Closed royal crown

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Cavalry Regiment Alcantara, Laureate of Saint Ferdinand

Argent, a cross of Alcantara. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Behind the shield the Laureate Grand Cross of Saint Ferdinand. Motto: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Grand Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand.

Argent, a cross of Alcantara. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Behind the shield the Laureate Grand Cross of Saint Ferdinand. Motto: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Escudo de plata, una cruz de Alcántara. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Acolada detrás del escudo la gran cruz laureada de San Fernando. Lema: «Hoec nubila tollunt obstantia sicut sol».

Coat of arms interpreted in the following manner: the shape of the shield is of a semicircular arch; the field is illuminated in metal Argent; the cross of Alcantara, the 4 swords and the 2 laurel branches are outlined in Sable and illuminated in Vert and Gules; the royal crown is closed, outlined in Sable and illuminated with the metal Or, Argent for the pearls, Azure and Or for the orb, Gules and Vert for the gems, Gules for the inner cloth, and Sable for the visible hollow at its base; and the whole has a iridescent finish.

Rif War, July 23, 1921, banks of the Igan River, North Africa

The Alcantara Regiment executed nine successive cavalry charges to protect the infantry's retreat, nine charges until they broke the enemy lines, outnumbering them. The last charge was on foot because all their horses were dead or exhausted. These heroic riders of Alcantara had fulfilled their duty of protecting the wounded infantry in their retreat to El Batel, but the price was appalling: of 691 riders, only 67 survived, and three months were necessary to recover hundreds of corpses.

For this reason, in 2012, the Alcántara Regiment was collectively awarded the Grand Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand.

Two lances behind the shield

Since 1987, the coat of arms of the cavalry regiments of the Spanish Army must carry two crossed lances accolade behind the shield. And indeed, this coat of arms of the Alcántara Cavalry Regiment has two lances behind the shield, but in my artistic heraldic interpretation, I did not paint them to avoid detracting from the prominence of the Laureate Cross.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Argent, Cross of Alcantara, Cross couped, Cross, Crest, Closed royal crown, Crown, Behind the shield, Four, Sword, Crosswise, Gules, Two, Branch, Laurel, Vert and Motto.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Iridescent.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Alcantara, Cavalry Regiment.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Cavalry Regiment Montesa, royal crown

Argent, a cross of Montesa. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «In hoc signo vinces».

In this sign, you shall conquer.

Argent, a cross of Montesa. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto: «In hoc signo vinces».

Escudo de oro, una cruz de Montesa. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Lema: «In hoc signo vinces».

Coat of arms interpreted as follows: the shape of the shield is a semi-circular arch; the field has been illuminated in metal Or; the cross of Montesa is outlined in Sable and illuminated in Sable and Gules; the royal crown is closed, outlined in Sable and illuminated the metal in Or, the pearls in Argent, the orb in Azure and Or, the gemstones in Gules and Vert, the inner cloth in Gules, and the visible hollow at its base in Sable; and the whole has a slightly beaten metal finish.

Regimental Motto

The Latin motto «In hoc signo vinces» is translated as «In this sign, you shall conquer».

Globus cruciger ~ Orb

It is called orb ~ «globus cruciger», the first in Spanish and the second in Latin, referring to the part of the royal crown, a jewel, or a jewel itself that recreates the shape of the globe topped with a cross.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Cross of Montesa, Cross couped, Cross, Crest, Closed royal crown, Crown and Motto.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Soft metal.

