Military Flags until 1474 (Castile and Leon, Spain)

Last modified: 2005-02-26 by santiago dotor
Keywords: castile and leon | virgin mary | star: 6 points (white) | crescent: points to hoist (white) | cross (yellow) | pennants: crossed (2) | pennants: 8 (yellow) |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

• Cavalry Flag 13th Century
• Cavalry Flag of Don Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz 1338-1350
• Moorish Guard of Henry IV of Castile 1454-1474

See also:

• Historical Flags (Castile and Leon, Spain)
• Spain

Other sites:

• Banderas Militares (Military Flags, Spanish text only) by Sergio Camero:
  • Caballería (Cavalry)

Cavalry Flag 13th Century

by Sergio Camero, exported to GIF by Santiago Dotor

Cavalry flags (estandartes) in the 13th century generally had religious images, something which also happened during the Hapsburg dinasty (1506-1700) and in many later flags up to nowadays.

During the Middle Ages there was an absolute lack of criteria for denominating flags as well as their shapes. Names such as seña, estandarte, pendón and confalón were used. In the 13th century, King Alphonse X tried to regulate the shapes and use of flags.

Sources:

• Juan Espinazo García, Vexilología en la Edad Media y en las Órdenes Militares;
• Cantigas de Sta. María, no. CLXXXI, Alfonso X el Sabio;
• image after Calvo and Grávalos 1983.

Sergio Camero, 23 March 2002

Cavalry Flag of Don Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz 1338-1350

by Sergio Camero

This cavalry flag belonged to the Huestes (followers) of Don Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz (1338-1350). The original one can be seen in a miniature in the book Registrum Recognitiorum. The most usual colour in Castilian flags was red. In Aragon the kings used more frequently blue.

Sources: Juan Espinazo García, Vexilología en la Edad Media y en las Órdenes Militares; Calvo and Grávalos 1983.

Sergio Camero, 15 March 2002

Moorish Guard of Henry IV of Castile 1454-1479