![]() Nearly two centuries later, the flag that inspired Key still survives, though fragile and worn by the years. His brother-in-law, commander of a militia at Fort McHenry, read Key's work and had it distributed under the name "Defence of Fort M'Henry." The Baltimore Patriot newspaper soon printed it, and within weeks, Key's poem, now called "The Star-Spangled Banner," appeared in print across the country, immortalizing his words-and forever naming the flag it celebrated. Key put his thoughts on paper while still on board the ship, setting his words to the tune of a popular English song. The hours passed slowly, but in the clearing smoke of "the dawn's early light" on September 14, he saw the American flag-not the British Union Jack-flying over the fort, announcing an American victory. ![]() Given the scale of the attack, he was certain the British would win. But when darkness arrived, Key saw only red erupting in the night sky. "It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone," Key wrote later. Under their scrutiny, Key watched on September 13 as the barrage of Fort McHenry began eight miles away. They allowed the Americans to return to their own vessel but continued guarding them. Key's tactics were successful, but because he and his companions had gained knowledge of the impending attack on Baltimore, the British did not let them go. ![]() It was another chapter in the ongoing War of 1812.Ī week earlier, Francis Scott Key, a 35-year-old American lawyer, had boarded the flagship of the British fleet on the Chesapeake Bay in hopes of persuading the British to release a friend who had recently been arrested. The bombardment, known as the Battle of Baltimore, came only weeks after the British had attacked Washington, D.C., burning the Capitol, the Treasury and the President's house. The yellow is the omen of the richest treasures.On a rainy September 13, 1814, British warships sent a downpour of shells and rockets onto Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor, relentlessly pounding the American fort for 25 hours. The red recalls the courage of your ancestors, In the green you shall read the hope of revival, When a wind of wrath and hate blows everywhere,Ĭitizen of Benin, be proud, and with a serene soul,Ĭonfident in the future, look at your flag! The text is in French, which is the official language of Benin. Quand partout souffle un vent de colère et de haine.īéninois, sois fier, et d'une âme sereine,Ĭonfiant dans l'avenir, regarde ton drapeau!ĭans le vert tu liras l'espoir du renouveau,ĭes plus riches trésors le jaune est le présage. The national anthem of Benin is called " L'Aube nouvelle" ("The New Dawn"). Source: P Vagnat & J Poels (2000), Constitutions - What they tell us aboutįlag in the Anthem of the Republic of Benin The motto: FRATERNITE - JUSTICE - TRAVAIL in black letters on a banderole. The Seal: Two black cornucopias from which come ears of corn The supporters: two spotted panthers in gold Lozenge in gules passing under the line of the quarter. In the third quarter in silver, a sable ship sailing on an azure sea with In the second quarter in silver, the native star of Benin, that is to say, an eight-pointed azure saltire angled with rays of silver and black in the background In the first quarter in gold, a Somba fortress The coat of arms of Benin shall be as follows: ![]() The shield is surrounded by two native palm trees with their trunks crossed in the shape of an X. On the obverse side a pirogue loaded with six five-pointed stars sailing over the waves, accompanied overhead by a bow with one arrow in the shape of a palm supported by two crossed "recades", and below by a banderole bearing the motto FRATERNITE - JUSTICE - TRAVAIL with the inscription République du Bénin within the circle.Īnd on the reverse side a shield divided into two equal parts - the first part of sinople and the second of gold and of gules which are the three colours of the flag. The State Seal shall consist of a disk 120 millimetres in diameter showing: The motto of the Republic shall be FRATERNITE - JUSTICE - TRAVAIL (Fraternity - Justice - Work) ![]() Next to the staff is a green band for the entire height and two-fifth of the length, with two equal horizontal bands: the upper one yellow and the lower one red. The national emblem shall be a tricolor flag of green, yellow and red. It came into force through law # 90-32 of 11 December 1990. The Constitution of the Republic of Benin was adopted by referendum on 02 December 1990. Flag in the Anthem of the Republic of Benin See also:įlag in the Constitution of the Republic of Benin.Flag in the Constitution of the Republic of Benin.Keywords: benin | constitution | anthem | This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Benin - Constitution and Anthem ![]()
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