Classification: Interpreted, Military, Army and Navy and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Montesa, Cavalry Regiment.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor: explaining and painting his coat of arms

Party per fess: 1 party per pale: 1 quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]. 2 quarterly: 1 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 2 quarterly per saltire: 1 and 4 Or, four pallets Gules; 2 and 3 Argent, an eagle displayed Sable [for Aragon-Sicily]. 3 Argent, a cross potent cantoned of four crosslets Or [for Jerusalem]. 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]. Enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]. 2 quarterly: 1 Gules, a fess Argent [for Austria]; 2 Azure semé of fleurs de lis Or within a bordure compony Argent and Gules [for Burgundy modern]; 3 bendy Or and Azure within a bordure Gules [for Burgundy ancient]; 4 Sable, a lion rampant Or, armed and langued Gules [for Brabant]; overall an inescutcheon party per pale: 1 Or, a lion rampant Sable, armed and langued Gules [for Flanders]; 2 Argent, an eagle displayed Gules, crowned, armed, beaked, langued and membered Or, charged on the wings with two trefoiled stems Or [for Tyrol]. Crest: An imperial crown with two fanons Argent, fringed Or. Behind the shield a double-headed eagle displayed Sable, nimbed, beaked and armed Or, langued and membered Gules, enfiled by an open royal crown above the shield. Supporters: two columns Argent between in base waves Azure, in chief an imperial crown the dexter and a closed royal crown the sinister. Moto environing the columns: «Plus Ultra» Or over a scroll Gules. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece.

Party per fess: 1 party per pale: 1 quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]. 2 quarterly: 1 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 2 quarterly per saltire: 1 and 4 Or, four pallets Gules; 2 and 3 Argent, an eagle displayed Sable [for Aragon-Sicily]. 3 Argent, a cross potent cantoned of four crosslets Or [for Jerusalem]. 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]. Enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]. 2 quarterly: 1 Gules, a fess Argent [for Austria]; 2 Azure semé of fleurs de lis Or within a bordure compony Argent and Gules [for Burgundy modern]; 3 bendy Or and Azure within a bordure Gules [for Burgundy ancient]; 4 Sable, a lion rampant Or, armed and langued Gules [for Brabant]; overall an inescutcheon party per pale: 1 Or, a lion rampant Sable, armed and langued Gules [for Flanders]; 2 Argent, an eagle displayed Gules, crowned, armed, beaked, langued and membered Or, charged on the wings with two trefoiled stems Or [for Tyrol]. Crest: An imperial crown with two fanons Argent, fringed Or. Behind the shield a double-headed eagle displayed Sable, nimbed, beaked and armed Or, langued and membered Gules, enfiled by an open royal crown above the shield. Supporters: two columns Argent between in base waves Azure, in chief an imperial crown the dexter and a closed royal crown the sinister. Moto environing the columns: «Plus Ultra» Or over a scroll Gules. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece.

The illustration brings together two different aspects. On the one hand, the photograph captures the moment in which I explain the coat of arms of Charles, Holy Roman Emperor, during one of my heraldic art exhibitions, pointing directly to its components while the audience observes. On the other hand, it shows the coat of arms of Charles V as painted by me. All the works visible in the image have been created by me. In this exhibition, I combined the presentation of my coats of arms with a live music concert featuring works by Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Komitas, and Carlos Gardel.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, Or, Vert, One, Two, Four, Party per fess, Party per pale, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crowned, Pale, Quarterly per saltire, Eagle, Displayed, Cross potent, Cross couped, Cantoned, Crosslet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Seeded, Slipped, Leaved, Fess, Semé, Fleur de lis, Bordure, Compony, Bendy, Overall, Inescutcheon, Beaked, Membered, Wing, Trefoiled, Stem, Crest, Imperial crown, Crown, Fanon, Fringed, Behind the shield, Double-headed, Nimbed, Enfiled, Open royal crown, Above the shield, Supporter (thing), Supporter, Column, Shafted, Between, In base, Wave, In chief, Dexter, Closed royal crown, Sinister, Motto, Environed, Scroll, Surrounded and Collar.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Semi-circular.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Boa, Collage and Photographic.

Bearer: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

City of Almeria, structured and parallel blazons

Coat of arms of the city of Almeria, Andalusia, emblazoned by me, with the blazon written in English and Castilian in a structured way to observe the parallelism between both forms. Starting from the section at the dexter chief as number 1, I number the sections of the bordure clockwise. In this particular case, as in others where the number of different charges is an exact divisor of the total number of sections, the numbering coincides even if counted counterclockwise.

