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Spain

 

Contents

Flags

Historical Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Historical Coats of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Aircraft Roundel

Map

The autonomous regions of Spain

Numbers and Facts

History

Origin of the Country's Name



Flags

Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España National flag State flag Naval flag national state naval
National, state and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4




Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Merchant flag merchant flag
Merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4




Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Naval jack naval jack
Naval jack,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4




Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Jacht Yacht
since 1981,
National flag for private high-sea yachts,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World, Corel Draw 4




Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Admirale Admiral
Flag for Admirals,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte royal standard Spanien Spain Espagne España König king
since 1975,
Sandard of the Spanish king,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Wikipedia (ES)



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Historical Flags

Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Kastilien-Leon Castile-Leon
1230–1479,
Flag of Castile-León,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
ca.1479–ca.1701,
Flags,
variants out of many,
Source, by: Flags of the World, histor. Pix/Abbildungen




Flagge Fahne flag Naval flag War flag Kolonien Naval and war flag colonies Spanien Spain Espagne España
ca. 1516–ca.1790,
Naval and war flag and flag in the colonies,
Source, by: Flags of the World, histor. Pix/Abbildungen




Flagge Fahne flag banner arms König King Spanien Spain Espagne España
1668–1700,
Banner of the King's Arms,
Source, by: Wikipedia (ES)




Flagge Fahne flag banner arms König King Spanien Spain Espagne España
1700–1761,
Banner of the King's Arms,
Source, by: Wikipedia (ES)




Flagge Fahne flag State flag state flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Bourbonen Bourbon
1701–1748,
Flag under the Bourbons,
simplifyed variant,
Source, by: World Statesmen, histor. Pix/Abbildungen




Flagge Fahne flag State flag state flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Bourbonen Bourbon
1759–1808,
Flag under the Bourbons,
simplifyed variant,
Source, by: World Statesmen, histor. Pix/Abbildungen




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte royal standard Spanien Spain Espagne España König king
1761–1834,
Standard of the Spanish king,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Wikipedia (ES)




Flagge Fahne flag banner arms König King Spanien Spain Espagne España
1761–1868,
Banner of the King's Arms,
Source, by: Wikipedia (ES)




Flagge Fahne flag Merchant flag merchant flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
to 1762,
Merchant flag,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1785–1931,
State and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1873–1874,
State and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag Merchant flag national flag merchant flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1785–1927,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte royal standard Spanien Spain Espagne España König king
1838–1868, 1875–1931,
Standard of the Spanish king,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Wikipedia (ES)




Flagge Fahne flag banner arms König King Spanien Spain Espagne España
1886–1931,
Banner of the King's Arms,
Source, by: Amazon




Flagge Fahne flag National flag Merchant flag national flag merchant flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1927–1931,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Lotsenflagge Pilot jack Spanien Spain Espagne España
1928–1931,
Pilot jack,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World, FOTW
This type of flag was abolished in the 20th century, today is:
Flagge H Pilot on board
Flagge H Call for Pilot




Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1931–1936,
State and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag Merchant flag national flag merchant flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1927–1931,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1936–1938,
State and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag Merchant flag national flag merchant flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1936–1938,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Karlisten Truppen Carlist troops Spanien Spain Espagne España Bürgerkrieg civil war
1936–1938,
Flag of the revolting Carlist troops,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Wikipedia (DE)




Flagge Fahne flag Standarte standard Caudillo Franco Bahamonde Spanien Spain Espagne España Bürgerkrieg civil war
1940–1975,
Standard of the Caudillo Franco Bahamonde,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España Jacht Yacht
1938–1981,
National flag for private high-sea yachts,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggenbuch 1939




Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1938–1945,
State and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag Merchant flag national flag merchant flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
since 1938,
National and merchant flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1945–1977,
State and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggen und Wappen




Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
1977–1981,
State and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Minister Kommissare Kolonien Spanien Ministers Commissioners colonies Spain Espagne España
1945–1975,
Standard for Ministers and the Commissioners in the colonies,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Die Welt im bunten Flaggenbild




