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{{Other uses|Bat (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Bat (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Ratpenat.svg|thumb|''Ratpenat'' (''the Crest of the Bat''), an heraldic symbol of the former [[Crown of Aragon]].]]
[[File:Ratpenat.svg|thumb|''Ratpenat'' (''the Crest of the Bat''), a heraldic symbol of the former [[Crown of Aragon]].]]
[[File:Coat of Arms of Teruel City.svg|thumb|Teruel city coat of arms.]]
[[File:Coat of Arms of Teruel City.svg|thumb|Teruel city coat of arms.]]
The '''[[bat]]''' as a [[heraldry|heraldic symbol]] is primarily represented in the coats of arms of certain important towns of the former [[Crown of Aragon]]. It appears mostly at the top, above the [[Crown (headgear)|crown]] over the shield.
The '''[[bat]]''' (also called the {{linktext|reremouse}}, {{linktext|reermouse}}, or {{linktext|rearmouse}}) is a [[heraldry|heraldic symbol]] sometimes used as a [[charge (heraldry)|charge]], but most prominently used as a [[crest (heraldry)|crest]] on or around the [[Crown (heraldry)|crown]] in [[Civic heraldry|municipal arms]] of the former [[Crown of Aragon]]—specifically in [[Valencia]], [[Catalonia]] and the [[Balearic Islands]].


==Origins==
==Origins==
The heraldic use of the bat in Valencia, [[Catalonia]] and the [[Balearic Islands]] has its origins in a winged [[dragon]] ([[European dragon#Dragons in Catalan mythology|''vibra'']] or ''vibria'') that was crowning the helmet or [[:ca:Cimera del Casal de Barcelona|''cimera reial'']] of the Kings of Aragon. Although traditionally the dragon helmet is ascribed to king [[James I of Aragon]] (1208 – 1276),<ref>[http://www.diariodemallorca.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2009011100_4_425452__Diario-de-Palma-Vicisitudes-historicas-torno-cimera-Jaime Diario de Palma - ''Vicisitudes históricas en torno a la cimera de Jaime I'']</ref>
The heraldic use of the bat has its origins in the "royal dragon" crest (''{{lang|ca|[[:ca:Cimera del Casal de Barcelona|cimera reial]]}}'') of the [[Coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon|coat of arms of the Kings of Aragon]]. The royal helmet has a ''{{lang|ca|víbria}}'', a [[European dragon#Iberian dragon|traditional Catalan dragon]], emerging from a crown as its crest. Although traditionally the dragon helmet is ascribed to king [[James I of Aragon]] (1208 – 1276),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.diariodemallorca.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2009011100_4_425452__Diario-de-Palma-Vicisitudes-historicas-torno-cimera-Jaime |title=Diario de Palma - ''Vicisitudes históricas en torno a la cimera de Jaime I'' |access-date=2009-02-12 |archive-date=2012-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224234338/http://www.diariodemallorca.es/secciones/noticia.jsp?pRef=2009011100_4_425452__Diario-de-Palma-Vicisitudes-historicas-torno-cimera-Jaime |url-status=dead }}</ref>
reliable documents{{which|date=July 2019}} state that the winged dragon did not appear over the helmet until [[Peter IV of Aragon]]'s reign (1319 – 1387). This crest was then transformed into a bat by municipalities.<ref name="Fatas2000">{{cite book |first= Guillermo |last=Fatás Cabeza |chapter= El Escudo de Aragón. Epílogo: El dragón d'Aragón |url= http://www.derechoaragones.es/es/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.cmd?posicion=9&path=1270&forma=&config_zoom=S&presentacion=pagina |editor=Gobierno de Aragón |title=Aragón, reino y corona: Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid, del 4 de abril al 21 de mayo de 2000 |id= (pdf: [http://www.derechoaragones.es/es/consulta/registro.cmd?id=395337 link]) |format=pdf |trans-title= Aragon, kingdom and crown: Cultural Centre Villa de Madrid, 4 April-21 May 2000 |language=es |location= Zaragoza |year=2000 |page=174 |isbn=84-8324-084-X}}</ref>
reliable documents state that the winged dragon ''cimera reial'' didn't appear over the helmet until [[Peter IV of Aragon]]'s reign (1319 – 1387).


