The Senyera is a vexillological symbol based on the coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon, which consists of four red stripes on a yellow field. This coat of arms, often called bars of Aragon, or simply "the four bars", historically represented the King of the Crown of Aragon.

The Senyera pattern is currently in the flag of four Spanish autonomous communities (Aragon, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community), and is the flag of the historically Catalan-speaking city of Alghero (Catalan: L'Alguer) in Sardinia, Italy. It is also used on the coat of arms of Spain, the coat of arms of the Pyrénées-Orientales department and of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, the flag of Roussillon, Capcir, Vallespir, and Provence in France, on the coat of arms of Andorra, and on the local flags of many municipalities belonging to these territories. The Senyera (sometimes together with the flag of Andorra) is also used informally in Catalonia to represent the Catalan language.

It is also a synonym (in Catalan Senyal Reial or Senyera and old Spanish Señal Real or Señera) for Royal Flag, although the word normally refers to the Aragonese and Catalan flags. Also in Aragonese, it is usually referred to as O Sinyal d'Aragón, i.e. "The Sign of Aragón".

Origin and history

thumb|left|[[Alfonso II of Aragon|King Alfons the Chaste riding a horse caparisoned in his familiar arms. From a 13th-century chansonnier. Document 854, folio 108r at .]]

The Senyera is one of the oldest flags in Europe still used in the present. There are several theories advocating either a purely Aragonese or a purely Catalan origin for the symbol.

The Gran Enciclopedia Aragonesa states that its first material undisputed evidence dates back to a royal seal of Alfonso II of Aragon (1159), and that all evidence about a "Catalan" origin is debatable since historically nothing can be accepted other than the concept of "Barcelonès", and understanding that as allusive to the House of Barcelona (Counts of Barcelona), and then, nothing referring to the ancient geographical area known as Cathalania, Catalonie (Catalonia) where the County of Barcelona was found.

The Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana (1968) claims that the first appearance of the flag is in the arms of the tomb of Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona, died in 1082 as well as later in the seals of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona of Barcelona and III of Provence in Provençal (1150) and then in Catalan (1157) documents.

Besides, amongst the ancient manuscripts preserved today in Poblet Monastery is found a carte plegada on son tots los Reys d'Arago e Comtes de Barchinona figurats, a genealogical roll of the Kings of Aragon and Counts of Barcelona commissioned between 1396 and 1400 by King Martin I of Aragon. In the document, the four red stripes on a golden background appears only in the royal images painted of Wilfred the Hairy Count of Barcelona (878–897), Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona (1131–1162), King Martin I of Aragon (1356–1410) and King Martin I of Sicily (1390–1409). So it may suggest the Four Red Bars on Golden Background emblem was believed to belong to the House of Barcelona and the Counts of Barcelona in times of the initial dynasty (1164–1410) who ruled the Crown of Aragon.

Furthermore, the Pennon of the Conquest of Valencia is documented as the world's oldest extant flag, dating from 1238, even though the yellow part was originally white, but the red stripes design was the same.

The Government of Catalonia states about its official symbols that it may derive from 11th century or 12th century pre-heraldic symbols and the County of Barcelona's coat of arms, in which the yellow and red bars were vertical, while horizontal in the flag. The dynastic coat of arms became also the one for the lands ruled by the counts. It is thus present in the flags and shields of the territories that once were part of the Crown of Aragon and also in the arms of Andorra, Provence-Côte d'Azur and Sicily among others.

right|thumb|180px|[[Papal States flag prior to 1808 This ancient flag can still be seen on the Capitoline Hill in Rome, near the Roman Forum. The Papal States changed its colours in 1808 to the present yellow and white, It was used as ensign of the Aragonese Navy from 1263 to 1516.

thumb|The Senyera flying on the [[Montjuïc Castle]]

The plain version of this was used as official flag of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia during the Second Spanish Republic and since the Spanish transition to democracy. In its plain version, it is also used in the French département of Pyrénées-Orientales (Northern Catalonia), part of the former Principality of Catalonia until 1659. It is also used as the flag of Provence, a distinct region with historic ties to the Counts of Barcelona and the Crown of Aragon.

The blazon of this standard version is Or, four bars Gules.

