SPAIN

THE SHIELD AND THE FLAG OF CATALONIA

One of the four oldest shields is the Catalonia one. It’s formed by four red bars over a golden background. It appears as a seal in a document dated in the year 1.150, but we can found it also in the tombs of catalan sovereigns since 1.058.

Our flag is based in this shield. We don’t know what was first: the flag or the shield.

THE LEGEND OF THE SEAL OF CATALONIA

At the 9^th century the king of France Charles le Chauve ask the catalan king Guifré el Pilós for some help against the pirates from Normandy. Thanks to the catalan army they could win de war, but Guifré was hurt at his chest by a lance and he died.

Before he was dead, the king of France said to him he will give hin the think he loved the best. Then the catalan king said: "Our country and I we don’t have any flag as a sign of identity". Charles saw near ther the golden shield shining by the sun rays and also he saw thew wound from what the blood was issuing without stop. Then he wet his hand in the blood and he draw with his fingers four red bars on the golden shield. Since then this is our flag