Flagge Fahne flag Gouverneur Kolonien Spanien Governors colonies Spain Espagne España
1945–1975,
Standard of the Governors in the colonies,
ratio = 1:1,
Source, by: Flags of the World



hoch/up       Flags of the Spanish Civil War


Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The today’s flag of Spain was introduced on 19th of December in 1981. It shows three horizontal stripes in red, yellow and red, in ratio 1:2:1. In the middle of the yellow stripe is placed the coat of arms, moved to the pole direction. Red and yellow are since the middle ages the Spanish national colours. They go back to the colours of Castile and León. The today’s flag of Spain was introduced on 19th of December in 1981. It shows three horizontal stripes in red, yellow and red, in ratio 1:2:1. In the middle of the yellow stripe is placed the coat of arms, moved to the pole direction. Red and yellow are since the middle ages the Spanish national colours. They go back to the colours of Castile and León. After Carl the Valiant – the last heir of the house of Burgund – fell in 1477 in the battle of Nancy, the house of Habsburg claimed his heritage. As the house of Habsburg with Karl I. came onto the throne in Spain in 1516, there was introduced a new flag for using at sea. It was white and showed the red diagonal bough-cross of the house of Burgund. But flags in red and yellow remained in use moreover and showed a very different appearance, frequently crucifixes but several stripes too. Under the rule of the house of Habsburger that practice was continued. In the year 1700 the house of the Bourbons came on the throne after the vanish of the Spanish Habsburgs. The Spanish flags showed now the white of the Bourbons and on it the coat of arms of Spain. In the year 1785 was introduced a new flag. It should mark better the Spanish ships at sea, because there were many white flags at that time. The new flag showed already the basic pattern of today, the three horizontal stripes in red, yellow and red, in ratio 1:2:1. In the middle of the yellow stripe was placed – moved to the pole – an abridged coat of arms (cartouche) with the heraldry of Castile and León, above that a crown. In the years 1873 and 1874 Spain was momentary a republic (First Republic). In this time the crown above the cartouche was removed. In the year 1931 the king resigned and Spain became a republic again (Second Republic). It was introduced a new flag. It showed three identical wide stripes in red, yellow and morado (mulberry colour). Morado is the colour of the lion in the coat of arms of León. The new coat of arms of the republic was placed into the middle of the yellow stripe. In July 1936 rebeled the Spanish troops in North Africa under General Franco against the central government, which was formed after election by communists, socialists, anarchists and republicans. This was the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. The rebellious troops used since 1936 a flag with three identical wide stripes in red, yellow and red and with the coat of arms of the republic in the middle of the yellow stripe. But there was placed a mural crown above the coat of arms, the symbol of civic sovereignty. It was crowned by a mural crown, the symbol of bourgeois sovereignty. The red-yellow-red flag of the rebel troops emerged in the late summer of 1936 during the war. Previously, the red-yellow-morado colored flag was still being used. The new flag was created by two cuted up republican flags. On the one was removed the morado-colored stripe and on the other a red stripe. The separated red stripe was then sutured in place of the morado-colored stripe. When General Franco seizured the power in 1939 he introduced a new flag. It showed the designing of pre 1931, three horizontal stripes in red, yellow and red, in ratio 1:2:1, but it showed also – moved to the pole – a new coat of arms in the middle of the yellow stripe. That showed a black eagle of St. John which carryed the new Spanish blazon on the chest as well as the yoke and the arrow bundle, the insignia of the Spanish Falange-Party. In 1945 the coat of arms in the flag became enlarged substantially, and it reaches now above and below into the red stripes. In the year 1977 – two years after the death of General Franco – the silhouette of the eagle in the existing coat of arms was changed a little bit for the renewed kingdom of Spain. On 19th of December in 1981 was introduced the today's flag by an once more changing of the coat of arms. The new coat of arms – moved to the pole again – corresponds in principle the coat of arms of the Second Republic, but the crown of the Bourbons was placed above the blazon. The merchant flag of Spain showed ab 1927 ohne Wappen gezeigt. In the years before was used a special pattern as merchant flag. It showed a single-coloured yellow buntig with two slender red stripes near the upper respectively lower border of the flag. The standard of the king is dark blue with the royal coat of arms in the middle. This coat of arms shows in addition to the Spanish blazon with the crown yoke and arrow bundle as well as the red diagonal bough-cross of Burgund and the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. All autonomous regions and territories in Spain have got own coats of arms and flags. Very often they have their roots in the traditional heraldry of this regions. The main laws and regulations governing the appearance of the flag are: 1st) Spanish Constitution of 1978, which states in article 4.1: The Spanish flag shall consist of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the height of the yellow stripe being equal to the added height of the two red stripes. 2nd) Royal Decree 441 of 1981, which establishes the detailed technical specifications of the flag colours red and yellow, as CIELAB values from which the following values can be derived in hexadecimal: Red = #AD1519 and Yellow = #FABD00. These colour values, when converted for printing, result in a very brown red and a deep golden yellow. In practice, these very dark colours that take some getting used to are hardly ever used, not even in Spain itself. In the trade, one often finds a strong red and golden yellow, but unfortunately also light red and sulphur yellow. The Murado colour – used in the flags of the Republic – is not defined.

Flagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne EspañaFlagge Fahne flag Spanien Spain Espagne España

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen und Coat of arms of the Welt, Wikipedia (EN), Flags of the World, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Volker Preuß, Jürgen Kaltschmitt

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Coat of Arms

Wappen coat of arms Spanien Spain Espagne España
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Spain,
Source, by: Corel Draw 4

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Historical Coats of Arms

Wappen coat of arms Spanien Spain Espagne España
1761–1931,
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Spain,
Source, by: Heralder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons


Wappen coat of arms Spanien Spain Espagne España
1931–1939,
Coat of arms of Spain,
Source, by: Heralder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons


Wappen coat of arms Spanien Spain Espagne España
1941–1945, Sleeve badge,
División Azul / Legión Española,
Source, by: Wikipedia (ES)


Wappen coat of arms Spanien Spain Espagne España
1945–1977,
Coat of arms of Spain,
Source, by: Heralder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons


Wappen coat of arms Spanien Spain Espagne España
1977–1981,
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Spain,
Source, by: Flags of the World

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Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The today’s coat of arms of Spain was introduced on 19th of December in 1981 and shows a fourfold divided shield with a silvery point. In the fields of the shield the heraldry of the historic regions, out of them Spain was formed: castle (Castile), lion (León), four red poles on yellow (Aragon), and golden chains on red (Navarra). In the silvery point the pomegranate of Granada. In the middle of the shield is placed a blue red-bordered cartouche with three lilies, the insignia of the ruling dynasty, the house of Bourbon. Above the blazon the royal crown. To the left and on the right beside the blazon the "columns of Hercules" (actually the both rocks on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar) as symbol for the transoceanic influence of Spain. On the columns the motto of the state: "Plus ultra" → "always further". It remembers the great nautical and colonial history of the country. When in 1580 the Portuguese Royal House of Aviz extincts, becomes Portugal connected with Spain in personal union. The King of Spain rules now over both countries, but also over their colonial possessions in the world, the Spanish West Indies (Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, etc.) and also Portuguese East India (Goa, Diu, Damao, Cochin, Kalikat and parts of Ceylon). Whereupon the king took over, the to the 19th century retained (as claim title) title "Lord of the two Indies", for what the two columns also stand. In 1640 Portugal separates again from Spain and has to cede Ceuta to Spain.(1) Until 1931 the coat of arms existed in an oval shield, which showed besides the heraldry of Casile, León, Aragon and of the Bourbons the heraldry of the former Spanish-Habsburg dependenceies. For example of Sicily, Burgund, Parma, Tuscany, Brabant, Flanders and Tyrolia. With the Second Republic was introduced a new coat of arms, which essentially resembled the today's coat of arms. But, it was crowned by a mural crown, the symbol of bourgeois sovereignty. This was laid down in the "Decreto de Gobernio Provisional de la Republica de 27 de abril de 1931". It states explicitly: "Al timbre Corona mural ..." In the year 1938 General Franco introduced a new coat of arms. This showed a big black eagle (Eagle of St. John) and the insignia of the Spanish Falange Party, the yoke and the arrow bundle. On the chest of the eagle a blazon which showed multiply subdivided the heraldry of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarra and Granada. Above the eagle was placed a red banner with the motto of the Spanish Falange: "una, grande, libre" → "united, great, free". In the year 1977 – two years after the death of General Franco – the coat of arms was changed a little bit (e.g. in the form of the eagle)and finally was introduced on 19th of December in 1981 the today’s coat of arms. The today’s coat of arms is a compromise between those Spaniards which wanted to continue the coat of arms of General Franco and those Spaniards which wanted to introduce the coat of arms of the First Republic again.

