Kingdom of Castile and Leon

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

Alfonso X of Castile; 1265

Coat of Arms of Álvaro de Zúñiga y Guzmán, first Duke of Arévalo

Alfonso X of Castile, The Wise, «The Seven-Part Code», its estimated completion year is 1265.


This is the copy I can consult, as it is available in the Hispanic Digital Library, it is a manuscript measuring 42 by 30 centimeters that once belonged to Álvaro de Zúñiga y Guzmán, first Duke of Arévalo, which later came into the possession of the Catholic Monarchs, initially Queen Isabella I of Castile, and after her death, King Ferdinand reclaimed it for the price of 5,251 maravedis. The original is housed in the National Library, in display case 4/6.

This copy, in addition to its numerous capital letters, has 8 illustrated pages, which according to its subsequent hand-numbering in pencil are:

  • Page 6, among its illustrations can be seen 2 coats of arms of the Zúñiga family «Argent, a bend Sable, over all, a chain in orle Or», in this case formed by 16 links, 8 round and 8 more elongated placed in profile.
  • Pages 106 and 191, on the latter can be seen a curious bishop-lizard climbing.
  • Pages 294 and 331, on the 2nd at the bottom, a maiden is seen walking a monkey to relieve itself and to her right a fight of men with beast bodies.
  • Page 379 and on its previous unnumbered page, and finally, on page 415 which begins with a tournament where the 2nd knight bears the ancient arms of France «Azure, semy of fleurs de lis Or».

The coat of arms that illustrates this bibliographic reference is that of Álvaro de Zúñiga y Guzmán. For the creation of his chain, I followed the illustration of his 2 coats of arms on the already mentioned page 6 of this manuscript.

The Seven-Part Code, Alfonso X of Castile, pages 14 and 15

It is one of my favorite manuscripts and, perhaps, the one with which I have created the most things.


Bibliographical reference of century XIII.

Classification: Castilian language, Manuscript and In color.

Author: Alfonso X of Castile.

Bibliographical reference mentioned in the following article:

External resources:

Internal resources: AlfonsoXDeCastilla1265.7Partidas.10642.pdf.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Alfonso X the Wise

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules.

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

Coat of arms of the King Alfonso X of Castile, 1221–1284, 1st son of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. The order of the quarters is first the castle of his grandmother, Queen Berenguela of Castile, and second the lion of his grandfather, King Alfonso IX of León; however, the other day I discovered that on the map by [Martineau du Plessis, D.; 1700; volume II, illustration 30, page 126], in the shield framed between parallels 37 and 36 and meridians 21 and 22, the lion occupies the 1st quarter and the castle the 2nd quarter; that is, their order appears reversed.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, One, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Armed and Langued.

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

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

Bearer: Alfonso X of Castile.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Alphonse X of Castile, open royal crown

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o y 3o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules. Timbrado de una corona real abierta.

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o y 3o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules. Timbrado de una corona real abierta.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules. Crest: An open royal crown Or.

I emblazoned the coat of arms of the King with an external shape ending in an ogee arch, the field, castles, lions, and crown are outlined; and all have a crystal clear finishing.


Blazon keywords: Quarterly, Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Castle, Port and windows, Masoned, Argent, Purpure, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Ogee, Plain tincture, Outlined in sable and Marmoreal.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Castile and Leon.

Bearer: Alphonse X of Castile.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Cáceres, Province of

Party per pale: 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.

Party per pale: 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.

Escudo partido: 1o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules, coronado de oro.

Civic coat of arms interpreted by me as follows: the shield has a semicircular (round) base; the field, the castle and the lion are illuminated; the lion and its crown are outlined in the colour of the field; the open royal crown and the castle are outlined in Sable, in the case of the castle because it is masoned; and the whole has a canvas texture.


Blazon keywords: Party per pale, Argent, Purpure, Gules, Or, Azure, Castle, Lion, Port and windows, Masoned, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crowned, Crown and Open royal crown.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated and Fabric.

