The main heraldic symbol of one of the Spanish cities, in addition to the quite familiar elements - symbols of royal power, contains the image of a bat, and this is the coat of arms of Valencia. In world practice, the only case when an unusual animal takes the position of an official symbol.
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Aragon
The rest of the elements that are located on the modern coat of arms of Valencia are to one degree or another already familiar to fans of heraldic science. In addition, most of them migrated to the official sign of the city from the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Aragon.
The heraldic composition of the city is interesting - it is open, does not have a shield, instead of it in the central part there is a rhombus-square, painted in scarlet and gold vertical stripes. In addition to this important symbol, the heraldic sign of Valencia contains:
- laurel branches as a frame for the composition;
- two Latin letters "L", crowned with golden crowns;
- large royal crown;
- image of a bat.
The color palette is quite rich; the color of gold (yellow) is present in the coloration of the central element, letters and crowns. An important place is occupied by the emerald one, since the laurel branches are quite large, and, besides them, precious stones in the crowns are shown in green. Scarlet is also used for jewelry and diamond stripes.
Black, the color of a bat, looks somewhat defiant in this harmonious company, and she herself occupies a dominant position, completing the composition.
From an unofficial symbol to the coat of arms of the city
Spanish historians claim that the bat appeared on the coat of arms in 1503. But in history it was noticed much earlier, the first mention in the annals associated with it dates back to the reign of Jaime I the Conqueror, King of Aragon, who conquered Valencia from the Moors.
There are several legends associated with this ruler and the bat. According to one of them, the winged bird sat on the helmet of Jaime I, thus warning about the need to be careful. Another legend, even more beautiful, says that a bats saved the life of the Aragonese king, because it took on an arrow shot at the monarch. Until the 17th century, the bat remained the unofficial symbol of the city until it took its place on the coat of arms.
Latin letters appeared on the heraldic symbol much later. This is a kind of gift from King Pedro IV to the city, who showed loyalty during the war between the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. Laurel branches - a reward from King Fernando VII for the defense of the city from Napoleon's army.
