The Armada inaugurates a unique exhibition on the origin and evolution of the Spanish national flag

The Naval Museum's new temporary exhibition, dedicated to the history and significance of the national flag, brings together 57 original pieces and underscores the historical link between the Armada and the colors that identify Spain today.

The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, accompanied by the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón, and the Chief of Staff of the Armada, Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez, inaugurated the temporary exhibition “The Flag That Came from the Sea” yesterday at the Naval Museum. “The Colors That Define Us,” dedicated to the 240-year history of the flag that was born at sea and eventually became the symbol of all Spaniards.

The three authorities visited the exhibition with the director of the Institute of Naval History and Culture (IHCN), Vice Admiral Enrique Torres Piñeyro, the director of the Naval Museum, Captain Juan Escrigas Rodríguez, and the exhibition curator, José Luis Álvarez Ruiz de la Hermosa, who were responsible for presenting the exhibition and the significance of the 57 original pieces.

The temporary exhibition commemorates the decision of King Carlos III, in May 1785, to equip the ships of the ‘Royal Navy’ with a flag that was clearly visible and distinguishable from a great distance. Those colors—red and yellow—went from identifying warships to gradually becoming a symbol of national identity.

From December 5 until April 5, the exhibition will be open to the public, featuring pieces never before displayed due to their size or fragility, and others specially restored for this occasion. Among them are historical flags, banners, documents, paintings, and materials that illustrate how the ensign, born in the ports of Cádiz and Corunna, became the last symbol seen by those departing for overseas and the first recognized by those returning from the Americas or the Philippines.

The exhibition invites visitors to understand not only the history of the Spanish Navy's flag, but also the collective meaning of its colors, delving into the origin and symbolism of the red and yellow hues. Red, linked since the Middle Ages to pennants, military crosses, and Spanish heraldic tradition itself; and yellow, present in naval uniforms and decorations between the 16^th and 18^th centuries, became established as colors synonymous with Spanish maritime identity.

The director of the IHCN, Vice Admiral Enrique Torres Piñeyro, emphasized the importance of sharing the origin of such a distinctive symbol as our flag, “which not only identifies us as a people but also unites us.” For his part, the director of the Naval Museum, Captain Juan Escrigas Rodríguez, highlighted the importance of the exhibited pieces, including large and particularly fragile flags: “Some have never been displayed until now. Their conservation and study help us explain how these colors became a national emblem.”

The exhibition also addresses the expansion of the use of the red and yellow flag during the 19^th century, from the ‘National Militia’ to the Army, until its official adoption as the flag of the State in 1843. This process, as the IHCN has noted, was linked to the rise of civic sentiment during the War of Independence.

The Naval Museum has designed a program of activities aimed at audiences of all ages, including guided tours, workshops, and storytelling sessions, with the goal of bringing the history of the flag closer to the entire community. More information is available at the following link.