Illes Balears — Coat of Arms and Flag

Autonomous Community	Illes Balears
Capital	Palma (Palma de Mallorca)
Area	4,992 km²
Co-official languages	Spanish, Catalan (Balearic variety)
Statute of Autonomy	1983
Flag adopted	Statute of Autonomy 1983

Blazon

Or, four pales Gules; cantoné in the upper dexter with a square canton Purpure charged with a castle of five towers Argent.

Elements and Symbolism

• Four red pales on gold (Or, four pales Gules) — the classic Senyera of the Crown of Aragó, shared with Catalonia, Valencia, and Aragon.
• Purple canton (Purpure) — a square canton in the upper hoist, a rare heraldic tincture (purpure) that immediately distinguishes the Balearic flag from all other Senyera variants.
• Five-towered silver castle (Argent) — a castle with five towers charged on the purple canton, referencing the medieval Kingdom of Majorca established after the conquest by Jaume I.

Historical Development

Jaume I of Aragó conquered Mallorca in 1229, establishing the Kingdom of Majorca as part of the Crown of Aragó and bringing the four-bar Senyera to the islands. The purple canton with castle was added to distinguish the Balearic royal banner from those of other Aragonese territories. After the Statute of Autonomy of 1983, this historic flag was adopted as the official symbol of the autonomous community. Note that the islands do not have a separate coat of arms at the community level — the flag itself serves the heraldic function, while each island council (consell insular) maintains its own coat of arms.

What is the flag of Illes Balears?

The flag of Illes Balears is the Senyera — four horizontal red stripes on a gold field — with a distinctive purple square canton in the upper hoist charged with a five-towered silver castle. It was officialized by the Statute of Autonomy in 1983.

What does the purple canton on the Balearic flag represent?

The purple canton charged with a silver castle distinguishes the Balearic flag from other Crown of Aragó flags and references the medieval Kingdom of Majorca established after Jaume I's conquest in 1229.

Does Illes Balears have a separate coat of arms?

Illes Balears does not have a distinct coat of arms at the autonomous community level. The flag itself fulfils the heraldic role, while each island council (Mallorca, Menorca, Eivissa-Formentera) maintains its own coat of arms.

Who conquered the Balearic Islands and established their heraldic tradition?

Jaume I of Aragó conquered Mallorca in 1229, establishing the Kingdom of Majorca within the Crown of Aragó and bringing the four-bar Senyera that forms the basis of the Balearic heraldic identity.

When was the Balearic flag officialized?

The flag of Illes Balears was officialized by the Statute of Autonomy of the Balearic Islands (Estatut d'Autonomia de les Illes Balears) in 1983.

• Estatut d'Autonomia de les Illes Balears (1983)
• Govern de les Illes Balears — Símbols oficials
• Sastre Moll, J. — La heràldica a les Illes Balears, Institut d'Estudis Baleàrics

Last reviewed by the Emblema Mundi editorial team on June 29, 2026.