The flag of La Guaira, one of the 23 states of Venezuela, has six stripes – two horizontal (white, blue) on the hoist side, and four vertical (yellow, red, white, blue). The blue horizontal stripe is a third of the height of the white horizontal stripe. In the centre of the white horizontal stripe there is a symbol of a glowing sun with a humanized face, whilst in the blue horizontal stripe there are four white five-pointed stars.Francisco Alejandro Vargas. Los símbolos sagrados de la nación venezolana. Ediciones Centauro, 1981. pp. 31-33Francisco Alejandro Vargas. Estudio historico sobre la bandera, el escudo y el himno de Venezuela. Instituto de Estudios Históricos Mirandino, 1972. pp. 10-11Despacho de la Presidencia. 13JULIO1797 | Descubierta la Conspiración de Gual y España, movimiento para independizar a Venezuela de España
Gual and España conspiracy
The design of the La Guaira state flag is based on a flag designed by Manuel Gual and sewn by hand by Josefa Joaquina Sánchez.William Fuenmayor. Atlas de Venezuela bolivariano. Splanos, C.A., 2000. p. 185 In 1797 Gual and the husband of Sánchez, José María España, were preparing to organize a revolt in La Guaira against Spanish colonial rule in Venezuela. Preparing for a struggle for independence Gual designed a quadricolour flag and composed a hymn inspired by the Marseillaise.Bibliofep. Conspiración de Gual y España But the plot was revealed to the Spanish authorities, and on the night of July 13, 1797 the Gual residence was raided. At the house the Spanish forces discovered the quadricolour flag and found documents authored by Gual, including a letter to a friend, outlining the symbolism of the flag.La Bandera de Miranda, in La Ilustración, issue 6, 1917. p. 165 The quadricolour flag from the Gual and España conspiracy was the earliest flag design of the Venezuelan movement for independence.Edgar Esteves González. Batallas de Venezuela, 1810-1824. El Nacional, 2004. p. 13José Luis Salcedo-Bastardo. Historia fundamental de Venezuela. Fundación Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, 1977. p. 211Ramón Urdaneta. Los presidentes, Vol. 1. Fondo Editorial Venezolano, 1995. p. 131
Symbolism Gual intended for the four colours of the flag to represent the four races of Venezuela – Indians, blacks, (browns) and whites. The four white stars reflect the union of the four provinces that would become independent - Caracas, Province of Cumaná, Guyana and Maracaibo. The sun would represents the wisdom which all republicans should have in order to act in just manner and the equality that should prevail (in the sense that the rays of the sun shines on all humans alike). Moreover, it was to intended symbolize the ideals of liberty, equality, property and security.Ministerio del Poder Popular de Economía, Finanzas y Comercio Exterior. Josefa Joaquina Sánchez, comprometida en la rebelión de Gual y EspañaDespacho de la Presidencia. 13JULIO1797 | Descubierta la Conspiración de Gual y España, movimiento para independizar a Venezuela de España
Adoption as state flag The flag of Gual and España was adopted as the flag of the Vargas municipality in 1997, in connection with the bicentennial commemorations of the Gual and España conspiracy.Institutional Assets and Monuments of Venezuela. La casa de José María España suma 21 años de abandonoJorge Ruiz Escobar, José Urriola, Beatriz Chavarri, Ana Cristina Rodríguez. Descubre Vargas. Editorial Cadena Capriles, 2009. p. 28 It became the state flag after the Vargas municipality was awarded statehood in 1998. In 2019 the name of Vargas state was changed to La Guaira state.TalCual. Consejo Legislativo de Vargas aprueba propuesta para cambiar el nombre a La GuairaCrónica Uno. Cambio de nombre del estado Vargas se oficializará sin derecho a referendo popularEl Pitazo. CLAVES | Esto es lo que se sabe del cambio de nombre de Vargas
References