The current flag of Louisiana was introduced on 1st of July in 1912. It shows a plain blue bunting and in the middle the central element of the state seal, a pelican feeding its young with blood from its breast. It is a symbol of sacrifice. Below it, on a banner with the country's motto: "Union, Justice, Confidence". The design of the flag was adapted in 2006 and 2010. In 2006, drops of blood were added to the pelican's chest to emphasise the motif of sacrifice. In 2010, the design of the national seal, especially the pelican, was revised and adopted for the flag. The blue colour of the bunting also appears to have been specially defined in 2010, which was apparently not the case in previous years. The colour representations suggest a blue that comes very close to the Pantone 541 c colour. The history of the flag: At the beginning of 1861, the political movement to secede the state of Louisiana from the USA gained strength and corresponding flags or flag designs circulated that were intended to represent the new state, but were never official. For example, a white flag with a single red star and the pelican on it in the centre. It was still used during the civil war. There was also a French tricolour (the flag of the former colonial power) with seven white stars in the top corner. The first official flag of Louisiana was adopted on 11th of February in 1861 in connection with the secession from the USA. It showed thirteen blue, white and red stripes and a red upper corner with a yellow star in it. The design was intended to be reminiscent of the US flag, with blue, white and red being the colours of France and red and yellow those of Spain (the former colonial powers). The French-speaking population in the Acadiana region (Cajuns) uses its own flag. It shows the golden star of Acadia (from where the French settlers were expelled) and elements of historical French and Spanish heraldry.
1680 · the French colonization of reaches the Mississippi coming from Canada
1682 · foundation of St. Louis at Missouri River
1682 · a French expedition under La Salle explores the course of the Mississippi
1683 · a French expedition under René-Robert Chevalier de La Salle reaches the mouth of the Mississippi
20th of January 1685 · appropriation of the country's left and right side of the Mississippi River for France by René-Robert Chevalier de La Salle
1699 · founding of the first French settlements on the Gulf of Mexico
8th of December 1699 · founding of the colony of Louisiana as part of New France
1714 · a French expedition under Saint Denis roams the today's Louisiana
1714 · founding of Natchitoches
1717 · Louisiana becomes handed over to the Compagnie de l'Ouest for manage and colonization
1718 · founding of Nouvelle Orleans (New Orleans)
1719 · Foundation of Baton Rouge
1729 · Natchez Indian uprising
1733 · the Compagnie de l'Ouest is exempted from the administration of Louisiana
1754–1763 · Seven Years War, conflict between Britain and France, France has to cede all territories in Canada and eastern the Mississippi River to United Kingdom, the territories west of Mississippi River (including today's Louisiana) becomes ceded from France to Spain
5th of March 1766 · Spain acquires Louisiana officially, to the Captaincy General of Cuba
1800 · Spain cedes Louisiana (the territories of the Louisiana colony western the Mississippi) to France
30th of April 1803 · the USA buy the Louisiana colony from France (the present states of Montana, southwestern North Dakota, northeastern Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana)
1st of October 1804 · formation of the Orleans Territory south of the 33rd Latitude, the areas north become formed to the Louisiana Territory
30th of April 1812 · the Orleans Territory becomes under the name Louisiana the 18th state of the USA, the Louisiana Territory (in the north) becomes renamed in Missouri Territory
26th of January 1861 · Louisiana declares its withdrawal from the USA (secession)
1861–1865 · Civil War: 1862 New Orleans is captured by Union troops, March 1864 the "Red River Campaign" of the Union troops for the conquest of Texas is repulsed by CSA troops under General Richard Taylor and fails ultimately, Louisiana remains largely in the hands of the Confederation until the end of the war
9th of April in 1865 · General Lee surrenders at Appomattox (Virginia) as commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, the other CSA Armies capitulate gradually until July 1865
1865–1877 · "reconstruction", forced return of the CSA states in the USA
25th of June 1868 · reentry into the United States
The name "Louisiana" was awarded to the colony of French Louisiana by Robert Chevalier de La Salle. The naming was made in honor of the French King Louis XIV (1638–1715).