Source: (1) Jürgen Kaltschmitt, Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen und Coat of arms of the Welt, Wikipedia (EN), Flags of the World, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Volker Preuß

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Aircraft Roundel

Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Spanien Spain Espagne España
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)


Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Spanien Spain Espagne España
1936–1939,
aircraft roundel of the Spanish State,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)


Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Spanien Spain Espagne España
1936–1939,
aircraft roundel of the Spanish Republic,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)

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Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the historic Kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula (ca. 1220):
interaktive Landkarte - interactive map
Map: Volker Preuß

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The autonomous regions of Spain

clickable Map:
interaktive Landkarte - interactive map
Source: Freeware, University of Texas Libraries, modyfied by: Volker Preuß

List of the autonomous Regions of Spain:
Andalusia
Aragón
Asturia
Balearic Islands
Basque Country
Extremadura
Galicia
Cantabria


Overseas Territory:
Canary Islands (← click here)

External Possessions:
Spanish Morocco, Between the years 1912 and 1956 existing Spanish protectorate in Northern Morocco which was given up except the Plazas de Soberanía (Presidios). Until today existing of Ceuta, Melilla and some small islands.

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 195.355 square miles

Inhabitants: 47.400.000 (2020), thereof 82% Castilian Spaniards, 8% Catalans, 5% Galicians, 1% Basques

Religions: 92% Roman Catholic, 4% Muslim

Density of Population: 242 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: Madrid, 3.280.782 inh. (2022)

official Language: Spanish

official Languages in the Regions: Catalan, Basque, Galician

Currency: 1 Euro (EUR, €) = 100 Cent

Time Zone: GMT + 1 h

Source: Wikipedia (D)

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History

early age · settlement by Iberian tribes and Basques

ca. 1100 B.C. · Phoenicians establish colonies at the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Malaca, Abdera, Lucentum ...)

ca. 800 B.C. · Greeks establish colonies at the coast of the Mediterranean Sea (Hemeroskopeion, Zakantha, Tarrakon ...)

ca. 600 B.C. · immigration of Celts, mix with the Iberians, evolution of the Celtiberians

3rd century B.C. · the Empire of Carthago submits the southern and eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea

218–201 B.C. · Second Punic War, the Roman Empire acquires the possessions of Carthago in Iberia, subjugation of whole Iberia until the year 19 B.C., Roman settlement, romanization, formation of three provinces: Hispania Tarraconensis, Lusitania and Baetica

395 A.D. · at the partition of the Roman Empire Iberia comes to the West Roman Empire (Rome)

ca. 400 · Migration Period (Barbarian Invasions), immigration of Alans, Suebs and Vandals

ca. 413 · Migration Period, immigration of the Western Goth, the Suebs withstand until 585 in the today’s Portugal and Galicia, the Vandals dodge to Northern Africa

ca. 440–450 · Eurich the King of the Western Goth banishes the Romans

ca. 460–480 · Leowigild the King of the Western Goth conquers whole Iberia

554 · The East Roman Empire (Byzantium) conquers the province of Baetica in the south of the Iberian peninsula

