The flag was created by Manuel Belgrano, in line with the creation of the Cockade of Argentina, and was first raised at the city of Rosario on February 27, 1812, during the Argentine War of Independence.

While in Rosario he noticed that both the royalist and patriotic forces were using the same colors, Spain's yellow and red.

However, recent research and studies would indicate that the colors were chosen from the Spanish Order of Charles III symbolizing the allegiance to the rightful, and then captive King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

[1] The flag was first flown for soldiers to swear allegiance to it on 27 February 1812, by personnel of the Batería Libertad (Liberty Battery), by the Paraná River.

On that day, Belgrano said the following words: Soldiers of the Fatherland, we have heretofore had the glory of wearing the national cockade; there (pointing to the Independence battery), on the Independence Battery, where our Government has recently had the honor of bestowing it upon, shall our weapons enlarge their glory.

Let us swear to defeat our enemies, internal and external, and South America will become the temple of Independence and Freedom.

"[2]Belgrano dispatched a letter addressed to the First Triumvirate, informing them of the newly created flag.

Thus, the triumvirate sent a warning to Belgrano not to fight under the flag, but by the time the reply had arrived, Belgrano had moved to the north, following the previous orders that requested him to strengthen the patriotic position in the Upper Peru after the defeat of Juan José Castelli at the Battle of Huaqui.

Still not knowing about the Triumvirate's refusal, Belgrano raised the flag at San Salvador de Jujuy and had it blessed by the local church on the second anniversary of the May Revolution.

Belgrano accepted the orders from the Triumvirate by time they arrived to Salta and ceased using the flag.

As soldiers had already made oaths to the new flag, Belgrano said that he was saving it for the circumstance of a great victory.

On February 25, 1818, the Congress (now working at Buenos Aires) included the Sun of May in the war flag, after the proposal of deputy Chorroarín.

It was subsequently decided to keep it as part of the regular flag afterwards, and thus the sun no longer represents war.

José de San Martín was aware of the new flag, but did not employ it during the crossing of the Andes in 1817.

[3] In 1985 the Law 23,208 repealed the article 3 of the Decree 10,302/1944, saying that the Federal and Provincial Governments, as well as individuals have the right to use the Official Flag of the Nation.

The creation of a new flag with those colors would have been then a way to denote autonomy, while keeping the relations with the captive king alive.

It features 32 rays, alternately wavy and straight, and from 1978 it must be embroidered in the "Official Flag Ceremony".

[citation needed] The French privateer Louis-Michel Aury used the Argentine flag as a sports model for the blue-white-blue flag of the first independent state in Central America, which was created 1818 in Isla de Providencia, an island off the east coast of Nicaragua on the Caribbean Sea.

Jurando amarte, como así defenderte, mientras palpite mi fiel corazón.

Here is the flag that one day triumphantly rose in the middle of the battle and, full of pride and gallantry, to San Lorenzo it went immortal.

In large towns where students are gathered en masse, the pledge is taken by the local town or city executive, preceded by words of advice and honor to the memory of its creator, Manuel Belgrano, using the following or similar formulas: Versions of this include references to Belgrano and to all who fought for the country during the Argentine War of Independence and other wars that followed.

The Glorious Reveille may be sounded by a military or a marching band at this point, and confetti may be showered upon the students.

In the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic and civil uniformed services the pledge is similar but with a different formula and response of ¡Si, juro!