Day of the Spanish Legion September 20
On September 20, the first legionnaire enlisted and therefore, at the express wish of its founder, this day was counted as the founding date of the Spanish Legion.
Origins of the Spanish Legion
The Spanish Legion was originally called Tercio de Extranjeros. Its founder was the Infantry Commander José Millán-Astray, and it arose in full conflict with the Rifens of North Africa.
Thus, the Spanish Legion is an elite military force, which was founded in 1920 in Ceuta and already has more than 100 years of experience, and is part of the Land Force of the Spanish Army.
Its first base was position A in Ceuta, located on a hill from which the entire Strait of Gibraltar is controlled, and which in 1980 began to be occupied by the Spanish army. In 1920 it was occupied by the first legionary expedition, until 2008.
The Spanish Legion today
Currently the Spanish Legion consists of the Tercios Gran Capitán 1st of the Legion, Duque De Alba 2nd of the Legion, the King Alfonso XIII Brigade 2nd of the Legion, Don Juan de Austria 3rd of the Legion, Alejandro Farnesio 4th of the Legion, in addition of other maneuver units and logistic support.
History of the shield of the Spanish Legion
Infantry Captain D. Justo Pardo Ibáñez designed the emblematic shield of the Legion, which was made official in 1923 through publication in the Official Gazette 263/1923. In this text, the creation of the emblem of the Legion was established to distinguish the Generals, Chiefs and Officers who have served or serve in the Foreign Tercio, which they will use during their military life as a sign of their services in such distinguished positions. Although the emblem is not described in said publication, a drawing can be seen in Legislative Collection no. 532 of that same year, where the emblem of the Legion made up of a crossed halberd, an arquebus and a crossbow can be clearly seen, on which is a Royal Crown.
After the proclamation of the Republic in 1931, various provisions related to regime change were issued. One of them was the Circular Order April 14, 1934 CL 149, which required the removal of all monarchical symbols, which meant the removal of the Royal Crown from the emblem of The Legion. From 1936 to 1975, the emblem without the Crown continued to be used without any need for change.
After the restoration of the Monarchy in 1975, royal symbols were reintroduced across the board. Several years later, the first official description of the Legion emblem was published in the appendix to the Official Defense Gazette number 90 of May 13, 1986. Curiously, the description and accompanying drawing make no reference to the Royal Crown. . However, this element was gradually reintroduced in the emblem and finally, in 2004, the use of the Royal Crown in the official emblem of The Legion was ordered by the Chief of Staff of the Army through document 516-AI/357 -D dated March 3, 2004.
Description of the emblem of the Spanish Legion
The emblem of the Spanish Legion is inspired by the weapons used by the Spanish Tercios who, at the service of the King of Spain, fought in the most important battles of the Spanish Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The emblem consists of several elements, including the Royal Crown, which was later added to the original design. The Royal Crown symbolizes the authority of the King and the sovereignty of the Spanish State. The crossbow is one of the most prominent elements of the emblem, and represents the aim and precision of the soldiers of the Legion. In addition, the crossbow symbolizes strength and resistance, since it is a weapon that requires great strength to shoot.
Another element of the emblem is the arquebus, which is a firearm used at the time of the Spanish Tercios. The arquebus symbolizes firepower and military power, since this weapon allowed soldiers to shoot at long distances with great precision. In addition, the arquebus represents the bravery and courage of the soldiers of the Legion, who were willing to risk their lives for the defense of their country.
Finally, the emblem includes the halberd, which is a polearm that symbolizes defense and protection. The halberd is a very versatile weapon, allowing both attack and defense, and its presence in the emblem represents the importance of protection and security in the Legion's mission.
Together, these elements of the emblem of the Spanish Legion represent the values and virtues of the soldiers of this unit, which are strength, precision, courage, bravery, protection and defense of their country and its citizens. .
Products with the shield of the Spanish Legion
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