The piece of the month of May 2025
THE FLAG OF THE CITY OF OLITE
Javier Corcín Ortigosa
Local Historian
The city of Olite traces its origins to the late eleventh century and its development from the granting of the regional law by the monarch of Pamplona García Ramírez in 1147. A population that grows, organizes and cohesion quickly, and a century later becomes one of the most important towns and protagonist of the history of the Kingdom of Navarre.
The towns are endowed with elements that serve as a motto, that represent them and with which they identify themselves. This function is fulfilled by the coat of arms of the Council, of the group of neighbors, as a collective attribute. The emblem has come down to us from medieval times on the wax seals (1255) used on the parchments that validated the agreements and represented the town. Presumably the emblem also appeared on the banner or flag of the Council: An olive tree with fruit, a star on each side of the base of the trunk and eight towers for border.
I am going to make a journey through history -with the available where the banner or flag of Olite, acquires prominence representing the Council / City Council and neighbors. The banner or flag as emblem that united the local militia in military expeditions, in the boasts of the brotherhood of the Ballesteros of municipal character, royal visits, in celebrations related to the monarchy, in acts of Merindad and, at all times, accompanying the Municipal Corporation. Symbols that have always been endowed with consideration and respect, also extensible to other symbols such as the mayor's rod of command, the municipal mace and the scallops or medals worn by the municipal councillors in corporation.
In 1321, the Council of Olite responded to the call of the Governor of the Kingdom, Pons de Mortagne, Viscount of Aunay, to recover the castle of Gorriti and to punish the bands of "evildoers" from Guipuzcoa and Alava who were relapsing in actions of plunder and assaults in neighboring Navarrese towns. On their return, the "facienda" or the conflict of "Ypuzcoa" occurred, in which the Navarrese forces were ambushed and thwarted by the Gipuzkoan forces in the Beotíbar gorge, in the vicinity of Tolosa. The chronicle mentions that the banner of Olite was one of the most damaged, and it is even mentioned that a lawsuit was filed against the chief of its contingent, García Centol, for not having behaved well the banner of Olite in that of Guipúzcoa. The Olite militia is mobilized under its banner.
Emblems of the city: Medieval wax seal - Coat of arms of the Hospital of Olite from 1574 - Coat of arms of the city on the municipal inn from 1766.
The municipal ordinances of 1412, collected in the codex of the Register of the Council of Olite (1224-537), give an account of the respect and consideration due to the banner of the Council. The library assistant on the Corpus Christi procession states: [I]tem ordenamos que quando quando qujerean que por causa delos ditos enterrorios ledanjas proçessiones o fiesta de corpus xpisti leuaran las cruzes et pendon por villa que los duenyos delas casas por do passaren las ditas cruzes et pendon non pongan no ayan nj tiengan Ropas varas Ramada senyal de tauierna nin otra cosa alguna en sus finjestras que encuentre o faga empacho o enuyo alas ditas cruzes et pendon et quj qujere que el contrario desta ordenança fiziere pague de pena XX ss. for the jurors.
In 1586 in the Corpus Christi procession the flag was accompanied by twelve arquebusiers.
In the Modern Age, on September 25, 1636, at the request of Viceroy Francisco de Andía Irarrazábal, Marquis of Valparaíso, the Council named the mayor of Olite, Miguel de Novar y Santacara, as captain of the people who were to go to Vera de Bidasoa under the flag of the city of Olite. He went to the border with France with his soldiers, to serve His Majesty.
In 1575 the mayor Juan de Huarte proposed to the councillors, who knew well how the whole town and its neighbors are members of the brotherhood of San Sebastian, also called the Ballesteria, which at the time of his boast, as a brotherhood that is of the town, brings the flag to the house of the City Council and makes his obedience and submission to it as flag and brotherhood own ... The City Council was made position of the 34 ducats of a new flag.
