Coat of arms of Spain

Coat of arms of Spain
Versions
Spanish Royal crown
Motto	Plus Ultra (English: Further Beyond)

The coat of arms of Spain represents Spain and the Spanish nation, including its

The blazon of the Spanish coat of arms is composed as follows:

Quarterly, first quarter Gules a triple-towered castle Or masoned Sable and ajoure Azure (for Castile); second quarter Argent a lion rampant Purpure crowned Or, langued and armed Gules (for León); third quarter Or, four pallets Gules (for the former

House of Bourbon-Anjou); for a Crest, a circlet Or, jewelled with eight breeches of bear or oyster plant leaves, five shown, with pearls on points Or inserted and above which rise arches decorated with pearls and surmounted by a monde Azure with its equator, its upper half-meridian and a latin cross Or, the crown capped Gules (the Spanish royal crown); for Supporters, two columns Argent with capital and base Or, standing on five waves Azure and Argent, surmounted dexter by an imperial crown and sinister the Spanish royal crown, the columns surrounded by a ribbon Gules charged with the Motto 'Plus Ultra' written Or (the Pillars of Hercules).^[1][2][3]

The Spanish coat of arms is composed of six other arms and some additional heraldic symbols:

Kingdoms of Spain Additional heraldic symbols Arms Meaning Details Kingdom of Castile 1st quarter Gules, a three towered castle Or, masoned sable and ajouré azure Kingdom of León 2nd quarter Argent, a lion rampant purpure (sometimes blazoned gules) crowned Or, langued and armed gules Crown of Aragon 3rd quarter Or, four pallets gules Kingdom of Navarre 4th quarter Gules, a cross, saltire and orle of chains linked together Or, a centre point vert Kingdom of Granada enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper seeded gules, supported, sculpted and leafed in two leaves vert Arms Meaning Details Anjou Branch ) Inescutcheon Azure bordure gules, three fleur-de-lis Or Oval in the official version Pillars of Hercules Supporters an ancient name given to the plus ultra means 'further beyond' in Latin . Spanish Royal crown (Heraldic crown ) Crest and top of supporter Or and precious stones, with eight rosettes, five visible, and eight pearls interspersed, closed at the top by four arches also adorned with pearls and surmounted by a cross on a globe

The present version is regulated by:

• Act 33/1981, dated 5 October, on the Coat of Arms of Spain (Official Gazette nº 250, dated 19 October)
• Royal Decree 2964/1981, dated 18 December, approving the official Coat of Arms of Spain design (Official Gazette nº 303, dated 19 December)^[5]
• Royal Decree 2267/1982, dated 3 September, technically specifying the colours of the Arms of Spain (Official Gazette nº 221, dated 15 September)^[6]

Official design criticism

The official design of the coat of arms of Spain is like a logotype set in linear style: drawing, proportions of elements and colours (

First, the coat of arms pattern is simplified, compared to the usual heraldic usages, which relevantly considers the way of representing the charges and tinctures, because they must be easily identifiable, without error; however, the colours determined by the decree are difficult to distinguish. In particular, the Or and the Gules have been respectively represented so intensely and so darkly that they do not allow for clear distinction of the charges. The colour chosen to represent Purpure has been criticised for being a pinkish hue, unlike the traditional hues of the Kingdom of León and heraldic custom.^[7][8]

Second, the style of the official design does not fit into traditional Iberian heraldic norms. The Escutcheon shape is midway between the modern French style, rectangular with a slightly convex bottom edge, and the Spanish style, with an almost semicircular bottom edge. The Enté en point of the arms of Granada also is represented in the French tradition, with slightly convex top edges, instead of the sharp curved-top edges of Iberian heraldry.^[7][8]

Third, the inescutcheon, superimposed on the main shield, is elliptical rather than the usual escutcheon shape, which is considered imprecise.^{[clarification needed][7][8]}

Variants employed by institutions
The Senate	The Congress	The Council of State	The General Council of the Judiciary	Variant of the Judiciary Badges
The National Police Corps	The Customs Surveillance Service	The Body of Legal Representatives of the State	The General Council of Lawyers	The General Council of Solicitors

Historical Spanish coats of arms

Origin of the Coats of Arms of Spain

Kingdom of León Kingdom of Castile Crown of Aragon Kingdom of Sicily Crown of Castile Crown of Aragon Aragonese Kingdom of Sicily Crown of Aragon Isabel I of Castile

