Heraldry of León facts for kids
The lion is a very old and important symbol for the Spanish city of León and the area around it, called its province. This lion symbol is part of what is known as heraldry, which is the study of coats of arms and symbols.
The lion was also the main symbol of the Kingdom of León. This kingdom existed a long time ago, even before modern Spain was formed. The lion first appeared on coins made during the time of King Alfonso VII. He ruled from 1126 to 1157. Before King Alfonso VII, the kings of León mostly used the cross as their symbol on coins and important papers. But during Alfonso VII's rule, the lion slowly started to replace the cross.
The Lion as a Royal Symbol
The first time the lion was written about as a symbol for the King and his kingdom was in a book called the Chronica Adefonsi Imperatoris. This book was written while Alfonso VII was still king. The lion symbol used by León is one of the oldest symbols in European heraldry that is still used today.
It is even older than the castle symbol, which was used by the nearby Kingdom of Castile. The lion and castle symbols became very famous together when the Kingdom of León and the Kingdom of Castile joined.
The Flag of León
The flag of León is a bright red color. In the very middle of the flag, you can see the coat of arms of León, which features the lion.
Related Symbols
Images for kids
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The Royal Standard of León leading the city council procession to the Royal Collegiate of San Isidoro.
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A purple lion walking, a symbol used by King Alfonso IX.
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An unofficial flag used by some groups to represent the region of León.
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An unofficial flag used to represent the Kingdom of León.
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See also
In Spanish: Símbolos de León para niños