On special occasions the City Council has gone in corporation outside the town accompanied by the flag. Thus, in 1598, the Council decided to celebrate the funeral obsequies for the death of King Philip II and IV of Navarre in the church of Santa María de Ujué, for three days. The Mayor, Justice and Aldermen of the town went to the sanctuary with the standard bearer and sergeant-at-arms, the ecclesiastical chapter, religious of the convent of San Francisco and friars of San Antón, the preacher, musicians and singers, and companions of the town. The chapter and chapel of Ujué were invited. The motive could have been the vindication of the devotion and pilgrimage to the Virgin of Ujué because of the prohibition of the same by the bishop of Pamplona some years before. To solemnize the turn of the century, the Town Council agreed to attend the pilgrimage of the Virgin of Ujué on May 13, 1900. The conference proceedings state that it will verify the trip displaying the medal, the flag of the city and taking the municipal band to play and give splendor to the act.
As Head of the Merindad, the City Council had a banner with the royal arms for acts related to the monarchy, zealously taking care of the ceremonial and seeking the prestige and decorum of the city.
Municipal corporation, ca. 1920
His presence at the raising of the Royal Banner and on other important occasions.
One of the most ceremonious acts celebrated by the City Council in the Modern Age was the Raising of the Royal Banner, which was carried out on the occasion of the acclamation of a new king. It was celebrated as an act of Merindad with great sumptuousness and protocol, and the towns and valleys and places of the Merindad participated in it. The banner played an important role. In the middle of the right hand were the arms of our natural King and Lord, may God preserve him, and on the other side those of the city. In 1699 the acclamation of the new King was celebrated. The mayor, carrying the royal banner, accompanied by the mayors, aldermen and secretary, mounted on horseback, and numerous neighbors, went from the town hall to the Old Palace where he saluted the royal arms that are above the said door, lowering the banner to the ground and, together with the aldermen of the city, entered the courtyard of the palace on horseback and then went out.... and to all this, they played the trumpets and atabales, and having remained all in silence, the mayor, Martin de Arraiza, in high voice said these words: 'Olite, Olite, Olite' and its Merindad by the King Our Lord, don Felipe V of Castile and VII of Navarre. Long live many years. Long live, long live. And then all those present responded with loud voices: Viva, Viva many years, Viva. The same acclamation was made later in the place Mayor and other customary posts of the city.
In November of 1843 the solemn act of proclamation and swearing in of Isabel as Constitutional Queen of Spain was celebrated in all the town halls of the Province. From the balcony of the City Hall the Royal Decree was read by the Secretary of the City Hall in a loud and intelligible voice. The Mayor Mr. Mendívil took in his hands the banner that the City Hall conserves with the royal arms and raising it high he pronounced the following words: The City of Olite by the constitutional Queen Doña Isabel Segunda. The second Mayor took the oath to the first one to keep fidelity with the following formula: I swear to be faithful to the Constitutional Queen Doña Isabel Segunda and to give her full obedience in everything that she commands according to the Constitution of the State. Yes I swear, he answered. Then he made the same to the second Mayor, aldermen and Provisor Síndico giving the same answer. And going forward said first Mayor until the edge of the balcony he read to the people in high voice the same oath and this one answered: Yes we swear. Concluded this act, they all marched to the Parish Church of San Pedro preceded by mace and box where a solemn "Te Deum" was sung. The Mayor carried the banner in his hands, hoisting it in the place that belonged to him, giving cheers to the Constitutional Queen Doña Isabel Segunda, which was answered by all those present. Mr. Mayor II carried under the canopy of the Town Hall the portrait of Doña Isabel, and arriving at the church was placed under a canopy next to the main altar. At the end of this act , the City Council invited the most notable people to take biscuits and rancid wine. Throughout the day the banner and portrait of His Majesty remained hanging from the balcony of the Town Hall, to indicate the solemn act that had been celebrated. At night there were fireworks and abundant illumination.
Corporation leaving the church of Santa Maria in 1949
In 1888 the City Council, seeing that the vineyards were attacked by the plague called "del Sapo", tried to find the remedy in the Head of San Gregorio Ostiense. The Holy Relic was received at the Railway Station and went in procession to the church of San Francisco. The City Council concurred in corporation at ten o'clock in the morning to that church with flag, mace and music. The two parish priests, clergy and neighborhood were invited by official document by means of a proclamation, requesting attendance, and that no one went out to work, as well as the brotherhoods to attend with their flags in order to give greater solemnity to the act. The relic was deposited in San Francisco and a solemn mass with a sermon was celebrated there. At five o'clock in the afternoon they gathered in the aforementioned church and the solemn procession of the blessing of the fields took place in the threshing floor of the Count of Espoz y Mina, and in the Cadena, in front of the Extremal area, returning in procession to the aforementioned church.
