Eagle of Saint John

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The Eagle of Saint John (

Catholic Monarchs which was later used during Francoist Spain (1939–77) and the Spanish transition to democracy (1977–81). It is sable with an or halo and feet of gules
.

Carolingian ivory plaque with the eagle of Saint John, showing the customary halo, Victoria & Albert Museum

Symbol of John the Evangelist

John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account, is symbolized by an eagle, often with a halo, an animal may have originally been seen as the king of the birds. The eagle is a figure of the sky, and believed by Christian scholars to be able to look straight into the sun.[1]

Use by Isabella I of Castile

The better known heraldic use of the Eagle of St. John has been the single supporter chose by

Alcazar of Segovia.[3]

Use by Catherine of Aragon, Mary I of England, and Philip II of Spain

The Eagle of St. John was placed on side of the shields used as English consort by Catherine of Aragon, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Mary I and King Philip as English monarchs. In Spain, Philip barely bore the Eagle of St John in his armorial achievements.[4]

Use by Francisco Franco

The Eagle of the Evangelist was recovered as single supporter holding in 1939, 1945 and 1977 official models of the

armorial achievement of Spain[5] and it was removed in 1981 when the current coat of arms was adopted.[6] The use of the eagle of St. John was exploited by the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco
, who used it as a symbol of his regime.

Use as a heraldic emblem

Prominent examples of the use of St. John's Eagle in heraldry across the world include the heraldry or emblems of:

).

  • Coat of arms of Isabella of Castile as Princess of Asturias.
    Coat of arms of
    Isabella of Castile
    as Princess of Asturias.
  • Coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs.
    Coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs.
  • A coat of arms with the Eagle of Saint John in the Alcázar of Segovia.
    A coat of arms with the Eagle of Saint John in the Alcázar of Segovia.
  • The 1494 Constitutions of Catalonia, with the Eagle.
    The 1494 Constitutions of Catalonia, with the Eagle.
  • Coat of arms of Ferdinand II of Aragon as Lord of Biscay.
  • The Eagle of Saint John and two lions, in an ornamented version of the coat of arms of Joanna I of Castile.
    The Eagle of Saint John and two lions, in an ornamented version of the coat of arms of
    Joanna I of Castile
    .
  • The Eagle of Saint John in the coat of arms of Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England.
    The Eagle of Saint John in the coat of arms of Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England.
  • The Eagle of Saint John in the coat of arms of Mary I of England after her marriage with Philip II.
    The Eagle of Saint John in the coat of arms of Mary I of England after her marriage with Philip II.
  • Coat of arms of Spain from 1945 to 1977.
    Coat of arms of Spain from 1945 to 1977.
  • Flag of Spain from 1945 to 1977.
    Flag of Spain from 1945 to 1977.
  • Coat of arms of Lima.
    Coat of arms of Lima.
  • Coat of arms of Valparaíso.
    Coat of arms of Valparaíso.
  • Coat of arms of the Boyacá Department.
    Coat of arms of the Boyacá Department.
  • Coat of arms of the Regimiento de Infantería "Isabel la Católica" n.º 29 (Spanish Army).
    Coat of arms of the Regimiento de Infantería "Isabel la Católica" n.º 29 (Spanish Army).
  • Coat of arms of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek.
    Coat of arms of the
    Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek
    .
  • Coat of arms of Lääne county, Estonia.
    Coat of arms of
    Lääne county, Estonia
    .
  • Coat of arms of Haapsalu, Estonia.
    Coat of arms of Haapsalu, Estonia.

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-84-95983-54-1. Cfr. para la heráldica de Isabel y Fernando las pp. 72 & ff.
  2. ^ Image of the Thron Room of the Alcázar of Segovia.
  3. ^ Francisco Olmos, José María de. Las primeras acuñaciones del príncipe Felipe de España (1554-1556): Soberano de Milán Nápoles e Inglaterra, pp. 158-162.
  4. .
  5. ^ Act 33/1981, 5 October (BOE No 250, 19 October 1981). Coat of arms of Spain (in Spanish).