Maure

A Maure, since the 11th century, is the symbol of a Moor's head. The term has Phoenician and Greek origins; see Moors.

Flags, seals, and emblems

This symbol is used for political purposes.

The Maure

The Maure is the African Unification Front's flag and emblem.

Flag of Corsica

The main charge in the coat of arms in Corsica is U Moru, Corsican for "The Moor", originally a female Moor blindfolded and wearing a necklace made of beads. An early version is attested in the 14th-century Gelre Armorial, where an unblindfolded Moor's head represents Corsica as a state of the Crown of Aragon. In 1736, it was used by both sides during the struggle for independence.

In 1760, General Pasquale Paoli ordered the necklace to be removed from the head and the blindfold raised. His reason, reported by his biographers, was "Les Corses veulent y voir clair. La liberté doit marcher au flambeau de la philosophie. Ne dirait-on pas que nous craignons la lumière ?" (English: "The Corsicans want to see clearly. Freedom must walk by the torch of philosophy. Won't they say that we fear the light?") Later the blindfold was changed to a headband.

The current flag of Corsica is the Bandera testa Mora ("Flag with head of Maure"), is male rather than female, and has a regular knot at the back of the head.

Flag of Sardinia

The flag of Sardinia is informally known as the Four Moors (Italian: I quattro mori, Logudorese: Sos Bator Moros, Campidanese: Is Cuatru Morus) and comprises four Moor heads.

See also

References

Further reading

  • "Heart of Independent Sardinia". giampiero6's Orgosolo Page. Retrieved April 22, 2005.
  • "Sa Bandela de Sos Bator Moros", Sardinian Autonomous Region, retrieved April 22, 2005 which in turn cites
    • B. Fois (1990). Lo stemma dei quattro mori, breve storia dell'emblema dei Sardi. (editor Carlo Delfino) Sassari.
  • "The Historic Significance of the Muare", African Unification Front, retrieved April 22, 2005
  • "L'Histoire d'U Moru", Extraits de l'Ouvrage: "Trois Etudes Sur Paoli", retrieved April 22, 2005
  • "U Moru (English translation)", Extracts from "Trois Etudes Sur Paoli", retrieved April 22, 2005
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