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The legacy of the Republic of the Rio Grande lives on through the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, which operates from the original 1840 capitol building and displays all seven flags in downtown Laredo.<\/p>\n
Courtesy\/Webb County Heritage Foundation<\/p>\n
Laredo is preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. As part of the celebration, the city is reflecting on an important chapter of its history that makes Laredo unique: It has flown the flags of seven different governments.<\/p>\n
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While the rest of Texas recognizes only six flags, Laredo’s seventh flag represents the brief period when the city served as the capital of the Republic of the Rio Grande.<\/p>\n
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This short-lived republic sought to restore the federalist system in opposition to the centralist government of Mexican President Antonio L\u00f3pez de Santa Anna. It collapsed after federalist forces were defeated by the Mexican army.<\/p>\n
The Republic of the Rio Grande lasted approximately 283 days, from its proclamation on Jan. 17, 1840, until its collapse on Nov. 6 of the same year.<\/p>\n
The six other flags represent Spain, France, the United Mexican States, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and the United States. The United States flag has flown over Laredo continuously since 1865.<\/p>\n
Seven flags, one community<\/p>\n
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Mayor Dr. Victor Trevi\u00f1o said Laredo’s history is unlike that of any other community in Texas.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor more than 270 years since its founding by Don Tom\u00e1s S\u00e1nchez, different families, governments, cultures and generations have left their mark on this binational community,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said. \u201cYet through every chapter, one thing has remained constant: the resilience, determination and spirit of the people of Laredo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trevi\u00f1o said the different flags that have flown over Laredo throughout its history have not divided the community but have instead enriched it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt reminds us that because Laredo was founded as one community with Nuevo Laredo, it has always been a place where cultures meet, where relationships are built and where people work together to create opportunity,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said. \u201cThat unique heritage is one of the reasons Laredo is now the nation’s No. 1 inland port and a model of binational cooperation. Our past has taught us the importance of building bridges between people, communities and nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Trevi\u00f1o said Laredo’s history gives the city a unique perspective as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur city predates the founding of our great United States and has witnessed centuries of history,\u201d Trevi\u00f1o said. \u201cWe honor every chapter of our past because each one has shaped the vibrant, welcoming and resilient community we proudly call home today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrea\u00a0Ordo\u00f1ez, director of operations at the Webb County Heritage Foundation, said the Republic of the Rio Grande emerged during a period of political unrest in Mexico.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeaders in northern Mexico opposed the country’s shift toward a more centralized government and sought greater regional autonomy,\u201d Ordo\u00f1ez said. \u201cTheir efforts led to the declaration of an independent republic, with Laredo serving as its capital.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Ordo\u00f1ez said that although the Republic existed only briefly before being reabsorbed into Mexico later that same year, its significance extends far beyond its short lifespan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Republic stands as a reflection of the independent spirit, resilience and determination that have long characterized the people of this border region,\u201d\u00a0Ordo\u00f1ez said. \u201cIt reminds us that Laredo has always been a place where cultures meet, ideas are exchanged and communities on both sides of the Rio Grande share deep historical ties.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ordo\u00f1ez said many who call the border home are familiar with the feeling of being \u201cni de aqu\u00ed ni de all\u00e1,\u201d not entirely Mexican and not entirely American.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut perhaps that feeling is not one of being caught between two worlds,\u201d Ordo\u00f1ez said. \u201cPerhaps it is something else entirely.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Ordo\u00f1ez added that Laredo has never simply been a place influenced by two cultures; it has grown into a culture of its own.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur traditions, language, food, music, celebrations and way of life draw from both sides of the river, yet together they create something uniquely Laredoan,\u201d Ordo\u00f1ez said.<\/p>\n
Ordo\u00f1ez said the influence of many cultures can still be seen throughout the community, but over generations those influences have blended into an identity that belongs to this place and its people.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe story of the Republic of the Rio Grande serves as a reminder that Laredo’s history cannot be defined by a single flag or nation,\u201d Ordo\u00f1ez said. \u201cIt is a history shaped by many cultures, strengthened by the border and carried forward by generations who have created a community that is distinctly and proudly its own.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The first flag to fly over Laredo was that of the Kingdom of Spain.<\/p>\n
