Most of us living on St. Maarten are familiar with our flag. Every country has its own flag and there’s always a history in the design of that flag. Though many flags use the same colours, there are thousands of different symbols; all with their own meaning. The flag of Haiti is no exception.
Haiti’s flag has gone through many different design changes, each reflecting a major part of Haiti’s turbulent history. In 1987, the Constitution of Haiti stipulated that the flag of the Haitian nation would fit the following description:
A) Two equal-sized horizontal bands: a blue one on top and a red one underneath.
B) The coat of arms of the Republic shall be placed in the centre on a white square.
C) The coat of arms of the Republic is a Palmette surmounted by the liberty cap, and under the palms a trophy with the legend “In Union there is Strength”.
The coat of arms of Haiti was originally introduced in 1807, and has appeared in its current form since 1986. Haiti’s flag went though many different transformations before achieving the design seen today; including being French flag.
The coat of arms of Haiti shows six draped flags of the country, three on each side, which are located before a palm tree and cannons on a green lawn. The symbol indicates the battle for independence of the republic. On the lawn, various items are found, such as a drum, bugles, long guns and ship anchors. Above the palm tree, there is a Phrygian cap placed as a symbol of freedom.
The Phrygian cap is a soft conical cap with the top pulled forward, associated in antiquity with several peoples in Eastern Europe. In early modern Europe, it came to signify freedom and the pursuit of liberty. The Phrygian cap is sometimes called a liberty cap. On the lawn between the drum and the ribbon, there were supposed to be two pieces of chain with a broken link symbolizing the broken chain of slavery.
The ribbon bears the motto: L'Union Fait La Force (French, "Unity Makes Strength"). This should not be confused with the national motto of Haiti which, according to the Constitution of Haiti, is "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity."
The ribbon symbol remained in use until 1849, when President General Faustin Soulouque crowned himself as Emperor Faustin I. At the same time, he adopted new Imperial arms, showing two cannons and a (French) imperial eagle. Two lions were used as supporter and the whole placed in a purple mantle. The emperor was forced to leave the country in 1859, after which the old symbol was restored.
