Flag of Spain: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:41, 16 April 2005

Revision as of 20:57, 20 April 2005

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The origin of the colors is a source of controversy. One of the popular theories is that this scheme is based on the heraldic schemes of the various Spanish kingdoms, notably Aragon (note the red and yellow that characterizes the [[Aragonese]] and [[Catalan]] flags). Others claim it was Naples flag adopted by Carlos III.

Throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, this color scheme remained largely intact. The main changes to the flag centered on the coat of arms. In the modern flag, the coat of arms are greatly simplified as compared to previous variants. Each of the four quadrants represent one of the four kingdoms that were merged to form a unified Spain at the end of the 15th century. Namely, the kingdoms are: [[Castile]], represented by the castle, [[León]], represented by the lion, [[Aragon]], represented by the vertical alternating red and yellow stripes (four red stripes, five yellow stripes), and [[Navarre]], represented by the linked chains. Also the moorish kingdom of [[Granada]] is represented by the pomegranate fruit in the bottom of the coat of arms. The two columns with the "plus ultra" ensign (meaning "further" in latin) represent spanishSpanish discovery and colonization of America, the columns being the mithologicalmythological 'Hercules Columns' (of the straitStrait of gibraltarGibraltar, gateway to the Atlantic Ocean).

The purple band on the flag of the [[Second Spanish Republic]] is due to the flag of Castile having a purple variant as well as a red one. The royalist flag used red-yellow-red (the red-yellow for Aragon and the red for Castile), while the republican one used red-yellow for Aragon and purple for Castile.