The Italian island that belonged to the Crown of Aragon and that continues to share the same flag

Aragon has a history as long as it is fascinating, woven with battles, alliances, and territories that are surprising when viewed on a map today. Its origins date back almost a thousand years, but its moment of greatest splendor came with the creation of the Crown of Aragon, a Mediterranean power that extended its influence across half of Europe and left a legacy as vast as it is unknown.

That past is still reflected in visible symbols: the flags of Catalonia, Valencia, and Mallorca retain the same red bars on a gold background, a direct legacy of the ancient Aragonese kings. But the vestiges of that greatness do not end on the peninsula. Traces of medieval Aragon also persist outside of Spain, albeit more subtle.

A little-known but very revealing case is that of Sardinia, the Italian island that was part of the Crown of Aragon for more than four centuries and which, even today, bears on its flag an emblem shared with Aragon: the cross of Saint George and the Moor’s heads.

SARDINIA WAS AN ARAGONESE KINGDOM FOR FOUR CENTURIES

In 1297, Pope Boniface VIII created the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica as a diplomatic solution to James II of Aragon’s renunciation of Sicily. Although effective rule was not yet guaranteed, in 1323-1324 Aragonese troops conquered the island by defeating the Republic of Pisa at the Battle of Lucocisterna, thus consolidating the Crown of Aragon’s control over Sardinia.

From that moment until the 18th century, Sardinia was administered as an integral part of the Crown of Aragon. Its ties were not only military or institutional: charters, government structures, and the Catalan-Aragonese language were introduced in official settings. Heraldry also reflected this relationship.

THE FLAG OF SARDINIA HAS ARAGONESE ORIGIN AND CROSS MEANING

The current flag of Sardinia, officially recognized by the Italian Republic, shows a red cross of Saint George on a white background and four Moorish heads (two at the top and two at the bottom), each with a white bandage on their foreheads. If you’re Aragonese, just looking at it will most likely remind you of something. This symbolism is reflected in the coat of arms of the community’s flag. This iconography appeared in peninsular heraldry in the 13th century and was adopted by the Kingdom of Sardinia as a symbol of its identity during the Aragonese period.

The Cross of Saint George was a common emblem in the Christian campaigns of the Reconquista, and was also adopted by the city of Barcelona and the kings of Aragon. From a medieval Crusader perspective, the Moorish heads represent the victory of Christianity over Islam. The coat of arms of Aragon also includes them, although in a more discreet position within the first quarter.

WHAT DO THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF THE FLAG AND COAT OF ARAGON MEAN?

The coat of arms of Aragon, incorporated into the current autonomous flag, is divided into four quarters that summarize the political and ideological evolution of the Kingdom:

• St. George’s Cross with Moorish heads: a crusader symbol associated with the patron saint of Aragon and the military campaigns of the 11th century. It coincides with the central motif of the Sardinian flag.
• Sobrarbe Tree : refers to the legendary Kingdom of Sobrarbe and represents freedom and Aragonese customary law.
• Cross of Íñigo Arista : links the origins of the Kingdom with the Navarrese monarchy, reinforcing the historical legitimacy of the first Aragonese kings.
• Bars of Aragon : four red bars on a gold background, identified with the Barcelona county dynasty. They are the most internationally recognized symbol of Aragon and also appear on the national coat of arms of Spain and other states.

This coat of arms was formalized as the official symbol of Aragon in 1984, but its elements have been present in royal and noble heraldry since the Middle Ages.

The parallel between the flag of Sardinia and the coat of arms of Aragon is not a coincidence, but the result of a 
shared political history. Sardinia was a kingdom under Aragonese sovereignty for over 400 years, and its visual identity was shaped by this connection. The Cross of St. George and the cut Moors are still common symbols today, harkening back to the same historical lineage.