Argent, a cross Gules; a bordure compony of fifteen sections: 1, 6, and 11 Argent, a pomegranate seeded, slipped and leaved proper; 2, 7, and 12 Or, an eagle displayed Sable; 3, 8, and 13 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Gules, masoned Sable; 4, 9, and 14 Argent, a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or; 5, 10, and 15 Or, four pallets Gules. Crest: A closed royal crown. Motto: «Muy noble, muy leal y decidida por la libertad» Sable, with initial letters Gules. Escudo de plata, una cruz de gules; una bordura componada de quince compones: 1o, 6o y 11o de plata, una granada al natural, tajada de gules, tallada y hojada de sinople; 2o, 7o y 12o de oro, un águila de sable; 3o, 8o y 13o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de gules, mazonado de sable; 4o, 9o y 14o de plata, un león rampante de gules, coronado de oro; 5o, 10o y 15o de oro, cuatro palos de gules. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Lema: «Muy noble, muy leal y decidida por la libertad» de sable, con letras iniciales de gules. Structured and parallel blazon


Blazon keywords: Argent, Gules, Or, Sable, Vert, One, Four, Fifteen, Cross, Bordure, Compony, Pomegranate, Slipped, Leaved, Proper, Eagle, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Closed royal crown, Crown, Motto and Scroll.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Parchment.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Structured and parallel blazons, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Almeria, city of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Closed royal crown and the Comunidad de Madrid

Gules, two castles triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable, in chief, seven mullets Argent, 4 and 3. Crest: A closed royal crown.

Gules, two castles triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable, in chief, seven mullets Argent, 4 and 3. Crest: A closed royal crown.

Arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a iridescent finishing.

Coat of arms of the Comunidad de Madrid emblazoned by me. Law 2/1983 of 23 December on the flag, the coat of arms, and the anthem of the Community of Madrid, published in the Official State Gazette, number 33 of 8 February 1984, defines this coat of arms in its Article 2 as follows: «...it consists of a single quarter Gules, charged Or with two castles in pair, embattled, donjoned, masoned Sable and ajouré Azure, surmounted in chief by seven mullets Argent, arranged four and three. For a timbre, a closed Royal Crown, which is a circle Or set with precious stones, composed of eight acanthus-leaf fleurons, of which five are visible, interspersed with pearls, from whose leaves rise diadems topped with pearls, converging in a globe Azure, with the demi-meridian and equator Or, surmounted by a cross Or. The crown is lined Gules».

Design rationale

The castles came from Castile and the 7 mullet from the bordure of the city of Madrid, they are the stars of the Plough, the 7 brightest stars of the Ursa Major. This coat of arms was adopted by the Comunidad de Madrid the 23th of December 23 of 1983.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Argent, Two, Seven, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, In chief, Mullet, Closed royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Semi-circular and Iridescent.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Madrid, Comunidad de.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crown of Castilla-La Mancha

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 Argent. Crest: A closed royal crown Or.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 Argent. Crest: A closed royal crown Or.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finishing.

Design rationale

The coat of arms of Castilla-La Mancha was adopted in 1983, it is a recent design. This coat of arms is equal to the flag of Castilla-La Mancha officially approved in 1980 and designed by Ramón José Maldonado y Cocat. The 1st quarter represents Castilla and the 2nd quarter the great plane of La Mancha.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Party per pale, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Crest, Closed royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Design rationale, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Castilla-La Mancha.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crown of Crepsi

Party per pale: 1 Gules, in base a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, in base a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or; overall a psi letter sable; a diminished bordure Or. Crest: A closed royal crown.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, in base a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, in base a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or; overall a psi letter sable; a diminished bordure Or. Crest: A closed royal crown.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular external shape and with a texturized finishing.

