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In Stock

Serapis Flag

$59.50
SKU:
50108
Current Stock:
Origin:
United States

Frequently Bought Together:

The Serapis flag has 13 white stars in a blue canton with 13 red, white, and blue stripes on the rest of the flag.
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Description

The Serapis flag is made in the USA from nylon, a tough and weather-resistant fabric. Nylon is lightweight, meaning it dries quickly after contact with water, helping prevent mildew growth. The unique red, white, and blue design is digitally printed for bold, vibrant colors that are fade-resistant, even when flown in direct sunlight.

This flag features a robust canvas heading and two brass grommets for straightforward hoisting on one of our outdoor flagpoles. If you don’t have a frigate of your own to display this flag from, check out our popular house-mounted flagpole.

Serapis Flag Product Details

  • Constructed in America with high standards of quality
  • Authentic 1779 design
  • 100% premium nylon
  • Strong canvas heading
  • Rust-resistant brass grommets
  • Single/reverse printing
  • 3’ x 5’ size

Serapis Flag History & Meaning

In 1779, US Navy Captain John Paul Jones captured the British frigate Serapis and brought it into a port at Texel, which was part of the Dutch Empire. British officials pressured the Dutch to treat Jones as a pirate since his ship had no flag, and Jones’ original ensign had been lost at sea during the battle.

Dutch ambassadors quickly devised a design based on Commissioner Arthur Lee’s concept for an American ensign, which consisted of 13 red, white, and blue alternating stripes and thirteen stars in the canton. A flag was created and flown from the Serapis, and it was entered into Dutch records as an official US ensign. Jones was released, and any piracy charges were dropped.

Other Details

At the 1779 Battle of Flamborough Head, U.S. Navy Captain John Paul Jones captured the Serapis, but his own ship, the Bonhomme Richard sank, and her ensign had been blown from the mast into the sea during the battle. Jones, now commanding the Serapis without an ensign, sailed to the island port of Texel, which was run by the neutral Dutch United Provinces. Officials from the United Kingdom argued that Jones was a pirate, since he sailed a captured vessel flying no known national ensign. This flag was used to help Jones avoid charges of piracy when he captured the Serapis under an "unknown flag". This flag is also known as the "Franklin Flag" due to its description by Benjamin Franklin.

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