Modern usage

right|thumb|200 px|Flag of Catalonia at the Plaça Octavià in [[Sant Cugat del Vallès]]

thumbnail|right|Different versions of the Senyera displayed in [[Barcelona during the 2017 independence referendum campaign]]

The Senyera pattern is nowadays in the flag of four Spanish autonomous communities: without any change for Catalonia, and, with variations, for the territories of the former kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon: Aragon proper, the Balearic Islands and Valencia (while the former two are modern interpretations, the Valencian Senyera Coronada does originate back to medieval times). It also forms the basis of various unofficial versions, such as the blue or red estelada used by Catalan independence supporters.

thumbnail|left|The [[Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona, creating an enormous mosaic of the Senyera before a match with Real Madrid]]

The Senyera is also the basis for the coat of arms of Pyrénées-Orientales, the flag of the pays of Roussillon in France, and one quarter of the Coat of arms of Andorra. Dozens of municipalities belonging to these territories base their local flags on the Senyera as well.

right|thumb|200 px|Flag of [[Aragón displayed before kick-off of the Aragoneses Derby in La Romareda, home of Real Zaragoza ]]

Origin legends

According to a 14th-century legend, the flag dates back from the 9th century, when the four red bars were drawn, as an act of gratitude, 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 prior to Wilfred's death in 897 during the siege of Barcelona by Lobo ibn Mohammed, the Moorish governor of Lleida. This legend would relate the emblem unambiguously to the Counts of Barcelona title. Another medieval variant of the legend features Ramon Berenguer painting the bars with his own blood on a yellow shield, with the yellow field of the shield being the arms of Aragon before his marriage.

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 València a blue crowned fringe on the hoist.

Current official territorial flags

Countries

<gallery>

File:Flag of Andorra.svg|Andorra

File:Flag of Spain.svg|Spain

</gallery>

NUTS 1/NUTS 2

<gallery>

File:Flag of Aragon.svg|Aragon

File:Flag of the Balearic Islands.svg|Balearic Islands

File:Flag of Catalonia.svg|Catalonia

File:Flag of the Region of Occitanie.svg|Occitania (France)

File:Flag of Provence-Alpes-Cote dAzur.svg|Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (France)

File:Flag of the Land of Valencia (official).svg|Valencian Community (Reial Senyera)

</gallery>

NUTS 3

<gallery>

File:Flag of Barcelona (province).svg|Province of Barcelona

File:Flag of the Province of Catanzaro.svg|Province of Catanzaro (Italy)

File:Bandera de Formentera.svg|Formentera

File:Bandera antiga de la provincia de Girona.svg|Province of Girona

File:Flag of Huesca (province).svg|Province of Huesca

File:Ibiza flag.svg|Ibiza

File:Flag of the Province of Lecce.svg|Province of Lecce (Italy)

File:Bandera de la provincia de Lérida1.svg|Province of Lleida

File:Bandera de la provincia de Lérida3.svg|Province of Lleida (variant)

File:Flag of Mallorca.svg|Mallorca

File:Bandera de Menorca.svg|Menorca

File:Flag of the Department of Pyrénées-Orientales.svg|Pyrénées-Orientales (France)

File:Flag of the province of Reggio Calabria.svg|Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria (Italy)

File:Bandera de la provincia de Salamanca.svg|Province of Salamanca

File:Bandera actual de la provincia de Tarragona.svg|Province of Tarragona

File:Flag of Teruel (province).svg|Province of Teruel

File:Flag of Zaragoza province (with coat of arms).svg|Province of Zaragoza

File:Flag of Millau.svg|Millau

</gallery>

Geographical regions

<gallery>

File:Flag of Provence.svg|Flag of Provence (France)

File:Flag-Val d'Aran.svg|Val d'Aran

</gallery>

Municipalities

<gallery>

File:Flag of Abanilla.svg|Abanilla, Murcia

File:Bandera de Albelda.svg|Albelda

File:Bandera del Campell.svg|Alcampell

File:Bandera Alcaniz.svg|Alcañiz

File:Bandera de Alcorisa.svg|Alcorisa

File:Flag of Catalonia.svg|Alghero, Sardinia (Italy)

File:Bandera del Torricó.svg|Altorricón

File:Flag of Altura Spain.svg|Altura

File:Bandera d'Aitona.svg|Aitona

File:Bandera d'Alacant.svg|Alacant

File:Bandera oficial histórica de la ciudad de Alcoy.png|Alcoi

File:Bandera d'Altea.svg|Altea

File:Bandera d'Alzira.svg|Alzira

File:Bandera d'Amposta.svg|Amposta

File:Flag of Argentona.svg|Argentona

File:Bandera Badalona.svg|Badalona

File:Flag of Balaguer.svg|Balaguer

File:Flag of Barcelona.svg|City of Barcelona

File:Flag of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.svg|Barceloneta, Puerto Rico

