Many know how looks flag of Spain, but perhaps not everyone knows why the country has selected for its banner of just such a color.Often banners States reflect their history.No exception was and Spain.Its coat of arms and flag were modified over the centuries, to the extent that both the small kingdom of Leon formed a powerful centralized empire.There were no metamorphosis in the twentieth century.The national flag of the country changed during the Republic and during the dictatorship of Franco.So that the current flag of Spain has been approved relatively recently - in 1981, on 19 December.As the symbol of the country was created, and how it looks today - see this article.
Crest Catalonia and Aragon
legend says that after the reconquista (reconquest of Christian lands from the Moors), King of Aragon Gottfried Berenguer dipped their fingers in the wounds Moorish king and had his blood a few strips of golden banners Vatican, thus symbolizing,that from now on his lands will celebrate only the Roman Catholic faith.The coat of arms of the monarch were vertical lines.Their width is equal to gold stripes.However, the flag of the kingdom, and now the province of Catalonia, we see four horizontal red lines, alternating with five yellow (golden).On this there is no banner of the coat of arms.Since many of our fellow citizens go to rest on the Costa Brava and just south of Barcelona, they have a false idea of what the flag from Spain.The provinces in the country are endowed with greater powers, and public institutions are waving banners land.
Flag times centralized monarchy
When King Alfonso of Aragon was married to the heir to the throne, Princess Maria of Castile, in 1415, merged their land.It was a huge conglomerate that includes not only Catalonia and the land around Toledo and Valencia, Naples, Majorca, Asturias, Sicily, Sardinia.The national symbols of the future core of the empire was taken arms and a royal standard of Aragon - the red and yellow stripes of equal.When ascended the throne of the Bourbon dynasty, the flag of Spain has changed.Their "generic" color was white, with royal gold lilies all over the field.However, the family of the Bourbons and the Habsburgs kindred taken root in many monarchies.They ruled in France and in Italy.So often there is confusion especially on the seas, in the recognition of the citizenship courts.
Back to basics
In 1785, the Spanish monarch Carlos III of Bourbon royal decree ordered his ships to replace the white banners with the emblem in the yellow-red.Returning to the heraldic colors of Aragon, the king he decided to insert a cloth coat.To the band does not cross it, it reduced the number of red lines and made them thinner.On a yellow background royal arms look more impressive.As such, the flag of Spain lasted until 1927, and has been approved as a national symbol of the country.During the Republic (1931) removed the royal coat of arms and the flag became equal area composed of yellow, purple and scarlet stripes.During the Civil War it has been replaced by red color purple.After the victory of Franco's dictatorship flag was again red-yellow.It is decorated with a black eagle with a shield and a crown was depicted as an open bowl of a flower.This symbolized that the throne of the monarchy is empty.
Modern flag of Spain
photo shows that the current head of the country's standard is a rectangular panel with three horizontal stripes.Two of them - red - located at the top and bottom.These lines are equal to the parameters.Yellow bar in the middle should be twice as wide as the Reds.At a distance of one third of the flagpole can see the national emblem.It is located just on the yellow band, and does not apply to red.The coat of arms is crowned by a crown - a sign that Spain - the monarchy.This national symbol is also experienced in its history, a lot of modifications.Now the country's coat of arms consists of a heraldic shields five major provinces.It adorn the castle of Castile, yellow and red stripes of Aragon, the lion of Leon, Navarre gold chain with emerald and gold pomegranate on a silver background Andalusia.Modern emblem and flag of Spain were approved by King Juan Carlos in 1981.
