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Flag of Guacaray + Otorgués (Uruguay and Argentina: ca. 1815)

by Jaume Ollé, 30 Aug 2000

Fantasy...?
...or fact?
Otorgués flag

See also:

Fantasy...?

The provincial flag of Misiones is based on a flag supposedly used by the mestizo Andresito, a.k.a. Artiguiñas (so called because he was thought to be Artigas’ natural son). This is doubtful; sources were never confirmed of verified. But it looks silly to me that Misiones choose this flag because they just wanted to have an historical flag as provincial, like Corrientes, Santa Fe, and Entre Ríos — and that they had to subvert history to achieve it.
Gus Tracchia, 23 Feb 2000

...or fact?

In 1813 the territory of [current] Misiones joined the Confederación de Pueblos Libres (Confederation of Free Peoples — or vilages?), whose protectorship is taken by José Gervasio [Artigas?]. After the rule of Blas Basualdo in Misiones, Andrés Guacaray [Andresito] becomes the local leader. The flag was granted by Artigas to Andresito in 1815. Apparently, the original colors were red, blue (probably celeste), and white.

Its existence is proved by the instructions of Artigas to the regional [which region?] ruler, Silva, in 1815, and by the part [?] of the Candelaria battle, signed by comm. Andrés Guacaray [Andresito] and aimed to the Proctector of the Free Peoples [Artigas?]. This battle was used in a number of military campaigns [against whom?], including Candelaria, Santa Ana Corpus, San Ignacio and Loreto (1815); Misiones Orientales (1816); Nordeste, Yapeyú, San José and Apostoles (1817).

Andresito was still using the flag in 1819 when he was captured by the Portuguese while defending eastern Misiones. After the portuguese gap [when Misiones was incorporated with Uruguay in Brazil, forming the Cisplatine Province, 1821-1828?], this flag was kept in use [as an argentine provincial flag?] until 1832, when Misiones was incorporated into Corrientes, under governor Ferré.

Jaume Ollé, 30 Aug 2000, translated, adapted and commented by António Martins

Rain bleeched variant used in Corrientes in 1818.08.21

by Jaume Ollé, 30 Aug 2000

When Corrientes was conquered [from whom?] by the Confederation of Free Peoples, Andresito come there, in 1818.08.21, bringing his flag along. Historian Mario Herrera describes the middle stripe as green, but obviously the flag hadn’t been changed, it had simply gained a greenish tinge from the heavy rain.
Jaume Ollé, 30 Aug 2000, translated by António Martins

Variant Artigas flag

by António Martins, 11 May 1999

Many designs [of the Artigas flag] were used, included this one, believed to be one of the first used in Montevideo.
Jorge Cajarville, 16 Jun 1999

The flag adopted by Frente Amplio is the Artigas flag hoisted in Montevideo in march 26, 1815, a few days after the occupation of the city by the Artigas army. Is called Bandera de Otorgués because Fernando Otorgués was the governor delegated by Artigas at this moment to rule the city.
Rodolfo Tizzi, 10 Jul 2002