Viceroyal standard: history, characteristics, symbology

He virreinal standard or flag of New Spain, was the flag representative of the first of the four viceroyalties that Spain created to govern their conquered lands in the New World. This Viceroyalty comprised all the lands of the Spanish crown in the New World during the colonial period.

Its extension came to encompass all that is nowadays Mexico, the southwestern United States, Central America (except Panama), the Caribbean and the Philippines in the Pacific Ocean.

Viceroyalty Flag of New Spain

The New Spain was governed by a representative of the Spanish monarch (the viceroy) from its capital in Mexico City. From its beginnings, the vice-regal standard of New Spain had as its main motif La Cruz de Borgoña. This had been adopted by Spain as a new national flag in the year 1520.

There were many versions of this flag, but in its simplest form it consisted of a diagonal cross on a white field. The variants of the Cross of Burgundy were widely used by the Spanish military both on land and at sea.

Its most common version waved throughout the colonial empire of Spain in the New World until 1785, when a new flag was adopted.

History of the viceregal banner

Burgundy was a French duchy that stretched across northern France, Belgium and the southern Netherlands. When Felipe I of the House of Burgundy unites in marriage with Juana de Castilla and Aragón, daughter of the Kings of Spain, both territories are unified.

This new territory takes the Cross of San Andres, or Cross of Burgundy, as the new royal standard. Later, this banner was used as an overseas flag during the colonization Spanish of the New World.

In 1521, when the conquistador Hernán Cortés defeated and subdued the Mexica empire, the viceroyalty of La Nueva España was created. When beginning its functions, a modified version of the emblem of the Royal House is adopted as viceregal standard.

This consists of the image of La Cruz de San Andrés on a yellow ocher background. The cross is topped with four applications in which the coat of arms of Mexico City is embroidered with colored threads.

During all the time that the Spanish domination lasted, this banner was used in official ceremonial acts as well as in ships and forts. As of the year 1529, it was taken from the city hall of the city every August 13th.

This is the date when Cortés definitely took Tenochtitlan. It was then taken to what was called the Paseo del Pendón . They commemorated the birth of the capital of New Spain.

This flag remained the viceregal standard of New Spain for almost 300 years. It prevailed until 1821, when the Treaty of Córdoba was signed. With this treaty agreed the Mexico's independence .

characteristics

Cruz de San Andrés

The viceregal standard uses as a central element the so-called San Andrés cross. This consists of a cross in the form of an arrow with two acute angles and two obtuse angles.

The basic pattern resembles two crossed branches. The shape of a diagonal cross is a heraldic symbol that is known as I skipped In the case of the viceregal standard, the cross is red and the field is yellow ocher.

Coat of arms

On the other hand, at the end of each of the arms of the cross is the coat of arms of Mexico City. In the shield you can see an eagle in a combative posture, a snake held by a claw and the beak of the eagle.

This bird is perched on a cactus with its fruits (tunas). Some oak and laurel leaves surround the eagle. Other elements present in this shield are the royal crowns and a pedestal on which the nopal grows.

T Aztec radition

According to experts, this coat of arms is a translation of an ancient glyph (engraving) of the Aztec tradition. In turn, it is believed that these inherited them from the Toltecs.

Applications

During the conquest, this badge was carried on the flags to organize and coordinate the warriors in battle. They were adorned with different feathers of colors and were shown as the personal shield of the officer who commanded the action.

Other versions

In another version you can see the shield of Mexico City in the center. From there, the four arms of the cross of San Andrés are crowned.

There are also two crowned lions, and a royal crown at the top. This was used throughout all the territories of the Spanish empire.

Symbology

The cross of St. Andrew represents the martyrdom of this apostle. According to a very old tradition, San Andrés was crucified in 60 AD. C. in Greece. It was tied to a"crux decussata"(cross in the form of X ) and there he suffered for four days until his death.

Historians say that, during the days of his torture, he took the opportunity to preach and instruct all those who approached him in religion. The cross became a symbol of resistance in the face of adversity.

However, in the viceregal banner this cross came to represent the Spanish monarchy and its empire.

For its part, the coat of arms symbolizes the founding of Mexico City. According to legend, the god Huitzilopochtli asked his people to look for an eagle perched on a nopal and devouring a snake. Upon finding the site, Tenochtitlan was founded, territory of what is now Mexico City.

In this way, the elements of this shield were a recognition of the autochthonous culture. The eagle was a representation of the sun god Huitzilopochtli.

For its part, the nopal represents the island of Tenochtitlan and the serpent represented wisdom. The latter was also related to the god Quetzalcoatl.

Finally, the crowns with which the coat of arms are finished represent the power of the Spanish crown.

References

1. Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History. (2000). New Spain, Viceroyalty of. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from encyclopedia.com.
2. Jackson, E. (s / f). Spanish Cross of Burgundy Flag. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu.
3. Ortiz Romo, E. (2010). Shields and flags of Mexico. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from web.uaemex.mx.
4. Palmera, A. (2016, August 01). TOP 10 - Historical flags. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from mxtop10.wordpress.com.
5. Olvera, J. J. (2011, February 24). History of the Mexican Flag. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from jjolverag.wordpress.com.