Origen y difusión de las armas de Baztán

Abstract

The Baztan valley is exceptionally rich with regard to heraldry, as  one of the areas of Spain where the highest concentration of coats of arms carved in stone can be found. In the article we look first of all at the evolution of the use of the characteristic “chessboard” design; its 13th century origin as a family coat of arms, its later  consideration from the 16th century as a more collective symbol, and its later expansion too.
But apart from this purely historical aspect, the article also offers  insights of great heraldic interest : the formation of new coats of  arms incorporating the chessboard design, the use of distinctive  decoration around the edge of the coat of arms itself, and...