Red and white flag with castle and key

Q: Why does the Gibraltar flag have a key on it?

The key is said to symbolise the fortress significance as Gibraltar was seen to be the key to Spain by the Moors and Spanish and later as the key to the Mediterranean by the British.

We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding Gibraltar Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource

Table of Contents Show

What flag is red and white with a castle and key?
What is meaning of red flag with castle?
Why does the Gibraltar flag have a key on it?
Is Gibraltar a flag?

Flag History & Evolution:

The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms were born
These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a new flag

Gibraltar Flag Etiquette

Gibraltar Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including Gibraltar as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
- National Flag of Gibraltar
- State Flag of Gibraltar
- Military Flag of Gibraltar (in order of creation date)
- Other Flag of Gibraltar
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Gibraltar Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Gibraltar should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
The Gibraltar flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Gibraltar should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Gibraltar flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Gibraltar, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect

Gibraltar

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering
the Strait of Gibraltar, which links
the Mediterranean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean,
on the southern coast
of Spain

Gibraltar

Land Size of Gibraltar : 6.5 sq km
Climate / Weather of Gibraltar : Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Population of Gibraltar : 27,833 (July 2004 est.)
Former Name(s) : n/a
Capital City of Gibraltar : Gibraltar
GDP of Gibraltar : $500 million (1997 est.)
Main Industries : tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Currency of Gibraltar : Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Agricultural products : none
Main Colors of Gibraltar Flag : Red and White
Commonly mis-spelt as Gibralter

Concise History of Gibraltar & its Flag

The Phonenicians first named it Calpe after one of the Columns of Hercules
The Coat of Arms were granted to "The Most Loyal City of Gibraltar" by the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in the year 1502
An Anglo-Dutch force led by Sir George Rooke seized the Rock in 1704
The name Gibraltar comes from the Arabic Jabal Tariq which means "Tariq's mountain" reflecting the famous Rock of Gibraltar
Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht
The British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830
1914 - 1918 WW1
The Coat of Arms were confirmed as the arms of the city by the British in 1936
1939 - 1945 WW11
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, 98% of Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted to remain a British dependency

The Flag and Nation of Gibraltar

We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Flag and Country of Gibraltar has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flag and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun!

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What flag is red and white with a castle and key?

Flag of Gibraltar Flag Description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band.

What is meaning of red flag with castle?

The Army Corps of Engineers flag is a medieval castle as the logo, it's typically a white castle with three towers set on a red background, this was started in 1840 on an informal basis. In 1902, the Corps Castle was formally adopted by the Army as the insignia of the Corps of Engineers.

Why does the Gibraltar flag have a key on it?

The key is said to symbolise the fortress' significance as Gibraltar was seen to be the key to Spain by the Moors and Spanish and later as the key to the Mediterranean by the British.

Is Gibraltar a flag?

The flag of Gibraltar is the only British Overseas Territory flag to not feature the Union Flag. Having said that, the Union Flag is commonly used alone on the island as its standalone flag. The flags design is split into thirds; the lower third being red, and the upper two thirds being white.