Flag of Elba

The red band

Several theories exist regarding the origin of the red stripe on a white background. One holds that the red and white were taken from the Polish flag in honor of Major Jan Paweł Jerzmanowski, who followed Napoleon into exile. Many authors, however, agree that Napoleon was inspired by a picture book on flags. Thomas Ussher, commander of HMS Undaunted, which transported Napoleon from Marseille to Elba, reported that Napoleon had a book showing all flags of Tuscany, ancient and modern, and asked Ussher's opinion on his choice.

Some authors suggest the red stripe on white was inspired by the flag of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which ruled the island under the Medici and later the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. Robert Christophe wrote that Napoleon himself designed the flag during the five-day journey, studying books about Elba brought from Fontainebleau; inspired by the Medici coat of arms, he designed a white flag with a diagonal strip and three golden bees. The Medici flag had only the white background in common, while the Habsburg-Lorraine flag, with red-white-red horizontal stripes, shared the colors.

Other authors propose the diagonal band was inspired by a flag of the House of Appiano, which ruled Piombino and, as a direct dependent, Elba. That flag was white with a diagonal checkered band in red and white from the top of the mast. Vincenzo Mellini Ponçe de Léon wrote that it reminded Elba's inhabitants of their first lords, the House of Appiano, who ruled after the collapse of the Republic of Pisa.

The golden bees

Among hypotheses about the bees, one suggests Napoleon intended to symbolize the unity and hard work of Elba's inhabitants. Another, considered more founded, attributes an explanation to Napoleon himself: speaking with Admiral Thomas Ussher, he said he chose three bees because they represent the people of Elba, who had three rulers and were now united under a single banner. Golden bees are a frequent symbol in Napoleon's iconography; he adopted the bee to link his dynasty to the ancient kingdom of France, as golden bees were found in 1653 in the tomb of Childeric I, father of Clovis I, and were considered the first emblem of the kings of France, representing immortality and resurrection.

The Polish Cavalry (Chevau-léger)

It is often mistakenly believed that the flag of Elba was borrowed from the Polish Cavalry (Chevau-léger), but the opposite is true. All Polish soldiers who arrived on Elba with Napoleon were assembled under Major Jan Paweł Jerzmanowski into a single Cavalry Squadron, which assumed the name Polish Cavalry (Chevau-légers) – Napoleon Squadron – Guard of Napoleon on Elba Island and was given the flag of Elba.

The squadron later served in the Grande Armée during the Hundred Days. No trace of the squadron exists before 1814, nor any record of the Elba flag used by other Polish Cavalry units. The flag of the Polish cavalry is kept at the Musée de l'Armée in Paris.