Coat of arms of Crepsi, designed by my lieutenant colonel and friend Miguel Angel Nuñez Amador and emblazoned by me.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Argent, Or, Azure, Sable, Party per pale, In base, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Overall, Letter, Diminished bordure, Closed royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Semi-circular.

Classification: Military, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Crepsi.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crown of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, three lions passant, guardant, in pale Or, armed and langued Azure; 2 Or, a lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure, within a double tressure flory counterflory Gules; 3 Azure, a harp Or, stringed Argent. Crest: A crown proper.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, three lions passant, guardant, in pale Or, armed and langued Azure; 2 Or, a lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure, within a double tressure flory counterflory Gules; 3 Azure, a harp Or, stringed Argent. Crest: A crown proper.

Coat of arms depicted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finishing.

Coat of arms of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II emblazoned by me. Saint Edward Crown, the fundamental piece used in the anointing ceremony of British monarchs, was reconstructed in 1661 after the Restoration. This crown is distinguished by its four depressed or downward-curving arches, three visible, which rise from a circular base decorated with four cross patty, three visible, alternating with four fleurs de lis, two visible. Like the Tudor, its arches, adorned with pearls, converge at the center to support an orb, a cross on a world. The crown's base is lined with ermine, and the cap or inner lining is traditionally represented in Purpure. It is the heaviest piece among the Crown Jewels and its use is reserved exclusively for the culminating moment of the coronation. The main visual difference between Saint Edward Crown and the Tudor Crown lies in their arches: Saint Edward Crown features depressed arches or downward curves, and its inner cap is typically represented in Purpure. Conversely, the Tudor Crown features ascending or semi-circular arches, and its inner cap is colored Gules.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, One, Three, Quarterly, Leopard, Pale, Armed, Langued, Lion, Rampant, Double tressure, Flory, Counterflory, Harp, Stringed, Saint Eduard crown, Closed royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crown of His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, three lions passant, guardant, in pale Or, armed and langued Azure; 2 Or, a lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure, within a double tressure flory counterflory Gules; 3 Azure, a harp Or, stringed Argent. Crest: A crown proper.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, three lions passant, guardant, in pale Or, armed and langued Azure; 2 Or, a lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure, within a double tressure flory counterflory Gules; 3 Azure, a harp Or, stringed Argent. Crest: A crown proper.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an ogee outer contour and with a metal beaten finish.

Coat of arms of His Majesty King Charles III emblazoned by me. The Tudor Crown, or 16th-century Imperial State Crown, has been the motif chosen by King Charles III for his visual identity. This crown is distinguished by its four ascending arches, three visible, which rise from a circular base decorated with four cross patty, three visible, alternating with four fleurs de lis, two visible. The arches, adorned with pearls, join at the center to support an orb, a cross on a world. The cloth cap inside is traditionally represented in Gules. And the base is lined with ermine. The way to distinguish the Tudor Crown from Saint Edward Crown is that Saint Edward Crown has depressed arches and its cap or inner lining is traditionally represented in Purpure. Charles III's choice revives the heraldic version used by his grandfather and great-grandfather, marking a preference for a symbol of the 16th-century monarchy.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, One, Three, Quarterly, Leopard, Pale, Armed, Langued, Lion, Rampant, Double tressure, Flory, Counterflory, Harp, Stringed, Tudor crown, Closed royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Metal beaten.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Charles III of the United Kingdom.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crown of the municipality of Candasnos

Party per fess, the base per pale: 1 Or, a hurt; 2 Gules and 3 Argent, over both a cross of Malta counterchanged. Crest: A closed royal crown.

Party per fess, the base per pale: 1 Or, a hurt; 2 Gules and 3 Argent, over both a cross of Malta counterchanged. Crest: A closed royal crown.

Coat of arms depicted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, and with a freehand finishing.

