Flag of Martinique

Martinique, an overseas territorial collectivity of France located in the Caribbean, has no flag with official status other than the French national flag.[1]

Snake flag

Snake Flag of Martinique

This flag features a white cross like St George’s cross on a blue background filled in with a white snake in each quarters. It is used sometimes by the French military on their buildings and/or uniforms. Gendarmes bear the Coat of Arms version of the flag. This flag dates from an edict issued 4 August 1766, specifying that vessels of the French Colony of Martinique and Saint Lucia should fly a version of the French ensign, which at the time was a white cross on a blue field, with L-shaped (for ‘’Lucia) snakes in each quarter of the cross. The same design is used for the lesser coat of arms. The use of this pavilion is controversial because of its historical origin as the flag fluttered on ships engaged in triangular trade and thus the slave trade. He is singled out as colonialist and slave. It floats next to the French flag on some public buildings of the island such as the prefecture, and the police station of Fort-de-France. We also find this emblem on the shields of the Gendarmerie Martinique, which owes him the nickname of "colonial police" [ref. necessary]. The snakes are fer-de-lance vipers (Bothrops lanceolatus, French trigonocéphale) native to Martinique.

Other flags

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Constitution du 4 octobre 1958" [Constitution of 4 October 1958]. www.legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Image here


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