The Shield of Guadalajara is one of the heraldic symbols of the capital municipality of the Mexican state of Jalisco. It was granted by means of a royal certificate to the founders and residents of the city in 1539 by the Spanish King Carlos V, in recognition of their effort and courage.
This shield was also assumed as the emblem of Jalisco in 1989, on the occasion of the celebration of the 450 years of its granting.
It has a Spanish style with French influence - unlike the one used by Jalisco - and symbolizes the nobility and lordship of this city founded by the conqueror Cristóbal de Oñate in 1532.
History of the Shield
The coat of arms of Guadalajara is considered a coat of arms properly, because it was granted by the Spanish crown to the city because of its services and loyalty to the monarchy, with an implicit obligation to defend it and seek its progress.
When the Spanish conqueror Cristóbal de Oñate founded the town of Guadalajara in 1532, the city was initially settled in Nochistlán, which comprises the territory of the current state of Zacatecas.
Then it had two other locations, which were Tonalá in 1533 and Tlacotán, between 1535 and 1540.
After many confrontations with the first tribes that populated this part of western Mexico (Tecuexes, Zacatecos and Cazcanes), and suffering many hardships, finally the people of Guadalajara settled in the Atemajac Valley in 1542.
Previously in January 1539, during a period of relative stability of the nascent city, the Town Council of the town had approved to request the King of Spain Carlos V, to grant Guadalajara the title of city.
The Cabildo's request was not only accepted by the monarch, but also by means of a royal certificate dated November 8 of that same year, he decided to grant him the coat of arms in recognition of the founders' courage.
Shield Meaning
The shield of Guadalajara symbolizes the nobility and lordship of the city. Each element of this emblem keeps a particular meaning in heraldic science and confers duties on the inhabitants of the city that receives such a distinction, as explained by various historians.
Enamels (metals and colors)
Gold: it means doing good to the poor.
Azure or blue: serve rulers and encourage agriculture
Gules or red: help the oppressed for any cause
Green or sinople: it means fighting to preserve freedom and independence; help orphans and promote trade.
Figures
- Spear: have strength wisely
- Borders and sails: it is a prize for bravery and triumph
- Lion: symbol of the warrior spirit
- Pine: symbol of perseverance
Ornaments
The ornaments or lambrequins, represented the knights' cloths and signify the effort to defeat the enemy.
On the other hand, the currency represented in "a red flag with a Jerusalem cross in gold", signifies the course or future purpose that will guide the owner of the shield.
Shape
The coat of arms of Guadalajara is slightly French, which can be seen in the way it presents in the lower part.
This shield has rounded edges that end in a vertex pointing downward.
While the Jalisco coat of arms, on the contrary, is totally rounded at the edges and ends in a straight line.
References
- Javier Romero Quiroz. Territorial and heraldic division of the State of Mexico. Toluca, 1977.
- Acosta Rico, Fabian. Jalisco: blog of a state. Government of Jalisco, General Secretariat of Government, 2006.
- J. Palomera, Esteban. The Educational Work of the Jesuits in Guadalajara 1586-1986. Iteso Science Institute, Guadalajara. Ibero-American University, 1977.
- Guadalajara. The city of roses. (s / f). "Our Coat of Arms". Retrieved on September 17, 2017, from guadalajara.net.
- Shield of Guadalajara and State of Jalisco. (s / f). Taken from commons.wikimedia.org