Arms of the municipality of Candasnos, Huesca, designed by Valeriano Labara Ballestar, approved by the Government of Aragon. It has been an honor for me to emblazon this version for Valeriano Labara. Bibliographic reference [Labara Ballestar, V. C.; 2019; pages 341-368].

Design rationale

The hurt represents what is known as the Good Raft, a symbol of the town and its people, it is a circular cistern of 40 meters in diameter of Roman origin, and the Maltese cross is a symbol of its connection since 1188 to the Royal Monastery of Sijena of Hospitaller nuns of the Order Malta.


Blazon keywords: Or, Azure, Gules, Argent, One, Party per fess, the base per pale, Hurt, Eight-pointed cross, Cross couped, Counterchanged, Crest, Closed royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Freehand.

Classification: Civic, Interpreted, Design rationale, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Candasnos, municipality of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Áncora de oro y la divisa enlace.

Felipe VI in Twelve Lineages

Felipe VI, Twelve Lineages

Publication of my interpretation of the arms of His Majesty King Felipe VI on the blog Twelve Lineages of Soria in an article entitled The heraldic artist Dr. Antonio Salmerón Cabañas receives the recognition and gratitude of H.M. Felipe VI for his interpretation of the royal arms based on the golden ratio and, later, in another article entitled The eminent heraldist Mr. Antonio Salmerón Cabañas interprets the arms of H.M. King Felipe VI.

Felipe VI, Twelve Lineages, second publication

Categories: Link, Or, Four, Pale, Gules, Azure, Sable, One, Castle, Port and windows, Masoned, Argent, Purpure, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crowned, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Vert, Closed royal crown, Crown, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Bordure, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Seeded (pomegranate), Slipped and Leaved.

Root: Twelve Lineages of Soria.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Kingdom of Spain, collage

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or; 3 Or, four pallets Gules; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules. Crest: A closed royal crown. Supporters: two columns Argent, capital and base Or, between in base waves Azure, in chief an imperial crown the dexter and a closed royal crown the sinister. Motto environing the columns and behind the shield: «Plus Ultra» Or over a scroll Gules.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or; 3 Or, four pallets Gules; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules. Crest: A closed royal crown. Supporters: two columns Argent, capital and base Or, between in base waves Azure, in chief an imperial crown the dexter and a closed royal crown the sinister. Motto environing the columns and behind the shield: «Plus Ultra» Or over a scroll Gules.

Arms of the Kingdom of Spain. This image combines three photographs of this coat of arms on the façade of the Ministry of Defence building on the Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid, just a few metres from my office, together with my own artistic interpretation of the same arms. In the version on the façade of the Ministry of Defence, the crowns above the columns do not touch the columns, which I believe is the correct way to depict them, although the central crown does appear to rest upon the shield of Spain. There are more interpretations that place the crowns resting on the columns than those that do not, and I photographed this particular version from the Ministry of Defence because it is especially relevant due to its size and institutional significance. On the arrangement of the crowns: a) Royal Decree 1511/1977, of 21 January, enacted during the so-called Transition and approving the Regulations on Flags and Standards, Guidons, Insignia and Distinctive Signs, states: «Rule No. 2. Coat of Arms of Spain… Accompanied by two columns Argent, with base and capital Or, set upon waves Azure or blue and Argent», «superado» «by an imperial crown on the dexter one and by a royal crown on the sinister one…». b) The subsequent Law 33/1981, of 5 October, regulating the current coat of arms of Spain, likewise states: «…Accompanied by two columns Argent, with base and capital Or, set upon waves Azure or blue and Argent», «superado» «by an imperial crown on the dexter one and by a royal crown on the sinister one». c) The term «superado» in the heraldic dictionaries in which it appears refers, as a synonym, to «surmontado». d) The definitions of «surmontado» include: «a charge which, at its upper part, has another above it but without touching it», «also said of superado», and «a figure that bears another above it, but without touching it». In light of a), b), c) and d), the two crowns should therefore be painted not touching the columns. However, in the illustrative drawing contained in Royal Decree 1511/1977 the crowns do touch the columns, contradicting its own wording, although in heraldry, when in doubt, the written blazon always prevails; and in most official representations the crowns do indeed touch the columns. Nevertheless, this personal interpretation of both the coat of arms of Spain and of the proper way to write its blazon, where the lateral crowns do not touch the columns, and then I decide that, following the same criterion, the central crown should not touch the shield either, so the result differs from the official version.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Purpure, Vert, Or, Argent, One, Two, Three, Four, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Bordure, Closed royal crown, Crown, Supporter (thing), Supporter, Column, Shafted, Between, In base, Wave, In chief, Imperial crown, Dexter, Sinister, Motto, Environed, Behind the shield and Scroll.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated and Semi-circular.

