Senyera
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the town in the province of Valencia, see Senyera, Valencia.
The Senyera is a vexillological symbol that consists of four red stripes on a golden background. It historically represented the king of Crown of Aragon and Count of Barcelona; today it is the flag of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, in Spain. In addition, the current official flags of Aragon, the Balearic Islands and the Land of Valencia, among many others, are based upon this symbol. In Catalan, senyera is also a synonym of bandera ('flag'), although by antonomasy, the word normally refers to the Catalan flag in particular.
The Senyera is said to be one of the oldest flags of the world. According to a 14th century legend, the flag dates back from the 9th century; but it more likely derives from 11th century or 12th century pre-heraldic symbols. It derives from the Counts of Barcelona coat of arms: in this, the yellow and red bars are vertical; in the flag, horizontal. The dynasty coat of arms become the one for the lands ruled by the counts. So, it is present in the flags and shields of the territories that once were part of the Crown of Aragon: Catalonia, Aragon, Valencia (both capital and country), Balearic Islands, French Catalonia, and also in the coats of arms of Andorra, Sicily and other lands and towns.
The legend tells that the four red bars were drawn on Wilfred I the Hairy's (Count of Barcelona) golden shield by king Charles the Bald's fingers drenched with blood from the Count's war wounds.
The plain version of this flag was mainly used since the early 20th century by Catalan nationalists. Later, it has been used as official flag of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia during the Second Spanish Republic and since Spanish transition to democracy. In its plain version, it is also used in the French Département of Pyrénées-Orientales, part of the former territory of Catalonia. It is also used as the flag of Provence, a distinct region with historic ties to Catalonia.
The blazon of this standard version is Or, four bars Gules.
[edit] Variations
There are a few variations in the official flags of other territories. For instance, in Aragon an extra coat-of-arms, in Balearic Islands a castle in the canton, and in Valencia a blue fringe on the hoist.
Valencian Country (former) |
Valencia city and Valencian Country (today) |
Valencian nationalism estrelada. |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
es:Señera nl:Vlag van Catalonië pl:Flaga Katalonii