There is also a legend of a bat that landed on the flag of King James I of Aragon in 1238, before he won a crucial battle against the [[Saracen]]s in which he [[Conquest of Valencia|conquered Valencia]] for his kingdom.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Farquhar |first=Peyer |date=2014-11-21 |title=DC Comics Is Fighting A Trademark War Against Football Giant Valencia Over Its Bat Logo |url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/dc-comics-is-fighting-a-trademark-war-against-football-giant-valencia-over-its-bat-logo-2014-11 |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Business Insider Australia |language=en-AU |archive-date=2021-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615032417/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/dc-comics-is-fighting-a-trademark-war-against-football-giant-valencia-over-its-bat-logo-2014-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In another legend, a bat landed on his tent; James I ordered it to be killed but it was not; later, the bat alerted the king to the Saracens’ surprise night raid.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2019-10-09 |title=Día Comunidad Valenciana: La curiosa historia del murciélago en el escudo de Valencia |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/valencia/20191009/47774629626/dia-comunidad-valenciana-9-octubre-significado-murcielago.html |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=La Vanguardia |language=es}}</ref> Another version has it that bats’ nighttime routines inspired James I to attack the Saracens at night.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hakkarainen |first=Ari |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tECCDwAAQBAJ |title=Valencia, Spain: The Key Sights, Places and Events |date=2019-01-03 |publisher=Klaava Media |isbn=978-952-7074-90-9 |language=en}}</ref> Or perhaps a bat flew in front of him as he entered Valencia after capturing it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hayward |first=Ben |date=2020-04-30 |title=LaLiga badges: The history behind iconic Barca, Real crests and more |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/football-badge-history-spain-laliga-fc-barcelona-real-madrid-crests-a4426491.html |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=Standard |language=en}}</ref> In any case, the bat, formerly a sign of bad luck, became a symbol of good fortune.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> However, original documents state that the animal was a [[swallow]] and not a bat.<ref name="cervantesvirtual.com">[http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/FichaObra.html?Ref=23879&portal=33 Luis Tramoyeres Blasco, ''Lo Rat Penat en el escudo de armas de Valencia'']</ref>
There is also a legend that says that thanks to the humble intervention of a bat, king James I of Aragon was able to win a crucial battle against the [[Saracen]]s that allowed him to win Valencia for his kingdom. However, original documents state that the animal was a [[swallow]] and not a bat.<ref name="cervantesvirtual.com">[http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/FichaObra.html?Ref=23879&portal=33 Luis Tramoyeres Blasco, ''Lo Rat Penat en el escudo de armas de Valencia'']</ref>

The heraldic bat of [[Albacete]] has a different origin. It comes from the transformation over time of two "winged hands", the heraldic emblem of the lords of [[Villena]].

Because bats eat [[Mosquito|mosquitos]], a notable pest in these regions of Spain, some authors propose that bats on crests honor this ecological role in the local [[food chain]].<ref name=":2" />


==The bat in official heraldry==
==The bat in official heraldry==
The coats of arms of certain cities in eastern [[Spain]], like [[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]],<ref name="cervantesvirtual.com" /> [[Palma de Mallorca]]<ref>Antoni I. Alomar i Canyelles, ''L'Estendard, la festa nacional més antiga d'Europa (s. XIII-XXI)'' Palma 1998</ref> and [[Fraga]]<ref name="ifc.dpz.es">[http://ifc.dpz.es/recursos/publicaciones/25/75/_ebook.pdf Emblemata-Revista aragonesa de emblematica no. 11, 2005]</ref> have the bat over the shield. Also smaller towns, like [[Catarroja]] and [[Novallas]], use this symbol.
The coats of arms of certain cities in eastern [[Spain]], like [[Valencia]],<ref name="cervantesvirtual.com" /> [[Palma, Mallorca]]<ref>Antoni I. Alomar i Canyelles, ''L'Estendard, la festa nacional més antiga d'Europa (s. XIII-XXI)'' Palma 1998</ref> and [[Fraga]]<ref name="ifc.dpz.es">{{cite journal |url=http://ifc.dpz.es/recursos/publicaciones/25/75/_ebook.pdf |journal={{lang|es|Emblemata-Revista aragonesa de emblematica}} |volume=11 |year=2005 |issn=1137-1056 |title=La ''Tabla De Magistratura'' de la Audiencia Territorial de Zaragoza (s. XIX) |trans-title=The ''Magistrate’s Table'' of the Territorial Hearing of Zaragoza (19th c.) |last=Blanco Lalinde |first=Leonardo |page=231}}</ref> have the bat over the shield. Some smaller towns, like [[Catarroja]] and [[Novallas]], also use this symbol.


