16th Century

Spain’s Claim To Texas
(Early Sixteenth Century, 1518 Through 1820)

“Spain’s imperial flag of Castile and Leon flew over territory north and west of the Rio Grande as a result of their conquest of Mexico. Enter Texas Revolutionaries: Jane Long, Sam Houston, Mirabeau Lamar and others” … - page 1, Texas Sinners and Revolutionaries, Jane Long and Her Fellow Conspirators by Jack C. Ramsay, Jr.

© - Copyright, Jack C. Ramsay, Jr. 2001

The Flag of Castile & León
(1248 – 1516)

Although Spain dominated the New World for nearly three centuries, Texas was only under Spanish domination for a few years. Moses Austin made his deal with Spanish governor Martinez in the waning years of his governorship. It would be left to the son of Moses, Stephen F. Austin, to bring settlers into Texas. Under the son countless numbers of settlers came, either through the impresario process or simply in answer to the call of the west.

The flag during Spain’s claim to Texas incorporated the arms of Castile and León (castle and lion). Technically in the 15th Century, Spain was a collection of kingdoms, not a single country. The largest and most important was the combined kingdom of Castile and León. As kingdoms joined Spain, their coats of arms were added so that the official imperial banner/flag eventually grew to be an ornate checkerboard of contiguous coats of arms. Texas was determined not to become a “coat of arms” on the Imperial Banner of Spain.