Classification: Interpreted, Civic, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Castile and Leon.

Bearer: Cáceres, Province of.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Castile and León on parchment

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or. Crest: An open royal crown Or.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or. Crest: An open royal crown Or.

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o y 3o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules, coronado de oro. Timbrado de una corona real abierta.

Arms of the Kingdom of Castile and León which I have interpreted as follows: the shield has a rounded (semicircular) base; the quarters are illuminated in flat tinctures Argent and Gules; the castles, lions and crown are illuminated; the lion and its crown are outlined in the colour of the field; the open royal crown; the royal Castilian castle is outlined in Sable, which is said to be masoned; the owner, the shield and its blazon are framed within a border also representing the arms of the Kingdom, this frame being formed by 76 small castles and 2 large ones in two corners, and 76 small crowned lions and 2 large ones in the other two corners; and the whole set appears as if illuminated upon an old parchment.


Blazon keywords: Quarterly, Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Castle, Port and windows, Masoned, Argent, Purpure, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crowned, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Rounded, Illuminated and Old parchment.

Classification: Interpreted, Civic, Frame, Kingdom of Castile and Leon and Canting.

Bearer: Castile and León.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Central Military Region with motto

Coat of arms (1984-1997 and 1997-2002) of the former Central Military Region, also called 1<sup>st</sup> Military Region, where I serve. I interpreted and emblazoned now this coat of arms with a semi-circular ended shape.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Gules, crowned Or. Motto: «Región Militar Centro» over a scroll Or.

Coat of arms (1984-1997 and 1997-2002) of the former Central Military Region, also called 1st Military Region, where I serve. I interpreted and emblazoned now this coat of arms with a semi-circular ended shape.


Blazon keywords: Party per pale, Gules, One, Castle, Or, Port and windows, Azure, Masoned, Sable, Argent, Lion, Rampant, Crowned, Motto (identification) and Scroll.

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

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

Bearer: Central Military Region.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Crown of the Infanta Berenguela of Castile

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules; a bordure compony of sixteen sections: eight Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable, eight Or, an eagle displayed Sable. Crest: An open royal crown.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules; a bordure compony of sixteen sections: eight Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable, eight Or, an eagle displayed Sable. Crest: An open royal crown.

Arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a metal beaten finish.

Coat of arms of the Infanta Berenguela of Castile, 1228–1279, 5th daughter of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. The coat of arms of Infanta Berenguela of Castile, besides being beautiful, has always seemed to me the epitome of the Castilian arms: quartered, bearing Leon and Castile, and surrounded by a bordure compony with castles. This coat of arms has been emblazoned by me.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, One, Sixteen, Eight, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Bordure, Compony, Eagle, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

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

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

Bearer: Berenguela of Castile, Infanta.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Ferdinand III, invention of quartering

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules.

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o y 3o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules.

A symbolic image representing, through 3 coats of arms, the creation of the coat of arms of the King Ferdinand III the Saint from the arms of Alfonso IX, King of León, and Berenguela, Queen of Castile. The shapes of all three shields are rounded; all their components are illuminated; and the whole composition features a watercolor finish.

Ferdinand III the Saint was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of Castile. During his reign, the crowns of Castile and León were united forever. When, in 1230, Ferdinand III succeeded his father, he adopted a quarterly coat of arms, placing his mother's arms, the castle, in the 1st and 4th quarters, and his father's arms, the lion, in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. His goal was likely to achieve balance between the two kingdoms and to give his coat of arms a greater sense of continuity over time compared to impaled arms. The coat of arms of Ferdinand III the Saint was the first quarterly shield in history, and the idea spread into the heraldry of Spain and other kingdoms, such as Aragon-Sicily, Brabant, England, Navarre, and Bohemia.

The mother first, schematic in English

Schematic in English.

Blazon keywords: Quarterly, Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Castle, Port and windows, Masoned, Argent, Purpure, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Semi-circular, Illuminated, Tilted shield and Watercolor.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Accolé arms, Family tree, Genealogical, Kingdom of Castile, Kingdom of León and Kingdom of Castile and Leon.