Formerly the [[Barcelona]] city coat of arms had a bat crowning it as well, but the bat was removed at the beginning of the 20th century for unknown reasons.<ref>L'escut de Barcelona, Societat Catalana de Genealogia, Heràldica, Sigil·lografia, Vexil·lologia i Nobiliària</ref> The city of [[Teruel]]<ref name="ifc.dpz.es" /> used to have the bat surmounting the coat of arms' crown. There the bat represents a commemoration of the role of this city in the conquest of Valencia.<ref>[http://www.aragonesasi.com/escudos/teescudo.php Old Teruel city coat of arms]</ref> The bat now rests just below the crown in Teruel's seal.
Formerly the [[Barcelona]] city coat of arms had a bat crowning it as well, but the bat was removed at the beginning of the 20th century for unknown reasons. The city of [[Teruel]]<ref name="ifc.dpz.es" /> used to have the bat surmounting the coat of arms' crown. There the bat represents a commemoration of the role of this city in the conquest of Valencia.<ref>[http://www.aragonesasi.com/escudos/teescudo.php Old Teruel city coat of arms]<br /> {{cite journal |url=http://ifc.dpz.es/recursos/publicaciones/25/75/_ebook.pdf |journal={{lang|es|Emblemata-Revista aragonesa de emblematica}} |volume=11 |year=2005 |issn=1137-1056 |title=La ''Tabla De Magistratura'' de la Audiencia Territorial de Zaragoza (s. XIX) |trans-title=The ''Magistrate’s Table'' of the Territorial Hearing of Zaragoza (19th c.) |last=Blanco Lalinde |first=Leonardo |page=242}}</ref> The bat now rests just below the crown in Teruel's seal.


The use of the bat as a heraldic symbol is prevalent in the territories of the former Crown of Aragon and it is rarely used elsewhere. However, it can be found in a few places, like in the coats of arms of the city of [[Albacete]], in Spain, as well as the town of [[Montchauvet, Yvelines|Montchauvet (Yvelines)]], in [[France]] and [[Fiefbergen]] in [[Schleswig-Holstein]], [[Germany]]. Outside of the European continent, the coat of arms of [[Santa Fe de Antioquia]] has multiple bats. It was granted to the town in 1545 by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles I of Castile and Aragon]] and his mother [[Joanna of Castile]].<ref>[http://www.reuna.unalmed.edu.co/temasdeinteres/Municipios/informacion.php?id=106&opcion=simbolos REUNA - Municipio de Santa Fé de Antioquia]</ref>
While the use of the bat as a heraldic symbol is prevalent in the territories of the former Crown of Aragon it is rarely used elsewhere. However, it can be found in a few places, including in the coats of arms of the city of [[Albacete]] in Spain, the town of [[Montchauvet, Yvelines]] in [[France]], [[Fiefbergen]] in [[Schleswig-Holstein]], [[Germany]] and the former [[Borough of Brecknock]] and [[Historic counties of Wales|historic county]] of [[Brecknockshire]] in [[Wales]], [[UK]]. Outside of Europe, the coat of arms of [[Santa Fe de Antioquia]], [[Colombia]] includes multiple bats; it was granted to the town in 1545 by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles I of Castile and Aragon]] and his mother, [[Joanna of Castile]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110707052728/http://www.reuna.unalmed.edu.co/temasdeinteres/Municipios/informacion.php?id=106&opcion=simbolos REUNA - Municipio de Santa Fé de Antioquia]</ref>


