Dubuque Fleur-de-lis Throwback T-Shirt

This design is one-of-a-kind and found only at Dubuque Clothing Co. — the Dubuque Fleur-de-lis Throwback T-Shirt is printed on a premium tee using high-quality, soft inks built to last through every wear.

The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys is a common heraldic charge in the (stylized) shape of a lily (in French, fleur and lis mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively). Most notably, the fleur-de-lis is depicted on the flag of Quebec and on the traditional coat of arms of France that was used from the High Middle Ages until the French Revolution in 1792, and then again in brief periods in the 19th century. This design still represents France and the House of Bourbon in the form of marshalling in the arms of Spain, Quebec, and Canada — for example.

The symbol carries special meaning in Dubuque, which has proudly called itself the "Five Flags City" ever since a 1938 sesquicentennial celebration marked 150 years since Julien Dubuque's arrival. That nickname honors the five different national flags that have flown over the area: the fleur-de-lis of France from 1682 to 1762 after La Salle claimed the Mississippi Valley, the Royal Flag of Spain from 1762 to 1800, Great Britain's Union Jack briefly in 1780 during the Revolutionary War, the French Republic flag under Napoleon from 1800 to 1804, and the American flag since the Louisiana Purchase took effect in 1804. The fleur-de-lis holds the honor of being the very first of those five.

Reference: Five Flags (name) - Encyclopedia Dubuque