On the occasion of the VII centenary of the battle of Navas de Tolosa, on July 16, 1912, coinciding with the visit of Alfonso XIII, a great civic-religious parade of crosses and flags was organized in Pamplona. The City Council appointed a commission formed by the mayor, the first deputy mayor and the councilor syndic to come with the flag of the city. As the flag was somewhat deteriorated, it was also agreed to fix it at the least possible expense and to iron it. More than 600 parish crosses and 700 flags from all over Navarra participated.
We also have news of the participation of the corporation in a civic act. On October 4, 1953 the City council went to the house of D. Manuel degree program Díez and returned to the town hall in its company in corporation with flag, macero, giants and band of music, where it was entertained like benefactor of the city by the aids granted for the works of brought of waters, schools, town hall, hospital, fronton... from its position in the ministry of Public Works. On August 26, 1957, the feast of the Virgen del Cólera, degree program accompanied the corporation at the inauguration of the monument erected in recognition of his work.
The historical respect that the flag entails was manifested in ancient times when the older people uncovered and removed the beret at the passage of the corporation. Since the sixteenth century is documented the presence of the mace preceding the municipal corporation and the flag. A mace with the mark of its author, the prestigious local silversmith Hernando de Oñate, from the parish of San Pedro. The mace symbolizes authority, power.
Since the sixteenth century is documented the presence of the mace-bearer preceding the municipal corporation and the flag. A mace with the mark of its author, the prestigious local silversmith Hernando de Oñate, from the parish of San Pedro. The mace symbolizes authority, power.
Between 1974 and 1993, during the gala festivities, three large bakeries with the coats of arms of Olite, Navarre and Spain were hung over the balcony of the town hall. They are currently displayed in the Plenary Hall.
Inauguration of the monument to D. Manuel degree program in 1957. Standard bearer Santiago Eraso
The flag in our days
The color of the flag of Olite is white, symbol of purity and peace. It waves on the balcony of the town hall, presides over the conference room and accompanies the corporation.
The flag "of the City" is the one that accompanies the corporation. The municipal conference proceedings of 1921 reflect its origin. The mayor reported that to date has not been commissioned the flag of this city, which has been commissioned to do and whose expense is budgeted, and having news that the City Council of Pamplona was made by the Adorers of that city, the City Council of Olite agrees to authorize Mr.. Mayor Sabas Corcín, to commission the nuns to make the flag of this municipality, for which reason the current flag will be taken so that the new flag will have the coat of arms and, on the opposite side, the Purísima will be placed because it is the patron saint of the city, and in the rest it will be of the shape and dimensions of the one of Pamplona. It cost 1,600 pesetas. It exhibits a rich and fine embroidery in gold, silver and different colors.
Flag that accompanies the Corporation. Coat of arms of the city and the Immaculate Conception, patron saint of Olite.
On the main face of the flag sample the coat of arms of the city: An olive tree crowned in the middle of two towers, chain in border and by bell royal crown. On the obverse side the Immaculate Conception. In 1624 the Council vowed and swore to profess and defend the mystery of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin and in 1643 named the Immaculate Conception patron saint of the city. The same motifs decorate the medals or scallops worn by the aldermen in corporation.
At present, the City Council participates in corporation with the flag in eight festivities: Good Friday procession, Corpus Christi, San Pedro, the Assumption, the Virgin of Cholera (August 26), Vespers and celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14 and the Immaculate Conception, patron saint of the City. The position of standard bearer is held by the youngest councilor. The flag enters first in the church and occupies a prominent place in the temple.
Corporation 1976 - 1979. Representation by Tercios. Standard bearer Bernardo Nuin
Sources and bibliography
Municipal file of Olite. conference proceedings books. Libro del Registro del Concejo (1224-537).
JIMÉNEZ, A., Apuntes y artículos del programa de fiestas. Uses and symbols of the municipal corporation (1994) Traditions of the municipal corporation of Olite (2016).
DÍEZ, A., Apuntes y artículos del programa de fiestas. The mayors of Olite (1993).