The Arms of the Kingdom of Spain was the official coat of arms of the

As a reward for his successful voyage of discovery, the Spanish sovereigns granted Columbus the right to bear arms. According to the blazon specified in letters patent dated May 20, 1493, Columbus was to bear in the first and the second quarters the royal charges of Castile and León, the Castle and the Lion, but with different tinctures or colours. In the third quarter would be islands in a wavy sea, and in the fourth, the customary arms of his family.[9]

House of Trastámara

The arms of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, whose marriage unified Spain, were:

• Quarterly, 1 and 4. quarterly Castile-León,
• 2 and 3. per pale Aragon and Aragon-Sicily.
• The arms were borne by the eagle of Saint John, sable, with an open royal crown.
• The conquest of Granada was symbolized by the addition enté en point of a quarter for Granada

After Isabella I's death in 1504, Ferdinand used different arms, namely tierced per pale Castile-León, Aragon-Naples-Sicily, and Aragon. The annexation of Navarre (1513) brought about the final change in the arms of the Rey Católico (Catholic King): the second quarter was changed to per pale, 1. per fess Aragon and Navarra, 2. per fess Jerusalem and Hungary.

The arms as used in Navarra (until 1700) were Quarterly:

• 1. quarterly Castile and Navarra;
• 2. per pale Aragon and per pale Leon and Jerusalem;
• 3. per pale, a. per pale Hungary and Aragon, b. Aragon-Sicily;
• 4. quarterly Castile and León; enté en point Granada.

The arms used in Aragon were either Aragon, or per pale, Castile-León and Aragon, or tierced per pale, Aragon-Sicily, Aragon and tierced per pale Hungary, Anjou-Naples and Jerusalem. In Naples, the arms were Quarterly, 1 and 4. Castile-León, 2. per pale Aragon and per pale Jerusalem-Hungary; 3. per pale Aragon and Aragon-Sicily.

House of Habsburg

Lesser or abbreviated coat of arms of the Spanish monarch:

• 1504–1555
  (
  Charles I
  )
• c.1504–1580
• 1580–c.1668
• 1580–c.1668
  (Portugal Inescutcheon)
• c.1668–1700

At the death of

Charles I marshalled his arms in a number of ways. In the first years of his reign, he most frequently used the same arrangement as his father. After his election as Holy Roman Emperor in 1519 he placed it on the breast of an imperial eagle. Later in his reign a simplified version appears. The arms are per fess with the Spanish quarters in chief and the Austrian quarters in base. This version became very popular in the Netherlands. There it is often seen with the imperial eagle placed on a golden shield, ensigned with the imperial crown and supported by a lion and a griffin. The Order of the Golden Fleece then hangs suspended round the main shield.

In other parts of his extensive monarchy, a number of variations are to be found. Many concern the way in which the Aragonese realms are represented and therefore probably relate to the Crown of Aragon or to one of its constituent parts. In 1516 for instance, he is found using arms quarterly of Spain (quarterly Castile-León and Aragon-Aragon-Sicily, with Granada enté en point) and Austria (quarterly Austria, Burgundy modern, Burgundy ancient and Brabant) with an escutcheon overall per pale Flanders and Tyrol. In 1520, the quarter of Aragon and Aragon-Sicily are replaced per pale Aragon and Naples (per pale Jerusalem and Hungary).^[10]

After 1530 some versions display quarterly: 1. and 4. grand quarters Spain, which is quarterly A. and D. Castile-León, B. and C. per pale a. per fess Aragon and Navarra, b. per pale Naples (Jerusalem and Hungary); 2. and 3. grand quarters Austria, (as above); enté en point Granada. These arms are borne by an imperial double-headed eagle sable, surmounted by an imperial crown, surrounded with the collar of the Golden Fleece and accompanied by the pillars of Hercules and the motto PLUS ULTRA.

In Sicily on the other hand, Emperor Charles V used quarterly 1. and 4. Castile-León, 2. tierced per pale Aragon, Jerusalem and Hungary, 3. per pale Aragon and Aragon-Sicily, enté en point Granada. Overall in chief, a double-headed eagle sable crowned or bearing an escutcheon of Austria. Later, his arms in that realm were quarterly, 1. Castile-León, 2. quarterly Aragon, Aragon-Sicily, Navarra and Aragon, 3. quarterly Austria, Burgundy modern, Burgundy ancient and Brabant, overall an escutcheon per pale Flanders and Tyrol; 4. per pale Naples (Jerusalem and Hungary); enté en point Granada, these arms borne by an imperial eagle.

