Cuba Flag

In 1849, the Venezuelan general Narciso Lopez enters a campaign to liberate the island of Cuba. This on-site businessman mounts a conspiracy to overthrow the Spanish leaders. This conspiracy discovered, he was forced into exile in New Orleans. There he imagined a second and a third conspiracy to take the island, both of them will fail. In the second, the flag that was drawn by Emilia and Miguel Teurbe Tolon floats on the city of Cardenas. Imprisoned during his third insurrection attempt, Lopez will be put to death, but his flag will be used as the national flag during the establishment of the Republic of Cuba on 20 May 1902, 4 years after independence. This flag consists of 5 lines, 3 blue (top, middle, bottom) and 2 white interspersed. At the hoist is drawn a red equilateral triangle bearing a five pointed white star : the "Estrella Solitaria" (solitary star), which refers to freedom. While blue represents the former leaders of the island, white symbolizes peace, and the red the blood shed for independence. Some also see in the triangle the Masonic symbol of equality. The colours refer to the French flag and the Revolution of 1789.