The flag of Buenos Airesis the official flag used by the different areas and dependencies of the Government of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. adopted on October 24, 1995.[1]

Buenos Aires
UseCivil and state flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion9:14
AdoptedOctober 24, 1995; 28 years ago (1995-10-24)
DesignA black crowned eagle with four young at his feet, and a Calatrava cross on its left
Designed byJuan de Garay

Symbolism

edit

The flag contains the city's first coat of arms on a white field. This is a completely different coat of arms than the one adopted in 2012. The eagle represents Spanish colonization, the Calatrava cross [es], used by the military Order of Calatrava, represents evangelism, the crown represents monarchy and the four eaglets represent four cities that were founded in that period: Santa Fe, La Trinidad (Buenos Aires), Corrientes and Concepción del Bermejo.

Protocol

edit

The proportions of the flag were established in Article 2, which established the proportions of 9:14, with the shield placed in the center. The flag must always be flown together with the national flag, the flag must be in all local government offices.[2]

History

edit
 
Flag used during the visit of the Juan Carlos I in 1978.

The earliest mention of the coat of arms dates back to 20 October 1580, when Juan de Garay, the founder of the city, decreed the recognition of Saint Martin of Tours as the city's patron saint and introduced the coat of arms. The coat of arms designed by de Garay is Argent (white) shield with a sable (black) essorant (rousant) eagle facing left[a]. In its raised right leg, the eagle holds the gules (red) cross of Calatrava. There are four chicks next to the eagle. The eagle has four chicks at its legs and a crown.[3][4]

The coat of arms devised by de Garay was used in a very limited way and was quickly forgotten. Jacinto de Lariz, Governor of Rio da Prata, approved a new coat of arms on 5 November 1649, immediately introducing it into temporary use, but which was not sent for royal approval and therefore remained technically unofficial until 1856. This coat of arms depicts a dove above the water with an anchor sticking out of it, and over time two sailing ships also appeared on it.

In 1978, Mayor Osvaldo Cacciatore took care of changing the local shield, restoring the original coat of arms with the eagle, but changing the color black to yellow. Cacciatore also created the prototype of the later city flag. Since it was a personal decision of the mayor that was never sanctioned, these flags and the modified coat of arms themselves did not become official symbols and were only used during the visit of the King of Spain in 1978.[5]

On 28 September 1995, the City council of Buenos Aires passed ordenance 49.669, which established the city flag. The ordenance came into effect with decree 1.291 on October 24, 1995.[1] The first article states that the official city flag features a white field with the shield designed in 1580 by Juan de Garay in its center.[5]

Unofficial flag of La Boca

edit
Unofficial flag of La Boca
Flag of Genoa is also frequently used in La Boca due to its Ligurian heritage.

Cultural institutions in the La Boca neighborhood sometimes use the so-called "Republic of La Boca" flags. This is the national flag of Argentina, with the Sun of May replaced by the Italian coat of arms and Phrygian cap. The origins of the flag date back to an urban legend according to which in the second half of the 19th century, a district inhabited by Italian immigrants declared independence. Since 1907, the "Republic of La Boca" has been re-declared several times as a micronation.[6]

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ^ In heraldry, the direction is determined from the perspective of the person holding the shield from behind. It is sometimes thought that Juan de Garay made a mistake, since animals in heraldry are normally turned to the right, but cases where the head is turned away from the body are in accordance with the rules and are called "regardant".

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Bandera de La Ciudad". Buenos Aires Ciudad - Gobierno de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  2. ^ "Institucional - Atributos y Símbolos - Dirección General Centro Documental de Información y Archivo Legislativo (CEDOM)". Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  3. ^ Página do Bairro da Floresta - Constituição, bandeira, escudo e Código contravencional da Cidade de Buenos Aires (in Spanish)
  4. ^ Sandanzas História de Buenos Aires. Página visitada em 4 de setembro de 2011.
  5. ^ a b Historical Flags - Argentina-Provincias
  6. ^ Fundación Museo Histórico de La Boca. "República de La Boca". Bienvenidos Museo Histórico de La Boca.