Why the Kingdom of Granada is still on Spain's coat of arms
We look at the historical meaning of the pomegranate at the centre of the coat of arms, the two crowns and the controversial Bourbon fleur-de-lis.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Why the Kingdom of Granada is still on Spain's coat of arms
Many eyebrows are raised at the sight of the pomegranate in the centre of the national coat of arms, especially when the history behind it is unknown. The silver field with a split pomegranate is no decorative whim: it represents the Kingdom of Granada, the last Muslim territory conquered in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs. Its inclusion symbolises the completion of the Reconquista and the territorial unification of modern Spain.
A coat of arms of kingdoms, not of nations
The quartered design shows Castile (the castle), León (the lion), Aragon (the bars) and Navarre (the chains). Asturias is missing, but it is no oversight: the Asturian kingdom was the seed of León, which in turn merged with Castile. In heraldry, the lion already carries the Asturian legacy. Others miss the Eagle of Saint John, emblem of the Catholic Monarchs, removed by the Bourbons along with the introduction of the fleur-de-lis. The controversial fleur-de-lis, linked to the French dynasty, is usually the most questioned element.
The two crowns: imperial and royal
One of the most striking oddities is the double crown above the Pillars of Hercules. It is not a mistake: the left column bears an imperial crown, added by Charles I when he was elected Holy Roman Emperor. The right one keeps the royal crown, symbol of the peninsular kingdoms. Together they recall that Spain was not just a kingdom: its monarch also held the highest imperial dignity.
The 'uncomfortable' Nasrid reminder
The debate does not end with the technicalities. For some, the pomegranate is a legitimate war trophy; for others, a reminder of conquest and cultural imposition. The current design dates from 1981, but it preserves the essence of the Catholic Monarchs' coat of arms. The final irony: what grates on many people is not the presence of a 'Moorish' kingdom, but the Bourbon fleur-de-lis reminding everyone that Spain once had French kings.
Related debates in the forum
Many eyebrows are raised at the sight of the pomegranate in the centre of the national coat of arms, especially when the history behind it is unknown. The silver field with a split pomegranate is no decorative whim: it represents the Kingdom of Granada, the last Muslim territory conquered in 1492 by the Catholic Monarchs. Its inclusion symbolises the completion of the Reconquista and the territorial unification of modern Spain.
A coat of arms of kingdoms, not of nations
The quartered design shows Castile (the castle), León (the lion), Aragon (the bars) and Navarre (the chains). Asturias is missing, but it is no oversight: the Asturian kingdom was the seed of León, which in turn merged with Castile. In heraldry, the lion already carries the Asturian legacy. Others miss the Eagle of Saint John, emblem of the Catholic Monarchs, removed by the Bourbons along with the introduction of the fleur-de-lis. The controversial fleur-de-lis, linked to the French dynasty, is usually the most questioned element.
The two crowns: imperial and royal
One of the most striking oddities is the double crown above the Pillars of Hercules. It is not a mistake: the left column bears an imperial crown, added by Charles I when he was elected Holy Roman Emperor. The right one keeps the royal crown, symbol of the peninsular kingdoms. Together they recall that Spain was not just a kingdom: its monarch also held the highest imperial dignity.
The 'uncomfortable' Nasrid reminder
The debate does not end with the technicalities. For some, the pomegranate is a legitimate war trophy; for others, a reminder of conquest and cultural imposition. The current design dates from 1981, but it preserves the essence of the Catholic Monarchs' coat of arms. The final irony: what grates on many people is not the presence of a 'Moorish' kingdom, but the Bourbon fleur-de-lis reminding everyone that Spain once had French kings.
Related debates in the forum
- Does Spain have an excessively southern character because of Andalusians? · 336 replies
- "We Spaniards are half Moors" (thread on Spanish endophobia) · 624 replies
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (33 replies).
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