Bearer: Ferdinand III of Castile.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Fernández de Córdoba y Carrillo, Diego

Or, three fesses Gules.

Marshal of Castile, first Lord of Baena and plenipotentiary ambassador to the court of Portugal (1355–1435).

Or, three fesses Gules.

Escudo de oro, tres fajas de gules.

Coat of arms del que fue mariscal de Castilla interpreted as follows: the shield has a semicircular (round) base; the field is illuminated in flat metal Or; its three fesses illuminated in Gules y outlined in Sable; y el conjunto con un plastered finish.

He served under the kings John I of Castile, Henry III of Castile, and John II of Castile.

These three bars of the Fernández de Córdoba lineage are found, for example, in the first quarter of the coat of arms of Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba y Enríquez de Aguilar, known as *El Gran Capitán*.


Blazon keywords: Without divisions, Or, Fess and Gules.

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

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Castile and Leon.

Bearer: Fernández de Córdoba y Carrillo, Diego.

Blazon equivalent to: Berry of Molland.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Henry of Castile, Infante

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a cross flory Purpure.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a cross flory Purpure.

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o y 3o de plata, una cruz flordelisada de púrpura.

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

Coat of arms of the Infante Henry of Castile, 1230–1303, 6th offspring of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. He bore his father's arms, replacing the lion Purpure of the Kingdom of León with a cross flory Purpure, likely due to his close association with the Order of Calatrava, whose emblem is a cross flory Gules. However, he retained the metal Argent field in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and the lion's purpure color, suggesting this was more of a conceptual change than a quartering by alliance with the Order of Calatrava.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, One, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Cross flory and Cross couped.

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

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

Bearer: Henry of Castile, Infante.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Infante Manuel of Castile, ratios

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a hand Carnation, embowed, vambraced and winged Or, holding a sword point upwards Argent, hilted Or; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules. Crest: An open royal crown.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a hand Carnation, embowed, vambraced and winged Or, holding a sword point upwards Argent, hilted Or; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules. Crest: An open royal crown.

Coat of arms of the Infante Manuel of Castile, 1234–1283, 7th son of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. This coat of arms has been delineated with proportions by me.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Argent, Purpure, One, Quarterly, Hand, Arm, Vambraced, Embowed, Winged, Sword, Point upwards, Hilted, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Ratio, Outlined, Outlined in sable and Ogee.

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

Bearer: Manuel of Castile, Infante.

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

Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, F.; 1982

Faustino Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, «Medieval Spanish Heraldry I: The Royal House of Leon and Castile», illustrations by Jaime Bugallal y Vela, edited by the Salazar and Castro Institute, (C. S. I. C. Higher Center for Scientific Research), published by Hidalguía, 271 pages, size 24 x 17 cm, includes color plates, Legal deposit M. 22.165-1982, ISBN 84-00-05150-5, printed by Imprenta Sáez, Madrid, 1982.

Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, schema 1, between pages 48 and 49

Index

  • Introduction, page 11.
  • Abbreviations, page 22.
  • Alfonso VII, page 23.
  • Fernando II, page 39.
  • Alfonso VIII, page 47.
  • The spread of the arms of Castile, schema between pages 48 and 47.
  • Alfonso IX, page 71.
  • Fernando III, page 87.
  • Alfonso X, page 109.
  • Origins of differentiated arms, schema between pages 48 and 47.
  • Sancho IV, page 129.
  • Fernando IV, page 139.
  • Alfonso XI, page 141.
  • Pedro I, page 157.
  • Henry II, page 165.
  • John I, page 177.
  • Henry III, page 185.
  • John II, page 189.
  • Henry IV, page 195.
  • Isabella and Ferdinand, page 199.
  • Children of the Catholic Monarchs, page 207.
  • Evolution of the arms of Spain, page 213.
  • The House of Austria, page 239.
  • The Houses of Two Sicilies and Parma, page 241.
  • Arms of Castile and Leon outside the Royal House, page 243.
  • Index nominum, page 265.
  • Index rerum, page 271.