Classification: Civic, Kingdom of Spain, Interpreted, Boa, Photographic and Collage.

Bearer: Spain, Kingdom of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Royal Association of Hidalgos of Spain, emblem

Emblem, two two-handed swords in saltire Argent, hilted Or. Crest: A royal crown Or.

Emblem, two two-handed swords in saltire Argent, hilted Or. Crest: A royal crown Or.

Emblema, dos mandobles en sotuer de plata, guarnecidos de oro. Timbrado de una corona real.

Emblem interpretation with: the two-handed swords placed along the diagonals of an imaginary rectangle, with a 5x6 proportion, like a shield, that is, with angles of 50.2°, between the axis of the two-handed swords and the imaginary base of the emblem, unlike the original emblem where the two-handed swords are on the diagonals of a square, therefore with angles of 45°; the two-handed swords and the closed royal crown are outlined in Sable, illuminated and the whole with a raised-stroke execution.

This emblem of the Royal Association of Hidalgos of Spain has 2 two-handed swords that, unlike usual swords, due to their great length and weight, their fencing must be two-handed, hence their name.

The Spanish word «mandoble» comes from «mano doble», meaning «double hand», and refers to a sword wielded with both hands, the equivalent of the English «two-handed sword».

It is known that they are two-handed swords because the 2 that appear in the emblem have a crescent or crossguard in their iron. This crescent is called in Castilian «falsaguarda» and also «ganchos de parada» and its functionality is to protect from the slashes that the opponent could give close to the blade of the two-handed sword.


Blazon keywords: Two-handed sword, Argent, Hilted, Or, In saltire, Crest, Closed royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Illuminated, Outlined in sable and Freehand.

Classification: Interpreted, Socioeconomic and Emblem.

Bearer: Royal Association of Hidalgos of Spain.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Royal Spanish Academy, emblem

Emblemb Argent, a crucible Argent, enflamed and on a bonfire hoguera Gules and Or. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto around the shield: «Limpia, fixa, y da esplendor» Or over a scroll Azure, fimbriated Or.

Emblemb Argent, a crucible Argent, enflamed and on a bonfire hoguera Gules and Or. Crest: A closed royal crown Or, with eight arches, visible five. Motto around the shield: «Limpia, fixa, y da esplendor» Or over a scroll Azure, fimbriated Or.

Emblema de plata, un crisol de plata, llameante y sumado a una hoguera de gules y oro. Timbrado de una corona real cerrada. Lema alrededor del escudo: «Limpia, fixa, y da esplendor» de oro sobre una filacteria de azur, perfilada de oro.

Painted by me with a metalwork finish, with an oval shape.

The Royal Spanish Academy was founded in 1713 on the initiative of Juan Manuel Fernández Pacheco, eighth Marquess of Villena and Duke of Escalona, with the aim of «fixing the words and vocabulary of the Castilian language in its greatest propriety, elegance, and purity». A year later, in 1714, its creation was approved by a Royal Decree of Philip V.

To symbolize its purpose, its emblem with a crucible to the fire and its motto «Limpia, fija y da esplendor» [Zamora Vicente, A.; 1999] were chosen by secret ballot. In some old versions of this emblem the motto can be read with the term «fixa» and a comma before the conjunction, that is, «Limpia, fixa, y da esplendor».

