The Guanajuato shield has as its main element the image of Santa Fe de la Granada, which was originally placed when it was not yet an independent city, but a Spanish colony.
Currently it is said that it symbolizes their faith, but the truth is that its original meaning was the victory of the Catholic kings over the Muslims. King Felipe V of Spain was responsible for the constitution of this shield and the original motto of the city of Guanajuato.
Said motto reads: «Very Noble and Loyal City of Santa Fe de Guanajuato». This has suffered alterations over time, until it remains as it is today: "For the peace of the fallen, who have given us an independent homeland."
History of the shield
The city of Guanajuato owes its name of Ciudad de Santa Fe de Minas de Guanajuato to King Felipe V, who signed it as an official name on December 8, 1741.
The elements used in his coat of arms are placed taking into account the perception that said king had about the city of Guanajuato in colonial times.
In the title of the city (Guanajuato document), Felipe V stated that the people who were in command after him would also have to call this city by its name, and recognize the coat of arms as the official of the entire region.
Felipe V of Spain. Source: Jean Ranc
There have been no modifications since the creation of this shield. Currently it is the official shield, and it should be noted that it must be present in government agencies and as a representative symbol of the city of Guanajuato.
Shield Meaning
The Guanajuato coat of arms has a lot of history and values adopted since colonial times.
At its base you can get bay leaves holding a shell, which symbolize strength and victories in battles. They are in turn linked by a blue ribbon.
The field of gold that is appreciated represents the wealth in precious metals of the region, but also the nobility and purity of feelings.
The Santa Fe de la Granada, located in the middle of the Coat of Arms, symbolizes the victory that took place in 1842. In this battle the Catholics were victorious over the Arab rulers.
The Spanish always added some element that raised their dominion, and in this case it is the support or finish that adorns the shield, and the crown located at the top.
The marbles, on the other hand, do not represent anything metaphorical, they were only placed by the presence of this metamorphic stone in the mountainous surroundings of the region.
The element of acanthus leaves represent fidelity, as a primary value of the inhabitants of the city.
References
- The Meaning of the Shield of Guanajuato. (April 17, 2013). Obtained from Travel Leon: travel-leon.net. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- Guanajuato Shield. Obtained from Wikipedia: es.wikipedia.org. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- Coat of arms. Excerpted from Quanaxhuato: quanaxhuato.com. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- Guanajuato. Recovered from UNAM: archivos.juridicas.unam.mx. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
- The Silver Veins in the History of Mexico. Enrique Canudas Sandoval. Retrieved September 19, 2017.