Historical Flags 1506-1700 (Spain)

Last modified: 2005-02-26 by santiago dotor
Keywords: cross: saltire (red) | saltire (red) | cross: burgundy | alabama | florida | galleon | eagle (black) | order of the golden fleece | crown: royal |
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• Burgundy Cross Flag (Ensign 1506-1670s, thereafter Jack until 1785)
• Civil and War Ensign c.1520-c.1701 (possibly ensign of vessels operating in Spanish waters)
• Ensign for the Spanish Netherlands c.1520-c.1701 (possibly ensign of vessels operating in Flemish waters)
• Galleons' Ensign c.1520-c.1701 (possibly ensign of vessels operating in American waters)
• Ensign for Expeditions to the Indies since 1593
• Blue Civil Ensigns used until 1762
• Royal Standards 1580-1700 (Kings Philip II, III, IV and Charles II)
• Military Flags 1506-1700

See also:

• Size of Ensigns 15th-19th Centuries
• Ensigns 1670s-1785
• Alabama and Florida (United States)
• Historical Flags (Spain)
• Spain

The history of Spanish ensigns is a difficult one to follow, since the forming of Spain as a nation in the 15th century until the establishment of the red-gold-red ensign by royal decree on May 28th 1785. As far as I know, from Charles I (1518) until Charles II (1665), the main symbol, in different designs, of the Spanish ships, was the red Burgundy cross on different field colours, most frequently white [but also blue]. Only sometimes were royal standards or standards with religious symbols, on red and crimson fields, to be seen. The only documented ensign apart from that is the one used by the Spanish Galleons.

José Carlos Alegría, 23 October 2000