Eagle of Saint John

The Eagle of Saint John (Spanish: Águila de San Juan) is a heraldic eagle associated mostly with the Catholic Monarchs which was later used during Francoist Spain (1939–77) and the Spanish transition to democracy (1977–81). It is sable with an or halo and feet of gules.

Carolingian ivory plaque with the eagle of Saint John, showing the customary halo, Victoria & Albert Museum

Symbol of John the Evangelist

John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth gospel account, is symbolized by an eagle, often with a halo, an animal may have originally been seen as the king of the birds. The eagle is a figure of the sky, and believed by Christian scholars to be able to look straight into the sun. It appears with other three beings as the tetramorph, interpreted in Christianity as symbols of the evangelists. The four beings appear as the living creatures in the Bible.

Use by Isabella I of Castile

The better known heraldic use of the Eagle of St. John has been the single supporter chose by Queen Isabella of Castile in her armorial achievement used as heiress and later integrated into the heraldry of the Catholic Monarchs. This election alludes to the queen's great devotion to the evangelist that predated her accession to the throne. There is a magnificent tapestry with the armorial achievement of the Catholic Monarchs in the Throne Room of the Alcazar of Segovia.

Use by Catherine of Aragon, Mary I of England, and Philip II of Spain

The Eagle of St. John was placed on side of the shields used as English consort by Catherine of Aragon, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Mary I and King Philip as English monarchs. In Spain, Philip barely bore the Eagle of St John in his armorial achievements.

Use by Francisco Franco

The Eagle of the Evangelist was recovered as single supporter holding in 1939, 1945 and 1977 official models of the armorial achievement of Spain and it was removed in 1981 when the current coat of arms was adopted.

Use as a heraldic emblem

Prominent examples of the use of St. John's Eagle in heraldry across the world include the heraldry or emblems of: Valparaíso City (Chile); Boyacá Department (Colombia); Catholic Archdiocese of Besançon (France); Mallersdorf-Pfaffenberg (Germany); Lima City (Peru); Kisielice, Kwidzyn District and county, Oleśnica Town and county (Poland); Gata and the 29th Infantry Regiment "Isabel la Católica" (Spain); Lääne county, Haapsalu town and Kuressaare town (Estonia); and the St. John's College (University of Sydney, Australia).

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  Coat of arms of Isabella of Castile as Princess of Asturias.
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  Coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs.
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  A coat of arms with the Eagle of Saint John in the Alcázar of Segovia.
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  The 1494 Constitutions of Catalonia, with the Eagle.
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  Coat of arms of Ferdinand II of Aragon as Lord of Biscay.
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  The Eagle of Saint John and two lions, in an ornamented version of the coat of arms of Joanna I of Castile.
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  The Eagle of Saint John in the coat of arms of Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England.
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  The Eagle of Saint John in the coat of arms of Mary I of England after her marriage with Philip II.
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  Coat of arms of Spain from 1939 to 1945.
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  Flag of Spain from 1939 to 1945.
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  Coat of arms of Spain from 1945 to 1977.
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  Flag of Spain from 1945 to 1977.
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  Coat of arms of Spain from 1977 to 1981.
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  Flag of Spain from 1977 to 1981.
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  Coat of arms of Lima.
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  Coat of arms of Valparaíso.
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  Coat of arms of the Boyacá Department.
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  Coat of arms of the Regimiento de Infantería "Isabel la Católica" n.º 29 (Spanish Army).
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  Coat of arms of the Bishopric of Ösel-Wiek.
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  Coat of arms of Lääne county, Estonia.
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  Coat of arms of Haapsalu, Estonia.

See also

• Eagle (heraldry)
• Symbols of Francoism
• Yoke and arrows