por He viceregal banner or flag of New Spain, was the representative flag of the first of the four viceroyalties that Spain created to govern its 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 of present-day Mexico, the southwestern United States, Central America (except Panama), the Caribbean, and the Philippines in the Pacific Ocean.
New Spain was ruled by a representative of the Spanish monarch (the viceroy) from his capital in Mexico City. Since its inception, the New Spanish viceroyalty banner had the Cross of Burgundy as its main motif. This had been adopted by Spain as the 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. Variants of the Cross of Burgundy were widely used by the Spanish military both on land and at sea.
Its most common version was flown throughout Spain’s colonial empire in the New World until 1785, when a new flag was adopted.
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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 was married to Juana de Castilla y Aragón, daughter of the King and Queen of Spain, both territories were unified.
This new territory takes the Cross of San Andrés, or Cross of Burgundy, as the new royal banner. Later, this banner was used as an overseas flag during the Spanish colonization of the New World.
In 1521, when the conquistador Hernán Cortés defeated and subdued the Aztec Empire, the Viceroyalty of New Spain was created. At the beginning of its functions, a modified version of the emblem of the Royal House is adopted as the viceregal banner.
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 embroidered with colored threads can be seen.
During all the time that Spanish domination lasted, this banner was used both in official protocol acts and on ships and forts. From the year 1529, it was removed from the city council headquarters every August 13.
This is the date when Cortés definitively took Tenochtitlan. She was then taken to what was called the Paseo del Pendon. Thus they commemorated the birth of the capital of New Spain.
This flag remained as the viceroyal banner of New Spain for almost 300 years. It prevailed until 1821, when the Treaty of Córdoba was signed. With this treaty agreed to the independence of Mexico.
Characteristics of the viceregal banner
Saint Andrew’s Cross
The viceregal banner uses the so-called cross of San Andrés as its central element. This consists of a cross in the shape of an X 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 known as I will jump In the case of the viceregal banner, the cross is red and the field is ocher yellow.
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. The shield shows an eagle in a combative posture, a snake supported by a claw and the eagle’s beak.
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 cactus grows.
youaztec radiation
According to expert opinion, this coat of arms is a translation of an ancient glyph (engraving) from the Aztec tradition. In turn, it is believed that these were inherited from the Toltecs.
Applications
During the conquest, this insignia was carried on the flags to organize and coordinate the warriors in battle. They were adorned with different colored feathers and were displayed as the personal shield of the officer who commanded the action.
Other versions
In another of its versions, the coat of arms of Mexico City can be seen in the center. From there the four arms of the cross of San Andrés leave crowned.
There are also two crowned lions, and a royal crown on top. This was used throughout all the territories of the Spanish Empire.
symbology
The cross of Saint Andrew represents the martyrdom of this apostle. According to a very old tradition, Saint Andrew was crucified in the year 60 AD. C. in Greece. He was tied to a «crux decussata» (cross in the shape of a x) and there he suffered for four days until his death.
Historians say that, during the days that his ordeal lasted, 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 cactus and devouring a snake. Upon finding the site, he founded Tenochtitlan, the territory of what is today 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 snake represented wisdom. The latter was also related to the god Quetzalcoatl.
Finally, the crowns with which the coats of arms are finished off represent the power of the Spanish crown.
References
Gale Encyclopedia of US Economic History. (2000). New Spain, Viceroyalty of. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from encyclopedia.com.
Jackson, E. (s/f). Spanish Cross of Burgundy Flag. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu.
Ortiz Romo, E. (2010). Shields and flags of Mexico. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from web.uaemex.mx.
Palmera, A. (2016, August 01). TOP 10 – Historical flags. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from mxtop10.wordpress.com.
Olvera, JJ (2011, February 24). History of the Mexican Flag. Retrieved on January 31, 2018, from jjolverag.wordpress.com.