Laredo was founded by Tom\u00e1s S\u00e1nchez in the 18th century under the Spanish Crown, making Spain the first nation to claim sovereignty over the region.<\/p>\n
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The Spanish flag flew over the area longer than any other, spanning nearly 300 years, from 1519 to 1821, with only a five-year interruption during the period of French territorial claims. The Spanish flag marked the beginning of what would later become the state of Texas, and Spain is considered the mother country of Laredo.<\/p>\n
According to the Texas State Historical Association, Laredo was established in 1755 after Jos\u00e9 de Escand\u00f3n granted Tom\u00e1s S\u00e1nchez de la Barrera y Garza permission to establish a new settlement about 30 miles upriver from Nuestra Se\u00f1ora de los Dolores Hacienda in what is now Zapata County.<\/p>\n
Laredo was the last town founded under the authority of Escand\u00f3n, who was charged with settling the province of Nuevo Santander.<\/p>\n
S\u00e1nchez selected a site downriver from a ford later known as El Paso de los Indios but known at the time as El Paso de Jacinto, named after Jacinto de Le\u00f3n of the San Juan Bautista garrison, who mentioned it in a 1745 report.<\/p>\n
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The original settlement consisted of S\u00e1nchez and three families from Dolores. Livestock raising \u2014 primarily goats, sheep and cattle \u2014 became their principal livelihood.<\/p>\n
Until Laredo was granted villa status in 1767, S\u00e1nchez, who held the rank of captain, exercised both civil and military authority.<\/p>\n
The French flag is also recognized as one of the seven flags associated with the region’s history.<\/p>\n
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Although France never established a permanent settlement in Laredo, the territorial claim made by French explorer Ren\u00e9-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, along the Texas Gulf Coast in the late 17th century is recognized as part of Texas’ Six Flags tradition.<\/p>\n
According to the Journal of the Life and Culture of San Antonio at the University of the Incarnate Word, the origin of this flag traces back to La Salle’s territorial claim.<\/p>\n
In 1682, La Salle navigated the Mississippi River and claimed, on behalf of King Louis XIV of France, all lands drained by the river, theoretically extending France’s claim to the mouth of the R\u00edo de las Palmas, now known as the Rio Grande.<\/p>\n
In 1685, La Salle returned and established the small settlement of Fort St. Louis on the Texas Gulf Coast near present-day Matagorda Bay.<\/p>\n
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Although the colony collapsed within a few years because of famine, disease and attacks by Native Americans, the brief settlement established France’s place in the Six Flags tradition of Texas.<\/p>\n
United Mexican States (1821\u20131836)<\/p>\n
Following the Mexican War of Independence, Laredo and the surrounding region became part of the newly formed United Mexican States.<\/p>\n
Republic of Texas (1836\u20131845)<\/p>\n
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After Texas won its independence from Mexico, the Republic of Texas claimed the Rio Grande as its southern border, placing Laredo within its claimed boundaries, although the border remained heavily disputed.<\/p>\n
Republic of the Rio Grande (1840)<\/p>\n
This is Laredo’s unique seventh flag, reflecting the brief period when the city served as the capital of the Republic of the Rio Grande.<\/p>\n
In 1840, federalists in the northern Mexican states of Coahuila, Nuevo Le\u00f3n and Tamaulipas rebelled against the centralist government of President Antonio L\u00f3pez de Santa Anna. They declared the Republic of the Rio Grande and established Laredo as its capital.<\/p>\n
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Its flag featured a red vertical stripe bearing three white stars representing the three rebel states, along with black and white horizontal stripes.<\/p>\n
Confederate States of America (1861\u20131865)<\/p>\n
After Texas joined the United States, it seceded to join the Confederacy at the outset of the Civil War. During that period, the Confederate flag flew over Laredo.<\/p>\n
United States of America (1845\u20131861 and 1865\u2013Present)<\/p>\n
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Following Texas’ annexation to the United States in 1845, the United States flag first flew over Laredo. It has flown continuously since the end of the Civil War in 1865.<\/p>\n
Republic of the Rio Grande Museum<\/p>\n
The legacy of the Republic of the Rio Grande lives on through the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, which operates from the original 1840 capitol building and displays all seven flags in downtown Laredo.<\/p>\n
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Laredo Morning Times also honors that legacy by displaying the seven flags on its nameplate.<\/p>\n
The Republic of the Rio Grande Museum is located at 1005 Zaragoza St.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The legacy of the Republic of the Rio Grande lives on through the Republic of the Rio Grande…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":364447,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27,29,28],"class_list":["post-364446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-texas","tag-texas","tag-texas-headlines","tag-texas-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=364446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364446\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/364447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=364446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=364446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=364446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}