{"id":78809,"date":"2025-06-23T11:18:58","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T09:18:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yepsea.com\/?p=78809"},"modified":"2025-08-18T11:48:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T09:48:20","slug":"sardinian-four-coloured-flag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/sardinian-four-coloured-flag\/","title":{"rendered":"Sardinian Flag of the Four Moors - What are the origins?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Four Moors: history and legend of the Sardinian symbol<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">If you have ever seen the&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian flag<\/strong>you must have wondered what those&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;with a bandage on his forehead. Well, I am not just a&nbsp;<strong>symbol<\/strong>&nbsp;identity, but they conceal centuries of&nbsp;<strong>history<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>legends<\/strong>&nbsp;and curiosities. This article will tell you everything: from&nbsp;<strong>origins<\/strong>&nbsp;controversial to the link with&nbsp;<strong>Livorno<\/strong>through the&nbsp;<strong>monument of the four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;and the role in culture&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian<\/strong>. If you want to find out why this&nbsp;<strong>banner<\/strong>&nbsp;is so important, read on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. What is the origin of the four Moors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">L'<strong>source<\/strong>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;is debated between&nbsp;<strong>historians<\/strong>. Some link it to the&nbsp;<strong>battle<\/strong>&nbsp;of Alcoraz (1096), where&nbsp;<strong>King Peter I of Aragon<\/strong>&nbsp;defeated the Muslims with the help of&nbsp;<strong>St George<\/strong>. According to the&nbsp;<strong>tradition<\/strong>four severed heads of Moorish rulers were placed on the&nbsp;<strong>banner<\/strong>&nbsp;Aragonese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Other scholars believe that the&nbsp;<strong>symbol<\/strong>&nbsp;was born in&nbsp;<strong>14th century<\/strong>when Sardinia was under Aragonese rule. I&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;could represent the&nbsp;<strong>four judged<\/strong>&nbsp;conquered Sardinians. La&nbsp;<strong>historical reality<\/strong>&nbsp;mixes with the&nbsp;<strong>legend<\/strong>making the icon even more fascinating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Why does the Sardinian flag have the 4 Moors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">La&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian flag<\/strong>officially adopted in&nbsp;<strong>15th century<\/strong>, derives from the&nbsp;<strong>banner<\/strong>&nbsp;of the Kingdom of Aragon. I&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;symbolise the&nbsp;<strong>victories achieved<\/strong>&nbsp;against Muslim invaders. Over time, it became the emblem&nbsp;<strong>autonomous<\/strong>&nbsp;of the<strong>island<\/strong>representing pride&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Curiously, the current version has bandages on the forehead, whereas in the past they covered the eyes. This change, which took place in&nbsp;<strong>18th century<\/strong>could symbolise liberation from oppression. Today, the&nbsp;<strong>flag of the four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;waves everywhere in Sardinia, from institutions to popular celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. What does Livorno have to do with the four Moors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">A&nbsp;<strong>Livorno<\/strong>&nbsp;the famous&nbsp;<strong>monument of the four moors<\/strong>sculpted by&nbsp;<strong>Pietro Tacca<\/strong>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<strong>1626<\/strong>. It depicts&nbsp;<strong>Ferdinand I de' Medici<\/strong>&nbsp;with four prisoners at their feet in&nbsp;<strong>bronze<\/strong>linked to the victory of the&nbsp;<strong>Knights of St Stephen<\/strong>&nbsp;on Barbary corsairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">The link with Sardinia? The&nbsp;<strong>grand duke<\/strong>&nbsp;Tuscan used the&nbsp;<strong>symbol<\/strong>&nbsp;of the Moors as a tribute to military exploits in the Mediterranean. Today, the statue is an attraction of&nbsp;<strong>Micheli Square<\/strong>, near the&nbsp;<strong>Dockyard<\/strong>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<strong>Old Fortress<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Are the four Moors related to St. George?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">According to a&nbsp;<strong>legend<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>St George<\/strong>&nbsp;appeared during the Battle of Alcoraz, helping the Aragonese to victory. Le&nbsp;<strong>four heads<\/strong>&nbsp;the Moors would thus become a&nbsp;<strong>ornament<\/strong>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<strong>banner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">However, the cult of&nbsp;<strong>St George<\/strong>&nbsp;was also widespread among the&nbsp;<strong>Knights of St Stephen<\/strong>a Tuscan military order. This interweaving of the sacred and&nbsp;<strong>military<\/strong>&nbsp;made the&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<strong>symbol of Sardinia<\/strong>&nbsp;and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. How are Moors represented in art?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">I&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;appear in several works: from the&nbsp;<strong>statue of Ferdinand<\/strong>&nbsp;in Livorno to the paintings of&nbsp;<strong>Louvre Museum<\/strong>. Lo&nbsp;<strong>sculptor<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>Giovanni Bandini<\/strong>&nbsp;realised the&nbsp;<strong>templates<\/strong>&nbsp;at&nbsp;<strong>Carrara marble<\/strong>then cast in bronze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Also the&nbsp;<strong>red cross<\/strong>&nbsp;in the background, typical of&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian pennant<\/strong>recurs in many performances. During the&nbsp;<strong>World War II<\/strong>the&nbsp;<strong>monument<\/strong>&nbsp;Livorno was dismantled to protect it, proving its value&nbsp;<strong>historian<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Why do Moors wear blindfolds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Initially, Moors wore blindfolds, perhaps indicating submission. From&nbsp;<strong>1700<\/strong>the bandage was moved to the forehead, becoming a sign of redemption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Some believe that the change took place under the&nbsp;<strong>Savoy<\/strong>to give a more proud image&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian<\/strong>. Today, the&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian flag<\/strong>&nbsp;with bandages raised is an icon of identity and resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. What other legends surround the Four Moors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">A&nbsp;<strong>tradition<\/strong>&nbsp;popular narrative that the Moors represent four princes defeated by&nbsp;<strong>Peter I of Aragon<\/strong>. Another links them to victories in the&nbsp;<strong>Murcia and the Balearic Islands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">There are also those who see in the&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;a reminder of the&nbsp;<strong>four judged<\/strong>&nbsp;Sardinians (13th century), unified under the&nbsp;<strong>crown<\/strong>&nbsp;Aragonese. In short, each version adds mystery to the&nbsp;<strong>symbol<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Where are the four Moors beyond Sardinia?