This article is illustrated with my personal interpretation of this emblem of the Royal Spanish Academy, crested with a closed royal crown of 8 arches, of which the 5 frontal ones are completely visible.

In this, as in any of my works, I always consult its dictionaries, almost as much, as the most interesting and specific works on the subject of study.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Argent, One, Crucible, Enflamed, Bonfire, Gules, Or, Closed royal crown, Crown, Motto, Within, Scroll, Azure and Fimbriated.

Style keywords: Oval, Illuminated and Outlined in sable.

Classification: Interpreted, Socioeconomic, Metalwork and Emblem.

Bearer: Royal Spanish Academy.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Libro abierto, hojas de plata, filo de oro, guardas de gules, tapas de sable.

Royal Spanish Academy; 2014

Limpia, fija y da esplendor surrounding the emblem of the Real Academia Española

Real Academia Española, «Diccionario de la lengua española», known as DRAE, acronym for Diccionario de la Real Academia Española, 23rd edition, Espasa Calpe, Madrid, 2014.


This bibliographic reference of the DRAE is illustrated with one of my interpretations of the emblem of the Real Academia Española. Oval emblem with its crucible over a bonfire, surmounted by a closed Royal crown and its motto «Limpia, fija y da esplendor», around the emblem in letters of Or on Azure.


Bibliographical reference of century XXI.

Classification: Dictionary and Castilian language.

Author: Royal Spanish Academy.

Bibliographic reference mentioned in the following articles:

External link:

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Toison and crown of Felipe VI of Spain, plain tinctures

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]; 3 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules [for Bourbon]. Crest: A closed royal crown. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece.

Quarterly: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable [for Castile]; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or [for Leon]; 3 Or, four pallets Gules [for Aragon]; 4 Gules, a chain orlewise, crosswise, and saltirewise Or, charged in the fess point with an emerald Vert [for Navarre]; enté en point Argent, a pomegranate proper, seeded Gules, slipped and leaved Vert [for Granada]; an inescutcheon Azure, three fleurs de lis Or, 2 and 1, a bordure Gules [for Bourbon]. Crest: A closed royal crown. The shield is surrounded by the Golden Fleece.

Coat of arms emblazoned by me, in plain tinctures, outlined in Sable, with a semi-circular outer contour and with a texturized finishing.

This is my interpretation of the coat of arms of His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain, bearing the Collar of the Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Azure, Purpure, Vert, Or, Argent, One, Three, Four, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Pallet, Chain, Orlewise, Crosswise, Saltirewise, Charged, In the fess point, Emerald, Enté en point, Pomegranate, Proper, Slipped, Leaved, Inescutcheon, Fleur de lis, Ordered, Bordure, Closed royal crown, Crown, Surrounded and Collar.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Semi-circular.

Classification: Personal, Kingdom of Spain, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Felipe VI of Spain.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León Libro abierto, hojas de plata, filo de oro, guardas de gules, tapas de sable.

Zamora Vicente, A.; 1999

Limpia, fixa, y da esplendor surrounding the emblem of the Real Academia Española

Alonso Zamora Vicente, «Historia de la Real Academia Española», Real Academia Española, Espasa Calpe, Madrid, 1999.


This bibliographic reference is illustrated with one of my interpretations of the emblem of the Real Academia Española. It is an oval emblem in Argent, with its crucible, also in Argent, over a bonfire of Gules and Or and surrounded by its flames, surmounted by a closed Royal crown with 8 arches, 5 of which are visible, and its motto, as originally written «Limpia, fixa, y da esplendor», around it.


Bibliographical reference of century XX.

Classification: Castilian language.

Author: Zamora Vicente, Alonso.

The following article cites this bibliographic reference:

External link:

 

Dr. Antonio Salmerón y Cabañas,
,
Paseo de la Castellana 135, 7th floor,
28046 Madrid, Spain.