File:Bandera de Barraques.svg|Barracas

File:Bandera de Benavarri.svg|Benabarre

File:Senyera de Benetússer.svg|Benetússer

File:Bandera de Beniarbeig.svg|Beniarbeig

File:Bandera de Benicàssim.svg|Benicàssim

File:Bandera de Benissa.svg|Benissa

File:Bandera de Banyeres de Mariola.svg|Banyeres de Mariola

File:Berga Spain.svg|Berga

File:Bandera de Besalú.svg|Besalú

File:Bandera de Betxí.svg|Betxí

File:Bandera de Blancafort.svg|Blancafort

File:Bandera de Bunyol.svg|Buñol

File:Bandera de Borriana.svg|Borriana

File:Bandera de Caldes de Montbui.svg|Caldes de Montbui

File:Bandera Cambrils.png|Cambrils

File:BanderaCamós.png|Camós

File:Flag of Campos.svg|Campos

File:Bandera de Canet de Mar.png|Canet de Mar

File:Bandera de Cardedeu.svg|Cardedeu

File:Bandera de Castelló (la Ribera).svg|Castelló

File:Bandera de Castelló de la Plana-2.svg|Castelló de la Plana

File:Bandera de Castelló d'Empúries.svg|Castelló d'Empúries

File:Bandera de Castellví de la Marca.svg|Castellví de la Marca

File:Bandera de Caudiel.svg|Caudiel

File:Bandera de Cerdanyola del Vallès.svg|Cerdanyola del Vallès

File:Bandera de Cervera.svg|Cervera

File:Bandera de Corçà.svg|Corçà

File:Bandera Cornellà.svg|Cornellà de Llobregat

File:Bandera de Cretas (Teruel).svg|Cretas

File:Flag of Crevillente Spain.svg|Crevillent

File:Bandera de Cubelles.svg|Cubelles

File:Flag of Cunit.svg|Cunit

File:Bandera del Puig.svg|El Puig de Santa Maria

File:Bandera dels Prats de Rei.png|Els Prats de Rei

File:Flag of Elx.svg|Elx

File:Bandera de Felanich (Islas Baleares).svg|Felanitx

File:Bandera de Figueres.svg|Figueres

File:Bandera de Fraga.svg|Fraga

File:Bandera de Gaià.svg|Gaià

File:Bandera de Gavà.svg|Gavà

File:Bandera de Geldo.svg|Geldo

File:Bandera de Girona.svg|Girona

File:Flag of Ibi Spain.svg|Ibi

File:Flag of Igualada.png|Igualada

File:Flag of Inca.svg|Inca

File:Bandera de Xèrica.svg|Jérica

File:Bandera de Juyá (Gerona).svg|Juià

File:Bandera de la Llosa de Ranes.svg|La Llosa de Ranes

File:Bandera de Lascuarre.svg|Lascuarre

File:Bandera de La Vall de Gallinera.svg|La Vall de Gallinera

File:Bandera de les Alqueries.svg|Les Alqueries

File:Bandera de les Borges Blanques.svg|Les Borges Blanques

File:Bandera de Les Franqueses del Vallès.svg|Les Franqueses del Vallès

File:Bandera de l'Hospitalet de Llobregat.svg|L'Hospitalet de Llobregat

File:Flag of Lleida.svg|Lleida

File:Bandera de Lluchmayor (Islas Baleares).svg|Llucmajor

File:Bandera de Llubí (Islas Baleares).svg|Llubí

File:Bandera de Macastre.svg|Macastre

File:Bandera de Manacor (Islas Baleares).svg|Manacor

File:Bandera de Manresa fosca.svg|Manresa

File:Bandera de Mahón (Islas Baleares).svg|Mahón

File:Bandera de Massamagrell.svg|Massamagrell

File:Bandera de Montuiri (Islas Baleares).svg|Montuïri

File:Bandera d'Olost.svg|Olost

File:Bandera d'Olot.svg|Olot

File:Bandera de Ontiñena.svg|Ontiñena

File:Sinyal d'Aragón.svg|Ontinyent

File:Flag of Onda Spain.svg|Onda

File:Bandera d'Oriola (anvers).png|Orihuela

File:Flag of Mallorca.svg|Palma

File:Bandera de Pardines.svg|Pardines

File:Bandera de Parets del Vallès.svg|Parets del Vallès

File:Bandera de Pedreguer.svg|Pedreguer

File:Bandera de Pina.svg|Pina de Montalgrao

File:Bandera de Planes.svg|Planes

File:Bandera de Porreres.jpg|Porreres

File:Bandera de Prades.svg|Prades

File:Bandera de Puçol.svg|Puçol

File:Bandera de Sagunt.svg|Sagunt

File:Bandera de Salamanca1.svg|Salamanca

File:Bandera de San Germán.svg|San Germán (Puerto Rico)

