The flag of Spain, as we know it today, is the result of a long historical evolution that reflects the political, social and cultural development of the country. This national symbol, composed of three horizontal stripes – red, yellow and red, with the yellow stripe being twice as wide as each of the red – and the country's coat of arms in the center, has a rich history dating back to centuries ago.
Ancient Origins
The First Badges
Before the existence of what we know today as Spain, the different kingdoms that occupied the Iberian Peninsula used their own emblems and banners. During the Middle Ages, each kingdom had its own insignia. The Kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, León and Navarra, among others, used various symbols on their flags.
For example, the Kingdom of Castile used a gold castle on a red background, while the Kingdom of León showed a purple lion on a white background. These symbols were representative of each kingdom and were mainly used in military and ceremonial contexts.
The Unification of the Catholic Monarchs
The union of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, in 1469 marked the beginning of the unification of the Iberian kingdoms under a single crown. Although each kingdom maintained its own symbols, this union led to the emergence of a common identity that would be reflected in a national flag.
During the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, a flag was used that combined the symbols of both kingdoms: the castle of Castile and the lion of León together with the eagle of San Juan, a symbol associated with Isabel. This flag symbolized dynastic union and cooperation between kingdoms.
The Flag of the Austrians and the Bourbons
The Austrian Dynasty
With the arrival of the House of Austria to the Spanish throne in the 16th century, new symbols were adopted. Charles I, also known as Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire, used the flag of Burgundy, an emblem that represented his Burgundian heritage. This flag, known as "the cross of Burgundy", showed a cross in the shape of a red cross on a white background and was widely used in Spanish territories and its colonies.
The Burgundian cross became a military symbol and was adopted by the Spanish Tercios, the most famous infantry units of the time. This flag accompanied Spanish troops in numerous battles and campaigns, establishing itself as an emblem of power and domination.
The House of Bourbon
In 1700, the death without issue of the last king of the Austrian dynasty, Charles II, brought Philip V of Bourbon, grandson of Louis XIV of France, to the throne. With his rise came significant changes to national symbols, including the flag.
Philip V introduced the flag of the Spanish Royal Navy, which consisted of a white background with the coat of arms of the House of Bourbon in the center. This design reflected French influence and Philip's desire to consolidate his dynasty in Spain.
The Creation of the Modern Flag
Charles III and the Need for a New Flag
The current flag of Spain was designed during the reign of Charles III, who ruled between 1759 and 1788. In the mid-18th century, Charles III realized that the white flag with the coat of arms was not distinctive enough at sea, since many other European nations used similar flags.
In 1785, Charles III decided to create a new flag for the Navy that would be easily recognizable and distinctive. He ordered a contest to design the new flag, and the winning design was a flag with three horizontal stripes: red, yellow, and red, with the yellow stripe being twice as wide as each of the red stripes. This design was officially adopted on May 28, 1785 as the flag of the Navy.
The Adoption of the National Flag
Although the new flag was initially used only by the Navy, its simple and distinctive design led to its gradual adoption for other purposes. In 1843, during the reign of Isabel II, the red and yellow flag was declared the national flag of Spain, replacing the previous dynastic flags.
The weapon shield
The Shield of Charles III
The coat of arms that was incorporated into the flag during the reign of Charles III reflected the heritage of the House of Bourbon. It included elements such as the arms of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarra and Granada, as well as the escutcheon with the fleurs-de-lys of the House of Bourbon. This shield symbolized the unity of the different kingdoms that made up Spain under the same crown.
Shield Changes
Over the centuries, the coat of arms on the flag has undergone various modifications to reflect political and dynastic changes. For example, during the First Spanish Republic (1873-1874), the royal crown was removed from the shield. With the Bourbon Restoration in 1874, the crown was restored.
During the reign of Alfonso Castile and the Crown mural.
Franco's Shield
After the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the Franco regime introduced a new shield that included the yoke and arrows, symbols of the Catholic Monarchs, and the eagle of Saint John, along with the motto "Una, Grande y Libre" . This shield was used during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939-1975).
The Current Shield
With the transition to democracy and the approval of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, the current shield was adopted, which is based on the design used during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, but with some modifications to reflect the modern reality of Spain. The current shield includes the emblems of the ancient kingdoms of Spain, the pomegranate flower, and two columns of Hercules with the motto "Plus Ultra", which means "Beyond", in reference to the overseas territories. The royal crown and the escutcheon with the fleurs-de-lis of the Bourbons are also present, symbolizing the current parliamentary monarchy.
The Flag in Modern Times
The second republic and the civil war
During the Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939), a tricolor flag with horizontal stripes of red, yellow and purple was adopted. This flag symbolized the new republican era and the inclusion of the different groups and regions of the country. However, with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the use of the republican flag became a symbol of the republican forces, while the nationalist forces used the traditional reddish flag.
Franco's Dictatorship
Following the victory of Franco's forces in the Civil War, the red and yellow flag was restored as the official flag of Spain, although with the shield modified to include the Francoist symbols mentioned above. This version of the flag remained until Franco's death in 1975 and the subsequent transition to democracy.
The 1978 Constitution and the Current Flag
With the approval of the Spanish Constitution in 1978, the foundations for a democratic Spain were established and national symbols, including the flag, were defined. The Constitution establishes in its article 4 that "the flag of Spain is made up of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow one being twice as wide as each of the red ones."
The coat of arms was also revised and the current design was adopted, which, as mentioned above, combines historical elements from the ancient kingdoms of Spain and symbols of the parliamentary monarchy.
Meaning and Symbolism
Colors
The colors of the Spanish flag have various interpretive meanings, although there is no official consensus on their symbolism. Traditionally, red has been said to represent the blood shed by Spanish patriots, while yellow symbolizes wealth and the sun. However, these interpretations are more poetic than historical.
The choice of the red and yellow colors on the Navy flag during the reign of Charles III was due more to practical than symbolic reasons. These colors were easily visible at sea and distinctive compared to the flags of other European nations.
The shield
The coat of arms present on the flag of Spain has deep historical symbolism. Each of the quarters on the shield represents one of the ancient kingdoms that joined to form Spain: the castle of Castile, the lion of León, the chains of Navarre, the pomegranate flower of Granada and the bars of Aragon. The central escutcheon with the fleurs-de-lys represents the House of Bourbon.
The columns of Hercules and the motto "Plus Ultra" symbolize the expansion and overseas territories that were part of the Spanish Empire. The royal crown and the elements associated with the monarchy reflect the political structure of Spain as a parliamentary monarchy.