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y The many flags that vhave waved over the Gulf , Coast has been for many years a controversal subject. There were other ?s.claims and explorers long ?'before the French in 1699.
' The Gulf Coast area was a political pawn between many foreign powers which gives us a unique and exciting history, under many more flags than we recognize. Mardi Gras 1981 ; gives due recognition and . acknowledgement to these i other flags but our i celebration begins with the First permanent settlement \ established in 1699.
! Fleur-de-lys of France 1699-[. 1763
i' In 1699 the glorious p Fleur-de-lys of France was | unfurled over Fort t' Maurapas at the settlement , of Biloxi by Pierre Le Moyne d?lberville. D?lber-1 ville was sent by King Louis XIV of France to gain control over the mouth of the ? Mississippi River and stem Spanish and English expansion. The site chosen for the I- fort was on the eastern 1 shore of the Biloxi Bay [. which had been named for J. the Biloxi Indians who had ;? welcomed the settlers in a t warm and friendly manner. | The fort was later moved to \ a permanent site on the front beach of the present !? city of Biloxi and named t Fort Louis, under the i. leadership of Jean Baptiste ; Lemoyne Bienville.
[ British Red Encign 1766-[ 1810
Englands defeat of France in the seven years ! war brought an end to the French rule in North America. As a result of the peace treaty signed by George III and France our Gulf Coast became part of the newly; created province of Bristish . West Florida. The Fleur-de-lys was lowered and was replaced by the flag of the British Empire. The first governor by royal appointment was ; John Johnston.
Spanish Bars of Aragon 1780-1810
The year 1780 brought yet another flag to the Gulf Coast as Spain declared war against England and won. As a result the Gulf Coast became Spanish West Florida under Don Bernado de Galvez. Galvez drove the British out practically singlehanded and took over as civil and military governor. Galvez came to acknowledged as one of the ablest soldiers and administrators of his time. Lone Star Flag Sept. 23
1810-Dec. 7 1810
This period may well be the most exciting part of our history as our Gulf Coast took part in a daring rebellion against the Spanish Dons in power at that time. When Napoleon sold the vast Louisiana territory to the United States, the people of Spanish West Florida considered themselves part of that purchase. Spain refused to give up the territory yet neglected to give the province protection and enforce law and order. As a result the country became a place for of refuge for outlaws, fugitives, pirates and was open to foreign invasion. In September 1810 a sucessful and daring rebellion was staged and the Spanish were run out of the province. The people declared them-seves the independent nation of the Republic of West Florida. A constitution was drawn up, a president was elected and the Lone Star Flag was adopted. Application was made to the United States for admission as a new state but President Madison refused their request and declared that West Florida w?as a part of the Louisiana Purchase. So after an existance of onjy 74 days, the stout little Republic of West Florida had ceased to be one of the nations of the world
The Star Spangled Banner
1811-1861 .
The Star Spangled Banner, a flag or 15 stars and 15 stripes was the flag hoisted over the Gulf Coast when it became American terriiory. This was the first time the coast was under an American flag. This was a unique flag because it had a stripe for each of the original thirteen colonies plus one for Vermont and Kentucky. The plan had been to add a stripe for each new state as it joined the Union but as the Nation expanded this plan had to be dropped and in 1818 the return made to the original design of 13 stripes. It was this flag of 15 stripes that we were under when we were attached to the Mississippi territory and in 1817 when Mississippi became the Nation?s 20th state honoring David Holmes as it?s first governor.
Magnolia State Flag and Mississippi Stale Flag 1861-1894-present
War was in the air in 1861 when Mississippi passed the ordinance of secession, severing its connection with the United States. bEing the second state to secede from the Union, Mississippi thus became the Sovereign Republic of Mississippi. Down came the American flag and in its stead the Magnolia State flag was raised. Here on our Gulf-Coast at that time the tiny city of Biloxi was flourishing and the first Aldermen was elected. According to City of Biloxi records, Francis Meaut was elected Aldermen for a one year term but served until 1866. The Magnolia flag was retained as official state flag until 1894 when the present day Mississippi State flag was adopted. Confederate Battle Flae 1861-1865
In 1861 the constitution ?of the Confederate States of
America was adopted ani the flag of the Confederac; .authorized to be made an< raised. For the next fou years during the Civil War or the War of the Rebellioi as it is officially known, ou Gulf Coast lived and fough with the rest of the Soutl loyal to this flag under Jef ferson Davis as Con federate president.
Old Glory 1865-1981 With the close of th Civil War,, the Confederat Battle Flag was laid to re< tattered and worn. Th Couth and the North wa once again joined togethe as the United States , c America and Old Glory we raised over the whole lan and waves proudly today t our symbol of freedorr humanity and justice.
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