Phillip II to Charles II

Coat of arms of Philip II as Spanish monarch and consort of Mary I of England 1556–1558	Coat of arms of Philip II before the unification with Portugal 1558–1580	Royal coat of arms after the unification with Portugal 1580–1668	Coat of arms of Charles II without the escutcheon of Portugal 1668–1700

During the reign of King Phillip II the arms of the Spanish monarchy become fixed for the remainder of the House of Austria. Originally Philip II used the simplified arms as devised for his father, namely per fess with the Spanish quarters in chief and the Austrian quarters in base.

After the unification with Portugal in 1580 (due to the death of the Portuguese king), the arms of the monarchy became per fess, in chief per pale, A. quarterly Castile and León, B. per pale Aragon and Aragon-Sicily, the whole enté en point Granada and with an escutcheon of Portugal on the honour point; in base quarterly Austria, Burgundy ancient, Burgundy modern and Brabant, with an escutcheon (in the nombril point) per pale Flanders and Tyrol. The arms were crowned with a royal crown with three visible arches and the Order of the Golden Fleece was suspended around them. In the Netherlands, the arms were regularly supported by two golden lions guardant.

Even though Portugal and its possessions were lost in 1640, the Spanish kings retained the use of the Portuguese arms as arms of pretence until 1668.

House of Bourbon

Coat of arms of Phillip V	Coat of arms of the Spanish monarchs from Charles III, House of Borbón

Lesser or abbreviated coat of arms of the Spanish monarch,
1700–1868 / 1875–1931 (eventually):

• Laurel wreath version
• Pillars of Hercules version
• Golden Fleece version
• Golden Fleece and Mantle version

Philip was born in

The arms of Bourbon-Anjou were added in 1700 when Phillip V became king of Spain. He introduced changes in the royal arms of Spain. The king's new arms were designed by the French heraldist Clairambault in November 1700, and were as follows:

per fess: 1. per pale, quarterly Castile and León, enté en point Granada, and per pale, Aragon and Aragon-Sicily; 2. Quarterly, Austria, Burgundy modern, Burgundy ancient and Brabant; enté en point, per pale Flanders and Tyrol. Overall an escutcheon Anjou. The abbreviated arms were quarterly Castile and León, enté en point Granada, overall Anjou.

Charles III

In 1761 Charles III modified the arms as follows:

Quarterly of six (in three rows of two each): 1. per pale Aragon and Aragon-Sicily; 2. per pale Austria and Burgundy modern; 3. Farnese 4. Medici; 5. Burgundy ancient; 6. Brabant; enté en point per pale Flanders and Tyrol. Overall an escutcheon quarterly of Castile and León enté en point of Granada, overall Anjou. Around the shield are the collars of the Golden Fleece and of the French Holy Spirit (After the Order of Carlos III).

The abbreviated arms remained the same (they form the escutcheon en surtout of the state arms). They are accompanied by the Pillars of Hercules and the motto PLUS ULTRA and crowned with the royal crown, but do not show the collars. Already at this time the Anjou escutcheon was sometimes represented without its bordure gules.

House of Bonaparte

Joseph Napoleon I (born Corte 1768, died Firenze 1844), king of Spain (1808–1813), was the elder brother of the Emperor Napoleon I. Following his conquests, the Emperor placed members of his family on the throne of various European states, some of them being created accordingly. Joseph was the first king of Naples (1806).

When Napoleon expelled the Bourbons from Spain, he placed Joseph on the throne and gave the throne of Naples to Marshal Murat, former Commander-in-Chief of the French troops in Spain and husband of Caroline Bonaparte, Napoleon's sister. The long and difficult Spanish War of Independence or Peninsular War, famously illustrated by the painter Francisco Goya, ended with the overthrow of Joseph in 1814.

In 1808, Joseph Napoleon proclaimed a new coat of arms:

Quarterly of 6, in three rows of two each, 1. Castile; 2. Leon; 3. Aragon; 4. Navarra; 5. Granada; 6. Indies (Gules often Azure, the old and the new world or between the pillars of Hercules argent). Overall an escutcheon with Imperial France's eagle.

House of Bourbon 1st restoration

In 1813 the Allies returned

The Provisional Government of 1868 adopted the present territorial arms: quarterly of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarre enté en point of Granada. The crown was a mural crown.

During the brief reign of Amadeo, the royal crown was reinstated and an escutcheon of Savoy (Gules, a cross argent) was placed en surtout. There were not many Spanish arms including the escutcheon of Aosta (Argent, a cross gules within a bordure compony azure and or), the arms used by Amadeo before his accession to the throne of Spain.^[8][11]

House of Bourbon 2nd restoration

When the Bourbons were restored with

Quarterly of 6, in three rows of two each: 1. per pale Aragon-Sicily and Jerusalem; 2. 2. per pale Austria and Burgundy modern; 3. Farnese 4. Medici; 5. Burgundy ancient; 6. Brabant; enté en point per pale Flanders and Tyrol. Overall an escutcheon quarterly of Castile, Leon, Aragon and Navarra enté en point of Granada, overall France.[12]

Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939)

The

.