711–714 · from northern Africa coming Arabs conquer the Empire of the Western Goth except a slender coastal stripe in the north (Asturia, Navarra, Aragon)

732 · the advance of the Arabs becomes stopped near Poitiers in the Frankish Empire

756–1031 · Arabian Emirate of Cordoba under the dynasty of the Omajjads, the Arabs were only the upper class and had to arrange with the original inhabitants, because of that omits the in the Arabian conquest-area otherwhere usual annihilation and eradication of the original civilizations, the califate achieves a cultural and economical flowering period

925 · establishment of the kingdoms of León and Navarra in the north of the Iberian peninsula

1035 · establishment of the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile in the north of the Iberian peninsula

1035–1262 · step by step liberation of the Iberian peninsula from the muslims by the four Iberian kingdoms (Reconquista), they expand territorially in this way from north to south, the muslims remain in the south in the ca. 1230 established Emirate of Granada (until 1492)

1134 · the kingdom of Navarra comes to the kingdom of Aragon

1139 · the kingdom of Portugal separates from the kingdom of León

1230 · the kingdoms of Castile and León become united to the kingdom of Castile-León

1469 · Isabella I., queen of Castile and León marrys Ferdinand II. of Aragón

1479 · Ferdinand II. and Isabella I. become crowned to the Kings of Spain

1492 · liberation of the Emirate of Granada from the Arabs by Spain, Christof Columbus – a Genuese seafarer in Spanish serve – discoveres America

1494 · because of quarrels with Portugal pass of the Treaty of Tordesillas about the division of the world along the meridian 50° w.L.

1496 · Johanna of Castile marrys Philipp from the house of Habsburg

1496–1510 · Spain conquers the north african places Penon de Velez, Melilla, Oran and Algier

1516 · Karl I. from the house of Habsburg, son of Philipp, becomes King of Spain

1519–1533 · conquest of Mexiko and Peru by Hernan Cortéz and Francisco Pizarro

1521 · conquest/acquisition of the Philippine Islands by Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães), a Portugese seafarer in Spanish serve

28th of May 1519 · Karl I. becomes elected as Karl V. to the Roman-German emperor

1529 · because of quarrels with Portugal pass of the Treaty of Zaragoza about the division of the world along the meridian 50° w.L. and the meridian 145° e.L.

1556 · death of emperor Karl V., successor is his son Philipp II.

1580 · the house of the kings of Aviz vanishes, Portugal becomes united with Spain in personal union

1588 · sinking of the Spanish Armada which should conquer England, military decline of Spain, loss of the naval supremacy to England and the Netherlands

1640 · Portugal separates from Spain

1700 · with Karl II. vanishes the Spanish line of the Habsburgs, successor is Philipp V. from the house of Bourbon

1701–1714 · Spanish Successor War, the Bourbons hold the Spanish crown

1808 · Emperor Napoléon I. of France occupies Spain and keeps proclaim his brother Joseph Bonaparte to the Spanish king after the resign of the Bourbons

1808–1814 · liberation war of the Spanish against King Joseph Bonaparte

1811–1830 · independence-war of the Spanish colonies in America, Spain loses nearly its whole colonial possession

1813 · overthrow of Joseph Bonaparte, proclamation of the Bourbone Ferdinand VII. to the Spanish king, first liberal constitution

1833 · death of King Ferdinand VII., successor is his daughter Isabella II. of Bourbon

1868 · Queen Isabella II. resigns after revolts

1870 · Queen Isabella II. escapes to France, successor is King Amadeus I. of Savoy

11th of February 1873 · King Amadeus I. resigns after a civil war and lays down the crown, Spain becomes a republic

1874 · King Alfons XII. of Bourbon seizes the power

1886 · death of King Alfons XII., successor is his son Alfons XIII.