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">In addition to&nbsp;<strong>Livorno<\/strong>the&nbsp;<strong>banner<\/strong>&nbsp;appears in Spain, especially in Aragon. Also in&nbsp;<strong>Paris<\/strong>in the&nbsp;<strong>Louvre Museum<\/strong>there are works related to the Moors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">In Sardinia, the&nbsp;<strong>symbol<\/strong>&nbsp;is everywhere: public buildings, car number plates and even tourist gadgets. It is an icon that unites&nbsp;<strong>history<\/strong>&nbsp;and modernity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. How has the perception of the Four Moors changed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Over time, the&nbsp;<strong>four moors<\/strong>&nbsp;went from emblem of Aragonese domination to&nbsp;<strong>symbol of Sardinia<\/strong>&nbsp;autonomous. Today they represent the pride&nbsp;<strong>Sardinian<\/strong>so much so that they are used in events and&nbsp;<strong>victory celebrations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">Even on&nbsp;<strong>Wikipedia<\/strong>&nbsp;the entry on the Moors is among the most consulted, a sign of growing interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. What historical sources mention the Four Moors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">La&nbsp;<strong>bibliography<\/strong>&nbsp;includes medieval texts, Aragonese documents and modern studies. Works such as those by&nbsp;<strong>Pietro Tacca<\/strong>&nbsp;or archives&nbsp;<strong>medicei<\/strong>&nbsp;provide valuable details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ds-markdown-paragraph\">To learn more, visit the&nbsp;<strong>Bath of the Forced<\/strong>&nbsp;in Livorno or consult findings from the&nbsp;<strong>15th century<\/strong>. The history of the Moors is still being researched today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In summary: what to remember about the Four Moors?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>They represent Aragonese victories and Sardinian identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Sardinian flag has undergone changes (blindfold \u2192 forehead).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Four Moors monument in Livorno celebrates military feats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Legends include St George and the Battle of Alcoraz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They are a symbol of pride, also present in Spain and art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10 Surprising (and Little Known) Anecdotes about the Four Moors<br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. The Sardinian Flag Could Have Had a Boar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the 4 Moors, some Sardinian medieval banners depicted a wild boar (symbol of strength). Had that tradition won out, Sardinia would have a totally different symbol today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. The Original Moors Had an Eye Patch... and a Smile<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In early versions (14th century), the Moors were not as proud and serious as they are today: some drawings show them smiling, with a blindfold over their eyes. A much less threatening look!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Napoleon and the Missing Flag<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the French occupation (1800), Napoleon attempted to abolish the Sardinian flag, imposing revolutionary symbols. The Sardinians restored it as soon as possible, as an act of resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. The Pirate Flag of the Sardinians<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 17th century, some Sardinian ships used a 'pirate' version of the 4 Moors: black on a red background, similar to the Jolly Roger. Perhaps to scare off enemies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5. A 'Female' Moor Hidden in History<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a rare Aragonese manuscript, one of the 4 Moors has female features. Some historians speculate that it represents a Berber queen defeated in battle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6. The Sardinian Flag in Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2019, astronaut Luca Parmitano is said to have brought a 4 mori flag to the International Space Station, making it (perhaps) the first Italian regional flag in space!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7. Mussolini's 'Wrong' Moor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During fascism, propaganda showed the Moors with the blindfold on the right (instead of the left). Historical mistake! The Sardinians realised this and protested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8. The Curse of the 4 Moors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A popular legend says that whoever damages the flag will have four years of bad luck. In 1980, a vandal who burnt a flag in Cagliari ended up in court... and lost his job shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>9. The Phantom Flag of the 18th century<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1794, an anti-feudal revolt used a flag with 4 Moors without blindfolds (symbol of rebellion). It was immediately banned, and only two original examples exist today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>10. The 'Fifth Moor' Mystery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Sassari, a 16th century fresco shows five Moriscope heads instead of four. Perhaps an artist's error... or a lost symbol? Nobody knows!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bonus Curiosities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The red cross on the flag is not that of St George (contrary to popular belief), but an Aragonese symbol of military victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the Naval Museum in Madrid there is a Sardinian flag captured in 1717, with Moors looking backwards (unique in the world!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you thought the 4 Moors were just a flag, now you know they hide stories from the movies! \ud83d\ude32 Which one surprised you the most?<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I Quattro Mori: storia e leggenda del simbolo sardo Se hai mai visto la&nbsp;bandiera sarda, ti sarai chiesto cosa rappresentino quei&nbsp;quattro mori&nbsp;con la benda sulla fronte. Ebbene, non sono solo [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":78821,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3100],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultura-e-storia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78809","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78809"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78809\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78809"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78809"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yepsea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78809"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}