File:Bandera de Santa Eugènia.svg|Santa Eugènia

File:Bandera Sant Cugat del Vallès.png|Sant Cugat del Vallès

File:Bandera de Sant Feliu de Buixalleu.svg|Sant Feliu de Buixalleu

File:Bandera de Sant Feliu de Pallerols.svg|Sant Feliu de Pallerols

File:Flag of Sant Fost de Campsentelles.svg|Sant Fost de Campsentelles

File:Bandera de Sant Gregori.svg|Sant Gregori

File:Bandera Sant Joan Despí.png|Sant Joan Despí

File:Bandera de Santa Margarida i els Monjos.svg|Santa Margarida i els Monjos

File:Bandera de Santañí (Islas Baleares).svg|Santanyí

File:Bandera de Santpedor.svg|Santpedor

File:Bandera de La Puebla (Islas Baleares).svg|Sa Pobla

File:Bandera de Saus, Camallera i Llampaies.svg|Saus, Camallera i Llampaies

File:Bandera de Sancellas (Islas Baleares).svg|Sencelles

File:Bandera de Senyera.svg|Senyera

File:Bandera de Las Salinas (Islas Baleares).svg|Ses Salines

File:Bandera de Silla.svg|Silla

File:Bandera de Sinéu (Islas Baleares).svg|Sineu

File:Bandera de Subirats.svg|Subirats

File:Bandera de Tarragona.svg|Tarragona

File:Flag of Tàrrega.svg|Tàrrega

File:Bandera de Teià.svg|Teià

File:Bandera de Terrassa (2019-).svg|Terrassa

File:Bandera de Tona.svg|Tona

File:Bandera de Torrelavit.svg|Torrelavit

File:Torroella de Montgrí Spain.svg|Torroella de Montgrí

File:Bandera de Vacarisses.png|Vacarisses

File:Bandera de la Comunidad Valenciana (2x3).svg|City of Valencia (Reial Senyera)

File:Bandera de Vallromanes (Barcelona).svg|Vallromanes

File:Bandera de Vencillón.svg|Vencillón

File:Bandera de Verges.svg|Verges

File:Flag of Vic.svg|Vic

File:Bandera de Villafranca de Bonany (Islas Baleares).svg|Vilafranca de Bonany

File:Bandera de Vilagrassa.svg|Vilagrassa

File:Bandera de Vilanova de Prades.svg|Vilanova de Prades

File:Flag of Vilanova i la Geltrú.svg|Vilanova i la Geltrú

File:Flag of Catalonia.svg|Vila-real

File:Bandera de Xàtiva (roja).svg|Xàtiva

</gallery>

Historical flags

<gallery>

File:Royal Banner of Aragón.svg|Crown of Aragon flag

File:Penó de la Conquesta.svg|The Pennon of the Conquest of Valencia

File:Senyera valenciana preautonòmica.svg|interim Valencian Community (1979–1980)

File:Bandiera del Regno di Sicilia 4.svg|Kingdom of Sicily flag

File:Bandera de Nápoles - Trastámara.svg|Kingdom of Naples flag (1442–1501)

File:Flag of the Kingdom of Majorca (1269).png|Kingdom of Majorca (1269–1312)

File:Bandera del Reino de Mallorca.svg|City and Kingdom of Majorca (1312–1715)

File:Flag of Languedoc-Roussillon.svg|Flag of the former French region of Languedoc-Roussillon (1970–2015)

</gallery>

Military

<gallery>

File:Standard of the 6th Airborne Brigade Almogávares (Obverse).svg|Guindom of the 6th Airborne Brigade "Almogávares" (Obverse)

</gallery>

Flags of political movements

<gallery>

File:Estrelada aragonesa.svg|Estrelada aragonesa (Aragonese nationalist flag)

File:Estelada blava.svg|Catalan Independentist blue estelada

File:Estelada roja.svg|Catalan Socialist Independentist red estelada

File:Senyera del nacionalisme valencià.svg|Valencian nationalist estrelada

File:Senyera d'Esquerra Valenciana (1931).svg|Valencian socialist estrelada

File:EVIS flag.svg|Sicilian Independentist Movement flag

</gallery>

See also

  • Coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon
  • Estelada
  • Flag of Spain
  • Flag of Valencia
  • Pennon of the Conquest
  • Coat of arms of Andorra
  • Le Perthus Pyramid
  • Aix-en-Provence

Notes

References

  • Senyera History
  • butronmaker.blogspot.com Historic images

ca:Senyera Reial