1898 · Spanish-US-American war, Peace of Paris: Spain has to cede the bigest part of its colonial possessions to the USA (Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba)

1814–1818 · First World War, Spain is neutral

1923 · General M. Primo de Rivera establishes a dictatorial regime

1928–1929 · revolts

1930 · General M. Primo de Rivera resigns

1931 · communal elections, König Alfons XIII. of Bourbon resigns, Spain becomes a republic

1936 · parliamentary elections, victory of the Popular Front (republicans, socialists, anarchists, communiss)

17th of July 1936 · the Spanish troops in Spanish Morocco revolt under the leadership of the Generals Goded, Mola, de Llano and Francisco Franco against the threatening bolshevist danger

1936–1939 · Spanish Civil War under participation of many foreign volunteers on the part of the Popular Front: 7.500 French, 5.000 Germans, 4.000 Italians, 3.000 Poles, 2.800 US-Americans, 2.000 British 2.000 Soviets, 1.600 Belgians, 1.600 Yugoslavs, 1.500 Hungarians, 1.500 Czechs and Slovaks, 1.500 Canadians, 1.400 Austrians, 800 Swiss, 700 Dutch, 500 Swedes, 400 Bulgarians, 250 Irish, 200 Estonians, 160 Greeks, 90 Mexicans, 60 Cypriots; on the national Spanish side: 10.000 Portuguese, 10.000 German soldiers of the Condor Legion, 1.300 French and Walloons, 700 Irish, 200 British (also from Canada, South Africa and Australia), about 300 exiled Russians, 200 Argentines, 50 Peruvians, 25 Cubans and Romanians, Poles, US-Americans, Phlippinos, Brazilians, 200 Christian blacks from Spanish Guinea and about 70.000 Muslim Arabs and Berbers from Spanish Morocco

28th of March 1939 · General Franco marches in to Madrid and establishes a dictatorial regime, supported by the new Falange unity party, in which all the political forces of the National-Spanish Civil War parties had been united - partly under pressure and coercion - and by the Catholic Church

1939–1945 · Second World War, Spain is neutral, 17.500 Spaniards fight voluntary in the "Blue Division" on the side of the German Empire against the Soviet Union

March 1947 · General Franco declares Spain to a catholic monarchy, in the case of his withdrawal or of his death the monarchy should become re-established in full size

1955 · Spain becomes a member of the UNO

2nd of March 1956 · independence for Morocco, Spain has to cede Spanish Morocco (but only the Rif Area) to Morocco

1958 · Spain cedes the Oueddra Stripe to Morocco

29th of July 1968 · Spain grants Spanish Guinea the independence

1969 · Spain cedes the enclave of Ifni to Morocco

1969 · Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón – a grandson of King Alfons' XIII. - becomes destined to the throne successor

1975 · Spain disclaims its rights in Western Sahara, the right of self-determination of Western Sahara becomes Internationally recognized, Morocco and Mauritania invade in Western Sahara

20th of November 1975 · death of General Francisco Franco

27th of November 1975 · King Juan Carlos I. is enthroned

1978 · new constitution, Spain becomes a parliamentary constitutional monarchy

1982 · Spain becomes a member of the NATO

1st of January 1986 · Spain becomes a member of the EC (today: EU, European Union)

19th of June in 2014 · Felipe VI. (Philip VI.), son of Juan Carlos I. ascends to the throne, after the resignation of his father

Source: Wikipedia (D), World Statesmen, Volker Preuß, Jürgen Kaltschmitt

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Origin of the Country's Name

The name "Spain" has its roots probably in the seafaring people of the Phoenicians zurück. They named it "I-Shepanim", what means "Coast of the Marmots". The name was continued because even the Romans called their provinces "Hispania ulterior", or "Hispania citerior", or "Hispania Tarraconensis". The nation of the Spanish is thats because not existend. There are only tribes of the successors of the Celtiberians and the Basques, which live since 1469 together in a kind of a common Spanish state.

Source: Handbuch der geographischen Namen, Atlas zur Geschichte, Volker Preuß

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