==Other uses==
==Other uses==
Based on the heraldic symbol of their city, certain Spanish [[football (soccer)|football]] club badges, like [[Albacete Balompié]], [[CD Alcoyano]], [[Levante UD]] and [[Valencia CF]], have a bat on them. The ancient badge of the [[FC Barcelona]], used during the 1899-1910 period, had a small bat crowning it as well.<ref>[http://tokyostage.haru.tv/viewvideo.php?c=&vid=b6wsk_6L4oA&f=gdata_videos&artist=&title=&t2=&a2=&search=escut L'origen dels colors i l'escut del Barça]</ref>
Based on the heraldic symbol of their city, certain Spanish [[association football]] club badges, like [[Albacete Balompié]], [[CD Alcoyano]], [[Levante UD]] and [[Valencia CF]], have a bat on them. The oldest badge of [[FC Barcelona]] used between 1899 and 1910 had a small bat crowning it as well.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tokyostage.haru.tv/viewvideo.php?c=&vid=b6wsk_6L4oA&f=gdata_videos&artist=&title=&t2=&a2=&search=escut |title=L'origen dels colors i l'escut del Barça |access-date=2009-02-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831070643/http://tokyostage.haru.tv/viewvideo.php?c=&vid=b6wsk_6L4oA&f=gdata_videos&artist=&title=&t2=&a2=&search=escut |archive-date=2011-08-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-27 |others=Translated by Justin Sherman |title=Barcelona: This is how the Barcelona crest will evolve in its 119th year |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2018/09/27/5bad2fecca4741f20f8b45f9.html |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=MARCA in English |language=en}}</ref> [[Valencia CF|Valencia FC]] first used the bat on its badge from its foundation in 1919.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Munday |first=Billy |date=2020-04-22 |title=Behind the badge: what the bat means to Valencia and its history |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2020/04/23/behind-the-badge-what-the-bat-means-to-valencia-and-its-history/ |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=These Football Times |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[DC Comics]] has raised suits against Valencia FC with the [[European Union Intellectual Property Office]] in 2013 and 2019, claiming commonality with the [[Batman]] logo, but these have not been successful.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />


The [[Burgee]] of the Royal Valencia Yacht Club (Reial Club Nàutic de València) displays a bat on a golden field in its center.
The [[Burgee]] of the Royal Valencia Yacht Club (Reial Club Nàutic de València) displays a bat on a golden field in its center.
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[[Lo Rat Penat]], a political organization based in Valencia in 1878, was named after the heraldic bat. Established by [[Constantí Llombart]], Teodor Llorente and Fèlix Pizcueta, its aim was originally to foster a movement similar to the Catalan [[Renaixença]] in the region of Valencia.
[[Lo Rat Penat]], a political organization based in Valencia in 1878, was named after the heraldic bat. Established by [[Constantí Llombart]], Teodor Llorente and Fèlix Pizcueta, its aim was originally to foster a movement similar to the Catalan [[Renaixença]] in the region of Valencia.


