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| Flag of Madrid | |
|---|---|
| Name | Flag of Madrid |
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adoption | 1967 (current form) |
| Design | Crimson field with seven silver stars arranged four and three |
| Designer | Municipal heraldry commission |
Flag of Madrid The flag of Madrid is the official banner representing the City of Madrid and the Community of Madrid in Spain. It is a crimson or dark red field charged with seven white or silver five-pointed stars arranged in two rows. The flag is displayed alongside the Flag of Spain, the European Union, municipal banners, and institutional standards at civic sites such as the Palacio de Cibeles, Plaza Mayor, Madrid, and sports venues like the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
The emblematic use of stars and red fields in Madrid has antecedents in medieval and early modern heraldry connected to the Kingdom of Castile, the Crown of Castile, and the Habsburg Spain period. The crimson tone recalls banners seen during the reigns of Isabella I of Castile and Charles I of Spain, while the seven stars derive from astronomical motifs popular in Renaissance municipal seals and the iconography of the Order of Santiago. In the 19th century, during the Peninsular War and the Glorious Revolution (Spain), municipal insignia were adapted for civic militias and public ceremonies at sites such as the Puerta del Sol and the Congreso de los Diputados. The modern standard evolved through proposals by the Real Academia de la Historia, the Instituto de Estudios Madrileños, and local councils, culminating in formal adoption in the 20th century after debates involving the City Council of Madrid, regional authorities of the Autonomous Communities of Spain, and heraldic commissions advising the Ministry of the Interior (Spain).
The flag’s crimson field alludes to historical ties with the Kingdom of Castile and the martial colors of the Habsburgs and the Bourbon era. The seven silver stars symbolize the constellation Ursa Major—a motif echoed in artworks, municipal seals, and the coat of arms displayed at the Palacio Real de Madrid and the Catedral de la Almudena. The arrangement four-and-three references early municipal iconography found in documents housed at the Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Madrid and manuscripts collected by the Biblioteca Nacional de España. Designers and heraldists from institutions such as the Heraldic Council of Spain and the Centro de Estudios Históricos referenced precedents in the flags of other Spanish municipalities like Seville, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, and Bilbao when standardizing proportions, colors, and star geometry. The five-pointed stars’ silhouette relates to motifs in works by painters and illustrators from the Spanish Golden Age and later representations by sculptors at the Plaza de Oriente.
The flag’s statutory status was formalized through municipal ordinances passed by the Ayuntamiento de Madrid and received recognition from regional bodies of the Community of Madrid and national authorities including the Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores (Spain). Legal debates over design specifics invoked precedents from the Ley de Banderas proposals and advisory opinions by the Consejo Asesor de Banderas and the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. The 1967 adoption built on earlier municipal decrees and modifications that referenced archival holdings at the Archivo de la Villa de Madrid and consultations with the Academia de la Historia. Amendments and protocol guidelines have been published by the Servicio de Protocolo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid and followed in official ceremonies at the Palacio de Comunicaciones.
Variants include civic standards used by elected officials such as the Mayor of Madrid and flags for municipal districts like Salamanca (Madrid), Chamberí, Retiro (Madrid), Usera, and Carabanchel. The Community of Madrid uses a similar banner with distinct emblems for regional institutions such as the Assembly of Madrid and the Presidency of the Community of Madrid. Historical wartime banners and militia colours appeared during the Spanish Civil War with differing star arrangements in neighbourhood committees and labor unions like the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo in Madrid. Sporting clubs and cultural institutions including Real Madrid CF, Atlético de Madrid, the Museo del Prado, and the Teatro Real sometimes incorporate the stars and crimson hue in commemorative flags and pennants.
Official protocol governs the display of the flag at state visits at the Palacio Real, municipal ceremonies at the Fuente de Cibeles, and public commemorations such as Dos de Mayo Uprising anniversaries. The flag is flown with the Flag of Spain and the European Union according to rules issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and municipal protocol offices. Civic guidelines dictate dimensions, hoisting order for events at venues like the Plaza de la Independencia, and use in diplomatic receptions hosted by the Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Customary restrictions apply for commercial usage by entities such as the Real Casa de la Moneda and cultural festivals organized by the Instituto de Cultura de Madrid.
The crimson field and seven stars appear in literature, music, and visual arts linked to Madrid’s identity, from poems by Federico García Lorca to compositions premiered at the Teatro Real and paintings in the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. The emblem is adopted by civic movements, cultural festivals like San Isidro (festival), and commemorative projects at the Matadero Madrid and the Casa de la Panadería. It features in commercial branding by publishers such as Espasa, cultural guides produced by the Ayuntamiento, and souvenirs sold near landmarks including the Estación de Atocha and the Gran Vía. The flag’s imagery is used in international diplomacy during delegations from cities like Paris, Lisbon, Rome, London, and New York City that maintain twinning arrangements with Madrid in municipal networks and cultural exchanges.
Category:Flags of Spain Category:Madrid