Navarre

Navarre
Country	Spain
Flag of Navarre
Adopted	August 10, 1982
Wikipedia article
Flags of the World article

The flag of Navarre, the flag of the autonomous community of Navarre, was designed in 1910 by Arturo Campión, Julio Altadill, and Hermilio de Oloriz. In 1910, the design was approved by the Provincial Council of Navarre and it was sanctioned by the Organic Law of Reintegration and Improvement of the Regional Government of Navarre (Ley Orgánica de Reintegración y Amejoramiento del Régimen Foral de Navarra, or LORAFNA) of August 10, 1982, which was established in Article 7.2: "The flag of Navarre is red-colored, with a shield in the center."

The shield is the coat of arms of Navarre, which consists of golden chains arranged against a red background, with an emerald in the center of the pattern linked to the eight chains, with a Royal Crown, a symbol of the ancient Kingdom of Navarre, added on top of the shield.

The flag of Navarre began to be used as a symbol for the region from 1910 onwards. The color red was chosen for the flag because this was the color of the field of the coat of arms.

Previously, there had been no flag for Navarre per se, but just a royal standard for its monarchs. This was a personal symbol of the king that he included with his coat of arms. The first record of a red background for a flag dates from the 14th century, when the soldiers of King Charles II of Navarre, who intended to occupy Paris, wore distinctive berets of this color, according to Martín Larrayoz.

Subsequently, Luis Correa, chronicler of the Duke of Alba during the conquest of Navarre in 1512, mentions a standard or ensign of the same red color when he mentions "in the forward lines three hundred men-at-arms on foot with a banner colored red with certain stripes of gold on it that they all guarded and swore to never surrender."

Historical Flags

The "arrano beltza" red variant.

The "arrano beltza" white and square variant.

Kingdom of Navarre flag (pre 1212). The "arrano beltza" (Basque for 'black eagle') is an ancient Basque and Navarre symbol depicting a black heraldic eagle upon a yellow background. Today, it is mostly used by Basque nationalists as a symbol of sovereignty and independence. Some red and white variants also exists.

Royal Standard of the Kings of Navarre (used between 1212 and 1841)

This was the first official flag adopted by the Diputación Foral de Navarra (Statutory Council of Navarre, regional government). It was adopted on 15th July 1910. The design of the coat-of-arms had been adopted previously on 22th January 1910. This coat-of-arms model differs fundamentally from the current one in that the chain links are united with each other directly, with no circular rings in the ends apart from the central one. With the arrival of the Second Republic the arms were modified to adapt them to the new regime (mural crown). Used between 1910 and 1931, and in 1938.

Navarre pendant described in "Book of All Kingdoms", late 14th Century.

This was the second official flag adopted by the Diputación Foral de Navarra (Statutory Council of Navarre, regional government). (...) With the arrival of the Second Republic the 1910 arms were modified to adapt them to the new regime (mural crown). The new design was adopted on 8th June 1931 and it was published in the Boletín Oficial de la Provincia de Navarra (Official Bulletin of Navarre Province) on 12th June 1931. Used between 1931 and 1937.

This flag was official from 17 December 1937 until 1982. The escutcheon of the arms is supported by the laureate cross of St Ferdinand, the highest Spanish military decoration for valour, which was granted by General Franco to Navarre to thank its support of the 1936 coup d'etat. The grant was made on 8 November 1937, the regional government ("diputación") decided how to include it in the arms on 14 December 1937 and the official design was published in the province's official bulletin ("Diario Oficial de la Provincia de Navarra") on 17 December 1937.

Current flag, based on that of 1910, and approved in 1982. It changes the tone of red in the background, stylizing the crown and shield, in addition to adding a definitive 2:3 ratio to the flag.

Flag Redesigns

Republican variant of the actual flag, used by anti-monarchists.

Simplified version of the chains, without the crown and the emmerald, very common in logos (used mostly by left-winged parties and movements)

Flag proposal by Hans.

Flag proposal by Hans.

Flag proposal by Etzharai.

Navarre flag redesign 1 by EuropeanV.

Navarre flag redesign 2 by EuropeanV.