del Ejército Trigarante (1821) by Trigarante ArmyArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Bandera del Regimiento de Infantería en la Línea Provincial de Puebla (1821) by Infantry Regiment on the Provincial Line of PueblaArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
In the same way, the Infantry Regiment on the Puebla Provincial Line, a military body that adhered to the Plan of Iguala to consummate national independence, would carry a flag that bore the same tricolor composition in diagonal stripes, each of the Three Guarantees consigned in the legend that surrounds the shield with the imperial crown: "Religion, Yndependencia, Unión".
Miguel Hidalgo y CostillaArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
The national flag
Although, some experts in the field consider the flag with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that Miguel Hidalgo wielded during the cry of Dolores for its importance as an insurgent symbol in the independence struggle, the adopted tricolor banner as the first Mexican national flag. by Agustín de Iturbe it is recognized as the flag of the first Mexican government.
Bandera del Primer Imperio Mexicano (1822) by Agustín de IturbideArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
After Independence, Emperor Augustine I established a new model of the national flag. The stripes should now be vertical in the following order: green, white and red and in the center with the National Shield made up of a royal eagle crowned on a nopal and devouring a snake. This structure remains to this day.
Sala de Banderas del Archivo General de la Nación by Archivo General de la NaciónArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
After the fall of the empire, the Constituent Congress maintained the structure of the national flag, however, removed the imperial crown from the serpent's head and added the oak and olive branches until now present.
Sala de Banderas del Archivo General de la Nación by Archivo General de la NaciónArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Since the establishment of the Republic, the use of the National Shield was not regulated, so the flag retained its colors in vertical stripes but each institution, government or military body had its own flag, so tricolor flags with different shields.
Bandera nacional de México (1968)Archivo General de la Nación - Mexico
It was until 1968, during the presidency of Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, when the definitive model of our National Flag was established by decree, which is the one we currently know. This structure was ratified by the Law of National Symbols of February 24, 1984.
Bandera nacional de México (1968)Archivo General de la Nación - Mexico
Escudo nacional de México (1968)Archivo General de la Nación - Mexico
The National emblem
That same year, a contest was held for the definitive design of the National Shield, the winner was Francisco Eppens Helguera, who was also established as the official of the Mexican nation, which could no longer be altered. The shield of the National Flag is based on the legend that narrates when Huitzilopochtli prophesied to the Aztecs, during their migration from Aztlán, that they had to look in a lake for an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its claws. Seeing this scene, they founded the city of Tenochtitlán, present-day Mexico City, in that place.
Bandera nacional de México (1968)Archivo General de la Nación - Mexico
The eagle has been modified seven times throughout history until it is consolidated as it is now: a golden eagle perched on a cactus while devouring a snake.
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These are some data of our National Flag:
-It must be hoisted at the top when solemn celebration dates occur; and at half mast the days of mourning.
-If any is very deteriorated, it must be destroyed with honors, in a cremation ceremony.
-The three rectangular vertical stripes are of identical measurements.
-The salute of the National Flag, is by means of a slight inclination, without touching the ground.
-Touch of the Flag is the patriotic anthem that is sung in honor of the National Flag in educational and public institutions.
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At present, the General Archive of the Nation protects the Plan of Iguala, a model of the National Shield and a model of the National Flag authenticated by the three powers of the Union, documents and symbols that account for the independence and sovereignty of the nation Mexican.
Marcha a la Bandera Mexicana (1910) by M. P. FragaArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico
On February 24, the day of the proclamation of the Plan of Iguala, and the establishment of the Three Guarantees with which the National Independence was consummated, which were raised in a tricolor flag, was the date established to honor and commemorate the Flag of Mexico, legacy of our heroes, symbol of our unity between our parents and our brothers.
