| Saint Barthélemy | |
| Nickname: | Tricolore |
| Imagetext: | Flag of France Saint Barthélemy is an overseas collectivity of France |
| Use: | 111110 |
| Proportion: | 2:3 |
| Imagetext2: | Unofficial flag of Saint Barthelemy |
| Image3: | Flag of Saint Barthélemy (local).svg |
An unofficial flag of Saint Barthélemy consisting of the coat of arms of Saint Barthélemy centered on a white field is used on the island.[1] [2] [3] Officially, only the flag of France, of which Saint Barthélemy is a self-governing overseas collectivity, is flown in the territory.
The coat of arms of Saint-Barthélemy is a shield divided into three horizontal stripes (parted per fess), three gold fleurs-de-lis on blue, above a white Maltese cross on red, over three gold crowns on blue, and "Ouanalao" is what the indigenous people called the island. On top of the shield is a mural crown.
The fleurs-de-lis, Maltese Cross, and gold crowns are heraldic reminders of the island's history as a colony ruled by first the Kingdom of France, then the Knights Hospitaller and in turn the Kingdom of Sweden. Eventually, the island returned to French rule.
On a white background, the arms serves as an unofficial flag for Saint Barthélemy.
