Last modified: 2023-07-03 by
Keywords: valdivia | saltire | doubt | coat of arms: border | saltire (red) | burgundy cross |
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The province of Valdivia, in the south of Chile, has (or had) its own flag. It is nearly identical to the St. Patrickʼs flag that represents Ireland, except for the red edge on the border. Its origin goes back to the foundation of the Fuerte de Niebla, in the 17th century. This flags was found as a charge on the provincial shield.
Sergio Arenas, 14 Dec 2002 (translated by Rob Raeside)
The flag is visible in a photograph (http://www.munivaldivia.cl/fotos/concejo/concejo2.jpg, broken link as of 22 Feb 2005, Ivan Sache) on this webpage (http://www.munivaldivia.cl/concejo/concejo.html) I think the flag is in fact identical to the St. Patrickʼs cross flag from Ireland — the red border is not visible (although that might be because of the way it hangs). Perhaps the red border interpreted by Sr. Arenas is an artefact of the red background to the shield.
Rob Raeside, 14 Dec 2002
I believe that this information is a misinterpretation. The arms were granted in 1554 and then they have already the white flag with red cross (I assume that a Burgundian cross). On the page http://www.munivaldivia.cl/discursos/archivo/dis-450.html, the cronist adds: «always was the flag of Valdivia». Red border is not quoted. A photo of the flag in the site (http://www.munivaldivia.cl/fotos/concejo/concejo2.jpg), without border, but is refered to the city flag, and Mr. Arenas is speaking of Valdivia province flag (In my humble opinion both are the same flag but I dont have more info for confirm it or deny it…).
Jaume Ollé, 22 Dec 2002
Adding to the confusion, thereʼs CSAV, a chilean shipping company whose logo looks exactly like this…
António Martins, 27 Dec 2002