The Republic of 1931 used again the territorial arms as in the First Spanish Republic but depicting in the second quarter an uncrowned lion.

Francoist Spain (1936–1977)

Main article: Francoist Spain

(1936–1938)	(1938–1945)	(1945–1977)

The Spanish Civil War officially ended on 1 April 1939, the day Francisco Franco announced the end of hostilities. The Republican forces had been defeated and Franco became the undisputed caudillo of Spain. He ruled Spain until he died on November 20, 1975.

The Nationalist senior generals had held an informal meeting in September 1936, where they elected Francisco Franco as leader of the Nationalists, with the rank of Generalísimo. He was originally supposed to be only commander-in-chief, but after some discussion became head of state as well with nearly unlimited and absolute powers.

Franco adopted in 1938 a variant of the coat of arms reinstating some elements originally used by the House of Trastámara such as Saint John's Eagle and the yoke and bundle, as follows:

Quarterly, 1 and 4. quarterly Castile and León, 2 and 3. per pale Aragon and Navarra, enté en point of Granada. The arms are crowned with an open royal crown, placed on an eagle displayed sable, surrounded with the pillars of Hercules, the yoke and the bundle of arrows of the Catholic Monarchs.

Spanish transition to democracy (1977–1981)

Main article: Spanish transition to democracy

(1977–1981)	(1977–1981) Lesser arms

See also

• Coat of arms of the King of Spain
• Coat of arms of the Prince of Asturias
• Coat of arms of the Kingdom of León
• Coat of arms of the Kingdom and Crown of Castile
• Coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon
• Coats of arms of Spanish monarchs in Italy
• Coat of arms of the Second Spanish Republic
• Symbols of Francoism
• Coat of arms of Toledo, municipal arms based on the royal arms of the 16th century
• Armorial of Spain
• Armorial of the Spanish Armed Forces
• Spanish heraldry
• A solis ortu usque ad occasum
• Granada

Notes

1. ^ (in Spanish) Act 33/1981 Archived 2016-10-05 at the Wayback Machine, 5 October (BOE Nro. 250, 19 October 1981). Coat of arms of Spain.
2. ^ Coat of arms of His Majesty the King of Spain Archived 2013-12-15 at the Wayback Machine. The Royal Household of the King of Spain. The coat of arms is the symbol that is on Spain's flag. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
3. ISBN 0-8048-0715-9
   .
4. ^ (in Spanish) Act 33/1981 Archived 2016-10-05 at the Wayback Machine, 5 October (BOE No. 250, 19 October 1981). Coat of arms of Spain.
5. ^ "BOE.es - BOE-A-1981-29376 Real Decreto 2964/1981, de 18 de diciembre, por el que se hace público el modelo oficial del Escudo de España". pp. 29729–29730. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
6. ^ "Royal Decree 2267/1982, dated 3 September". boe.es (in Spanish). BOE Spanish Official Journal. 1982-09-15. pp. 24880–24881. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
7. ^
   ISBN 84-259-1074-9
   .
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} Gavira, Ignacio (2005–2007). "Heraldica Hispánica" [Hispanic Heraldry]. heraldicahispanica.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 27, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
9. ^ "Columbus' Coat of Arms". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2015. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
10. ^ (in Spanish) Kingdom of Naples arms in the heraldry of Ferdinand II of Aragon as King of Naples, De Francisco Olmos, José María, La Moneda napolitana de Fernando el Católico, documento porpagandístico de la Unidad de las coronas; . Madrid (2001), p.156. Archived 2011-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
11. ^ (in Spanish) Maravedis.net Spanish coins
12. ^ García-Mercadal y García Loygorri, Fernando. "El escudo grande de Carlos III" (PDF). Emblemata (II (1996)): 249–258. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.

References

• Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales, Símbolos de España (Madrid, 2000).
• Hubert De Vries, Wapens van de Nederlanden (Amsterdam, 1995).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal coats of arms of Spain.

• Web of the Spanish Presidency of the Government – The National Coat of Arms (archived 17 March 2006)
• Origins and history of the Spanish coat of arms (in Spanish)
• Royal Society of Armigers of Spain (archived 31 July 2016)