Bibliographical reference of century XX.

Classification: Black and white with color plates and Castilian language.

Author: Menéndez Pidal de Navascués, Faustino.

The following article cites this bibliographic reference:

Internal resources: Physical book in paper.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Philip of Castile, Infante

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Or, an eagle displayed Sable.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Or, an eagle displayed Sable.

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o y 3o de oro, un águila de sable.

Arms painted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, outlined in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finish.

Coat of arms of the Infante Philip of Castile, 1231–1274, 7th offspring of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. This coat of arms has been emblazoned by me and can be consulted in [Messía de la Cerda y Pita, L.; 1990; page 146] with the field Or in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. He bears a quarterly shield combining the first quarter of his father’s arms, Castile, with his mother’s arms. Among all his siblings, he is the one who most closely combines the arms of both parents.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Quarterly, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned and Eagle.

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

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

Bearer: Philip of Castile, Infante.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Sancho IV of Castile, open royal crown

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or. Crest: An open royal crown Or.

Son of Alfonso X of Castile and Violant of Aragon.

Quarterly: 1 and 4 Gules, a castle triple towered Or, port and windows Azure, masoned Sable; 2 and 3 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules, crowned Or. Crest: An open royal crown Or.

Escudo cuartelado: 1o y 4o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o y 3o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules, coronado de oro. Timbrado de una corona real abierta.

Arms of the king interpreted by me as follows: the shield of arms has a rounded (semicircular) base; the quarters are in flat tinctures Argent and Gules; the castles, lions and crown are illuminated; the castles and lions are shaded; and the whole has a parchment finish.


Blazon keywords: Quarterly, Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, One, Castle, Port and windows, Masoned, Argent, Purpure, Lion, Rampant, Armed, Langued, Crowned, Crest, Open royal crown and Crown.

Style keywords: Rounded, Illuminated and Parchment.

Classification: Interpreted, Personal, Coat of arms and Kingdom of Castile and Leon.

Bearer: Sancho IV of Castile.

Separador heráldico
Escudo de Castilla y León

Sancho of Castile, Infante

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules.

Party per pale: 1 Gules, a castle triple-towered Or, port and windows Azure, and masoned Sable; 2 Argent, a lion rampant Purpure, armed and langued Gules.

Escudo partido: 1o de gules, un castillo de oro, aclarado de azur, mazonado de sable; 2o de plata, un león rampante de púrpura, armado y lampasado de gules.

Arms emblazoned by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee outer contour and with a freehand finish.

Coat of arms of the Infante Sancho of Castile, 1233–1261, 8th offspring of the King Ferdinand III of Castile, 1199-1252, and the Queen Beatrice of Swabia, 1205–1235. Unlike his siblings, he does not use a quarterly shield but rather impaled arms of Castile and Leon.


Blazon keywords: Gules, Or, Azure, Sable, Argent, Purpure, One, Party per pale, Castle, Triple-towered, Port and windows, Masoned, Lion, Rampant, Armed and Langued.

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

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

Bearer: Sancho of Castile, Infante.

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

Serra i Rosell, P.; 2016

Pedro Serra i Rosell, architect and Vice President of the SCGHSVN, «Transmission of armorial bearings in the Kingdom of Castile in the 13th century. The arms of Don Enrique de Castilla, son of Fernando III the Saint.», published in Paratge, quaderns d'estudis de genealogia, heràldica, sigil·lografia i nobiliària, published by the Societat Catalana de Genealogia, Heràldica, Sigil·lografia, Vexil·lologia i Nobiliària, SCGHSVN, pages 187-192, issue 29, ISSN 1130-3395, Sant Cugat del Vallès, 2016,


Bibliographical reference of century XXI.

Classification: Article, Castilian language and Black and white and color illustrations.

The author is Serra i Rosell, Pedro.

Internal resources: SerraiRosellP2016.TransmisionCastilla.pdf PDF Format.

 

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