The [[Royal Air Force]] [[No. 9 Squadron RAF|No IX Squadron]] adopted the bat badge in 1917 along with the [[Latin language]] motto "Per Noctem Volamus" (we fly through the night). The badge was approved by King [[Edward VIII]] in November 1936.<ref>[http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h9.html RAF Bomber command]</ref>
The [[No. 9 Squadron RAF]] adopted the bat badge in 1917 along with the [[Latin]] motto ''Per Noctem Volamus'' "We fly through the night". The badge was approved by King [[Edward VIII]] in November 1936.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h9.html |title=RAF Bomber command |access-date=2009-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206172950/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h9.html |archive-date=2008-12-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery perrow="5">
<gallery perrow="5">
File:Wakefield_Kendal_Coat_of_Arms.svg|Armorial Achievement of the [[Wakefield baronets|Wakefield Baronetcy of Kendal]]
File:Coat of Arms of Valencia (Spain).svg|[[Valencia]] city's arms
File:Escut de València.svg|[[Valencia]] city's arms
File:Coat of Arms of the City of Palma, Majorca.svg|Present-day arms of [[Palma de Mallorca]]
File:Coat of Arms of the City of Palma, Majorca.svg|Present-day arms of [[Palma de Mallorca]]
File:Novallas antiguo.svg|Old coat of arms of [[Novallas]], [[Aragon]]
File:Novallas antiguo.svg|Old coat of arms of [[Novallas]], [[Aragon]]
File:Coat of Arms of Teruel City.svg|[[Teruel]] city coat of arms
File:Coat of Arms of Teruel City.svg|[[Teruel]] city coat of arms
File:Escudo de Fraga.svg|Coat of arms of [[Fraga]]
File:Coat of Arms of Fraga.svg|Coat of arms of [[Fraga]]
File:Escut de Catarroja.svg|Coat of arms of [[Catarroja]]
File:Escut de Catarroja.svg|Coat of arms of [[Catarroja]]
File:Flag of rcnv.png|Burgee of the Royal Valencia Yacht Club
File:Flag of rcnv.png|Burgee of the Royal Valencia Yacht Club
Line 40: Line 45:
File:Coat of Arms of Albacete.svg|Coat of arms of the city of [[Albacete]]
File:Coat of Arms of Albacete.svg|Coat of arms of the city of [[Albacete]]
File:Coat of Arms of Albacete Province.svg|Coat of arms of the [[Province of Albacete]]
File:Coat of Arms of Albacete Province.svg|Coat of arms of the [[Province of Albacete]]
File:Blason Montchauvet Yvelines01.svg|Coat of arms of [[Montchauvet, Yvelines|Montchauvet]], France
File:Blason ville fr Montchauvet (Yvelines).svg|Coat of arms of [[Montchauvet, Yvelines|Montchauvet]], France
File:Fiefbergen Wappen.png|Coat of arms of [[Fiefbergen]], Germany
File:DEU Fiefbergen COA.svg|Coat of arms of [[Fiefbergen]], Germany
File:Escudo de Pácora.svg|Coat of arms of [[Pácora, Caldas|Pácora]], Colombia
File:Escudo de Pácora.svg|Coat of arms of [[Pácora, Caldas|Pácora]], Colombia
File:Escudo de Santa Fe de Antioquia.svg|Coat of arms of [[Santa Fe de Antioquia]], Colombia
File:Escudo de Santa Fe de Antioquia.svg|Coat of arms of [[Santa Fe de Antioquia]], Colombia
File:Brecknockshire arms.png|Coat of arms of the historic county of [[Brecknockshire]], Wales
File:488 Intelligence Squadron patch.jpg|488 Intelligence Squadron patch
File:488 Intelligence Squadron patch.jpg|488 Intelligence Squadron patch
File:GRU emblem.svg|Emblem of the [[Voennaya Razvedka]]
File:Spetsnaz_emblem.svg|Emblem of the [[Spetsnaz GRU]], special forces of [[GRU (Russian Federation)|GRU]]
File:Historic Coat of Arms of the City of Palma, Majorca.svg|Former arms of Palma de Mallorca with the winged dragon crown known as ''Cimera de la Festa de l'Estendard'' without the [[Helmet (heraldry)|helmet]]. 17th century
File:Historic Coat of Arms of the City of Palma, Majorca.svg|Former arms of Palma de Mallorca with the winged dragon crown known as ''Cimera de la Festa de l'Estendard'' without the [[Helmet (heraldry)|helmet]]. 17th century
File:Coat of Arms of Barcelona (17th-18th Centuries).svg|Barcelona coat of arms (17th-18th Centuries) with the Royal Winged Dragon (Vibra) crown and the helmet
File:Coat of Arms of Barcelona (17th-18th Centuries).svg|Barcelona coat of arms (17th-18th Centuries) with the Royal Winged Dragon (Vibra) crown and the helmet
File:Coat of Arms of Barcelona (c.1790-c.1870).svg|c.1790-1870 coat of arms already displaying a bat instead of a dragon on top of the helmet
File:Coat of Arms of Barcelona (c.1790-c.1870).svg|c.1790-1870 coat of arms already displaying a bat instead of a dragon on top of the helmet
File:Escut-barcelona1882a.JPG|Late 19th century Barcelona coat of arms at Mercat de Sant Antoni, Barcelona
File:Escut-barcelona1882a.JPG|Late 19th century Barcelona coat of arms at Mercat de Sant Antoni, Barcelona
File:Escudo del cantón de Tibás.svg|Coat of arms of [[Tibás Canton]], Costa Rica
</gallery>
</gallery>


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{{Commons category|Bats in heraldry}}
{{Commons category|Bats in heraldry}}
* [[Dragon]]
* [[Dragon]]
* [[European dragon#Dragons in Catalan mythology|Dragons in Catalan mythology]]
* [[European dragon#Dragon|Dragons in Catalan mythology]]
* [[Catalan symbols]]
* [[Catalan symbols]]
* [[James I of Aragon]]
* [[James I of Aragon]]
Line 62: Line 69:
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
* [http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/downloads/revista/pdf/2006/revista-abril-2006-catala.pdf Barça N. 20]
* [http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/downloads/revista/pdf/2006/revista-abril-2006-catala.pdf Barça N. 20]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}


