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The legend of the four stripes

Legend of the four stripes (scenography of space 7)

The legend of the four stripes is one of the most famous founding myths. Published for the first time in the 16th century, it tries to explain the origins of the emblem of the four red stripes on a golden background, which was first of all the emblem of the dynasty of the house of Barcelona and now identifies the territories that were under its dominion.

The two protagonists are Wilfred the Hairy, count of Barcelona, and Louis the Pious, king of the Franks. After a battle the king rewards the loyalty of his vassal by granting him an emblem for his family: dipping his fingers into Wilfred’s blood he leaves the mark of his four fingers on a gilded shield. So it becomes the emblem of Wilfred’s heirs. He is considered the founder of the dynasty, since his sons are the first to inherit the title without being directly appointed by the king. We should say, however, that emblems of this kind were not known until the late 11th century, two hundred years after the supposed events.

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