Flag of Francoist Spain

What the flag looks like

Horizontal stripes of red, a double-width yellow and red, with a coat of arms on the yellow: the shield of Spain held by the black Eagle of Saint John, between the Pillars of Hercules and beneath a scroll reading "Una, Grande, Libre".

What it means

The Eagle of Saint John and the yoke and arrows on the arms were taken from the badges of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella; the motto means "One, Great, Free".

How to remember it

Under Franco, Spain's red-yellow-red flag carried a large black eagle spreading its wings behind the shield; today's flag has a smaller crowned shield and no eagle.

Fun facts

• A modified eagle design was adopted in 1977, and the eagle was dropped in 1981, when Spain's present coat of arms was introduced.
• The red-yellow-red stripes go back to a naval ensign chosen by King Charles III in 1785.

Francoist Spain at a glance

Existed

1939–1975

Flag used

1945–1977

Today

Spain

Capital

Madrid

Region

1939–1975

Languages

Spanish

Currency

Spanish peseta (Pta)

Flag adopted

1945

Flags often confused with Francoist Spain

• Spain: Francoist Spain and Spain both have red, a double-width yellow and red with a coat of arms. Francoist Spain's arms sit on a large black eagle with spread wings; Spain's smaller arms sit nearer the hoist with no eagle.
• Second Spanish Republic: Francoist Spain and the Second Spanish Republic both have red and yellow stripes with a coat of arms. Francoist Spain is red, double-width yellow, red with a black eagle; the Republic has three equal stripes ending in purple.