==External links==
==External links==
* [[:fr:Blason de Valence|Blason de Valence]] {{fr icon}}
* [[:fr:Blason de Valence|Blason de Valence]] {{in lang|fr}}
* [[:ca:Cimera del Casal de Barcelona|Cimera del Casal de Barcelona]] {{ca icon}}
* [[:ca:Cimera del Casal de Barcelona|Cimera del Casal de Barcelona]] {{in lang|ca}}
* [[:ca:Cimera de la Festa de l'Estendard|Cimera de la Festa de l'Estendard]] {{ca icon}}
* [[:ca:Cimera de la Festa de l'Estendard|Cimera de la Festa de l'Estendard]] {{in lang|ca}}
* [[:ca:Escut de Barcelona|Barcelona coat of arms]] {{ca icon}}
* [[:ca:Escut de Barcelona|Barcelona coat of arms]] {{in lang|ca}}
* [http://www.blaugranas.com/wiki/Escudo_Del_Fc_Barcelona FC Barcelona, old badges] {{es icon}}
* [http://www.blaugranas.com/wiki/Escudo_Del_Fc_Barcelona FC Barcelona, old badges] {{in lang|es}}
* [http://www.loratpenat.org/ Lo Rat Penat] {{ca icon}}
* [http://www.loratpenat.org/ Lo Rat Penat] {{in lang|ca}}
* [http://www.edu365.cat/eduradio/joc/index.htm El ratpenat - Homenatge indirecte al València CF] {{ca icon}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090218061442/http://www.edu365.cat/eduradio/joc/index.htm El ratpenat - Homenatge indirecte al València CF] {{in lang|ca}}


{{Heraldic creatures}}
{{Heraldic creatures}}


[[Category:Heraldic beasts]]
[[Category:Heraldic beasts]]
[[Category:Bats]]
[[Category:Bats in culture]]
[[Category:Catalan symbols]]
[[Category:Catalan symbols]]
[[Category:Legendary mammals]]
[[Category:Legendary mammals]]

Latest revision as of 03:45, 13 October 2024

For other uses, see Bat (disambiguation).
Ratpenat (the Crest of the Bat), a heraldic symbol of the former Crown of Aragon.
Teruel city coat of arms.

The bat (also called the reremouse, reermouse, or rearmouse) is a heraldic symbol sometimes used as a charge, but most prominently used as a crest on or around the crown in municipal arms of the former Crown of Aragon—specifically in Valencia, Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

Origins

[edit]

The heraldic use of the bat has its origins in the "royal dragon" crest (cimera reial) of the coat of arms of the Kings of Aragon. The royal helmet has a víbria, a traditional Catalan dragon, emerging from a crown as its crest. Although traditionally the dragon helmet is ascribed to king James I of Aragon (1208 – 1276),[1] reliable documents[which?] state that the winged dragon did not appear over the helmet until Peter IV of Aragon's reign (1319 – 1387). This crest was then transformed into a bat by municipalities.[2]

There is also a legend of a bat that landed on the flag of King James I of Aragon in 1238, before he won a crucial battle against the Saracens in which he conquered Valencia for his kingdom.[3] In another legend, a bat landed on his tent; James I ordered it to be killed but it was not; later, the bat alerted the king to the Saracens’ surprise night raid.[4] Another version has it that bats’ nighttime routines inspired James I to attack the Saracens at night.[5] Or perhaps a bat flew in front of him as he entered Valencia after capturing it.[6] In any case, the bat, formerly a sign of bad luck, became a symbol of good fortune.[3][4] However, original documents state that the animal was a swallow and not a bat.[7]

The heraldic bat of Albacete has a different origin. It comes from the transformation over time of two "winged hands", the heraldic emblem of the lords of Villena.

Because bats eat mosquitos, a notable pest in these regions of Spain, some authors propose that bats on crests honor this ecological role in the local food chain.[8]

The bat in official heraldry

[edit]

The coats of arms of certain cities in eastern Spain, like Valencia,[7] Palma, Mallorca[9] and Fraga[10] have the bat over the shield. Some smaller towns, like Catarroja and Novallas, also use this symbol.

Formerly the Barcelona city coat of arms had a bat crowning it as well, but the bat was removed at the beginning of the 20th century for unknown reasons. The city of Teruel[10] used to have the bat surmounting the coat of arms' crown. There the bat represents a commemoration of the role of this city in the conquest of Valencia.[11] The bat now rests just below the crown in Teruel's seal.

