Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

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Chris Green
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Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Chris Green » 08 Dec 2013, 13:30

One of the most unexpected uses of the British Union Flag is in the CoA of Coquimbo, Chile:

Image

Es de forma rectangular en tres de sus lados y el borde inferior, de forma curva convexa, acuartelado, con los colores azul y amarillo: ocre, dispuestos de dos en diagonal. El cuartel superior derecho llevaráuna alabarda representada en color gris acero. Del asta arma sólo se incluirá su extremo superior.En el cuartel amarillo inferior, llevará una punta de flecha india en tono crema a café. En el cuartel azul superior llevará un galeón del siglo XVI, dibujado en bordes y líneas principales blancas y finas y velamen del mismo color. En el cuartel azul inferior, en líneas finas y blancas, llevará un lobo marino mirando hacia el centro del blasón.En el borde superior el Escudo incluirá una franja horizontal con los colores de la bandera de Gran Bretaña. El Escudo estará coronado en toda su anchura por la Corona de Castilla con sus colores. Los cuatro carteles, más la franja británica, estarán bordeados por una franja de plata y sobre ella llevará añañucas en tono rojo vivo, vueltas hacia arriba, dos a la izquierda y dos a la derecha. Sostienen el Escudo dos cañones desmontados cruzados de entre los tipos del siglo XVI, dibujados en tono café suave, más un rótulo de color blanco, con bordes y letras en negro que incluyen la palabra "Coquimbo".

There seem to have been many British settlers in Coquimbo in the mid-1800s, but so there were in many other non-British areas. Perhaps there was strong British presence on the city council when the design of the CoA was being debated.
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Hector Rojas
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Hector Rojas » 21 Apr 2019, 19:52

Hello,
likely a reference to the infamous Francis Drake's raids and sacking of Coquimbo and La Serena.
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Chris Green » 21 Apr 2019, 20:32

Hector Rojas wrote:Hello,
likely a reference to the infamous Francis Drake's raids and sacking of Coquimbo and La Serena.


Not at all likely. When Sir Francis Drake was alive (1540-96) the Union Flag as shown in the arms of Coquimbo was still over 200 years from being designed. In any case why would the citizens of Coquimbo choose to remember such a defeat? If that was the link the arms would surely include the cross of St George. As the arms were only created in 1976 (when the designers would have been unlikely not to know the difference between the flag of England and that of the UK) it seems far more likely that the city was referring to the British influence in the growth of the area in the 19th century.
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Hector Rojas » 24 Apr 2019, 17:46

As a native of Chile, who lived in Coquimbo for 2 years, I can say that the use of the Union Jack has nothing to do with when it was designed or adopted. It is there simply to place the link with the UK. Chilean regional governments do not have a concept or understanding of proper heraldry, so they pick and chose motifs that will fit their interests and design intent. The most famous connection to the UK for Coquimbo and La Serena, are Francis Drake and Richard Hawkings a few years later.

As to why would Coquimbans want to reminisce and identify with that part of history is not for me to say, but it is there.

The City of Coquimbo even installed a statue in honor of Drake, the guy who sacked them.

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Chris Green
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Chris Green » 24 Apr 2019, 17:55

A very strange looking Francis Drake.
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Michael F. McCartney
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Michael F. McCartney » 24 Apr 2019, 22:05

While perhaps not uniquely tied to Coquimbo, IIRC the British supported the Chileans in their revolution against Spain, especially the service of Bernardo O'Higgins as their naval leader.
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby JMcMillan » 28 Apr 2019, 14:33

Michael F. McCartney wrote:While perhaps not uniquely tied to Coquimbo, IIRC the British supported the Chileans in their revolution against Spain, especially the service of Bernardo O'Higgins as their naval leader.


O'Higgins wasn't a Brit, and wasn't a sailor. He was Chilean-born, the illegitimate son of an Irish-born officer in Spanish service. You can bet that no one in the family identified as British.

You're probably thinking of Lord Cochrane, who was a former (and subsequent) Royal Navy officer who fought on the rebel side in the Chilean war of independence and is considered the father of the Chilean navy.
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Michael F. McCartney » 03 May 2019, 18:20

I stand corrected - Thanks!
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Re: Arms of Coquimbo, Chile

Postby Chris Green » 03 May 2019, 21:03

Here is a link to a thread from 2013 that deals with the arms of Lord Cochrane:

http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=340&p=3461&hilit=cochrane#p3461
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