history of flag of spain

Discover below a comprehensive history of flag of spain along with a good-sized graphic plus a detailed description as to the significance of it all.

Spain is divided into 17 different regions or autonomous communities and each community also has its own, individual flag.

However, the flag you see below is the national flag of Spain and consequently recognized by all Spanish regions.

Spanish flags very similar to this one have been used since about 1927 but, every so often, they are changed slightly for one reason or another and this most recent one dates from 1981.

history of flag of spain - description

As can be seen from the above, spains flag (the national one) is a colorful red and yellow horizontal triband - the yellow stripe is in the middle and is twice as tall as each red band - and the height of the flag is two-thirds the width.

A simplified version of Spainīs coat-of-arms is pictured on the yellow band, towards the hoist side.

The Spanish coat-of-arms includes the royal seal, framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which represent Gibraltar and Ceuta on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The red banners display the motto in Latin PLUS ULTRA which means More Beyond, alluding to Columbusī discovery of the New World.

The two columns flank a shield that displays a castle, a lion wearing a crown, red and yellow vertical stripes, chain mail, and three fleurs-de-lis in an oval in the center.

An ornate red and golden crown sits atop the shield.

history of flag of spain - origins

The flag you see depicted was officially adopted on 19 December 1981.

Previous to this, there had been an eagle on it as well but, in 1981, the eagle was removed, leaving the current red/yellow/red triband with crowned arms.

The red and golden-yellow colors of Spainīs flag were first used as long ago as the late 1700s by the King of Spain, as he tried to easily differentiate his ships from those of other countries.

They were the original colors found within the coat-of-arms of both the Castile and Aragon regions of the country - the regions first united by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

history of flag of spain - legend

There is a legend that holds that the colors of the flag of Spain are derived from the bullfight arena - the red respresenting the blood shed, and the yellow the sand of the arena!

However, this is just a legend and not based on historical facts!

history of flag of spain - pledge

The pledge to the Spanish flag is called the Jura de Bandera - meaning Oath of the Flag.

And that just about completes the history of flag of spain!

other pages related to spain culture/history

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