While the use of the bat as a heraldic symbol is prevalent in the territories of the former Crown of Aragon it is rarely used elsewhere. However, it can be found in a few places, including in the coats of arms of the city of Albacete in Spain, the town of Montchauvet, Yvelines in France, Fiefbergen in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and the former Borough of Brecknock and historic county of Brecknockshire in Wales, UK. Outside of Europe, the coat of arms of Santa Fe de Antioquia, Colombia includes multiple bats; it was granted to the town in 1545 by Charles I of Castile and Aragon and his mother, Joanna of Castile.[12]

Other uses

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Based on the heraldic symbol of their city, certain Spanish association football club badges, like Albacete Balompié, CD Alcoyano, Levante UD and Valencia CF, have a bat on them. The oldest badge of FC Barcelona used between 1899 and 1910 had a small bat crowning it as well.[13][14] Valencia FC first used the bat on its badge from its foundation in 1919.[8] DC Comics has raised suits against Valencia FC with the European Union Intellectual Property Office in 2013 and 2019, claiming commonality with the Batman logo, but these have not been successful.[8][3]

The Burgee of the Royal Valencia Yacht Club (Reial Club Nàutic de València) displays a bat on a golden field in its center.

Lo Rat Penat, a political organization based in Valencia in 1878, was named after the heraldic bat. Established by Constantí Llombart, Teodor Llorente and Fèlix Pizcueta, its aim was originally to foster a movement similar to the Catalan Renaixença in the region of Valencia.

The No. 9 Squadron RAF adopted the bat badge in 1917 along with the Latin motto Per Noctem Volamus "We fly through the night". The badge was approved by King Edward VIII in November 1936.[15]

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See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bats in heraldry.

References

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  1. ^ "Diario de Palma - Vicisitudes históricas en torno a la cimera de Jaime I". Archived from the original on 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  2. ^ Fatás Cabeza, Guillermo (2000). "El Escudo de Aragón. Epílogo: El dragón d'Aragón". In Gobierno de Aragón (ed.). Aragón, reino y corona: Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid, del 4 de abril al 21 de mayo de 2000 [Aragon, kingdom and crown: Cultural Centre Villa de Madrid, 4 April-21 May 2000] (pdf) (in Spanish). Zaragoza. p. 174. ISBN 84-8324-084-X. (pdf: link).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ a b c Farquhar, Peyer (2014-11-21). "DC Comics Is Fighting A Trademark War Against Football Giant Valencia Over Its Bat Logo". Business Insider Australia. Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  4. ^ a b "Día Comunidad Valenciana: La curiosa historia del murciélago en el escudo de Valencia". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  5. ^ Hakkarainen, Ari (2019-01-03). Valencia, Spain: The Key Sights, Places and Events. Klaava Media. ISBN 978-952-7074-90-9.
  6. ^ Hayward, Ben (2020-04-30). "LaLiga badges: The history behind iconic Barca, Real crests and more". Standard. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  7. ^ a b Luis Tramoyeres Blasco, Lo Rat Penat en el escudo de armas de Valencia
  8. ^ a b c Munday, Billy (2020-04-22). "Behind the badge: what the bat means to Valencia and its history". These Football Times. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  9. ^ Antoni I. Alomar i Canyelles, L'Estendard, la festa nacional més antiga d'Europa (s. XIII-XXI) Palma 1998
  10. ^ a b Blanco Lalinde, Leonardo (2005). "La Tabla De Magistratura de la Audiencia Territorial de Zaragoza (s. XIX)" [The Magistrate’s Table of the Territorial Hearing of Zaragoza (19th c.)] (PDF). Emblemata-Revista aragonesa de emblematica. 11: 231. ISSN 1137-1056.
  11. ^ Old Teruel city coat of arms
    Blanco Lalinde, Leonardo (2005). "La Tabla De Magistratura de la Audiencia Territorial de Zaragoza (s. XIX)" [The Magistrate’s Table of the Territorial Hearing of Zaragoza (19th c.)] (PDF). Emblemata-Revista aragonesa de emblematica. 11: 242. ISSN 1137-1056.
  12. ^ REUNA - Municipio de Santa Fé de Antioquia
  13. ^ "L'origen dels colors i l'escut del Barça". Archived from the original on 2011-08-31. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  14. ^ "Barcelona: This is how the Barcelona crest will evolve in its 119th year". MARCA in English. Translated by Justin Sherman. 2018-09-27. Retrieved 2022-03-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. ^ "RAF Bomber command". Archived from the original on 2008-12-06. Retrieved 2009-02-14.
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