Spanish Heroes

The legend of Wilfred "The Hairy"

Although the year of his birth is unknown Wilfred "The Hairy" was of Hispanofranco descent and son of Sunifred of Urgel. He became Count of Urgel and Cerdenyá and in ?877 was named Count of Barcelona, Besalú and Girona by French King Charles "The Bald" as reward for his services. Wilfred worked to repopulate and link the 5 counties and built fortifications in towns as far South as the River Llobregat.

This strengthening of his territories caused the Moors to fortify Lleida. Wilfred in turn saw this as a direct threat and led a failed attack on the city which in turn provoked the Moors into attacking Barcelona. When Wilfred died in battle defending Barcelona against the Moors in ?897 A.D. his titles passed to his son.
Legend has it that the Catalan flag has its origins in the coat of arms presented to Wilfred by Charles the Bald as a reward for his bravery after he was injured in battle. According to the legend the King visited Wilfred in his tent where he lay bleeding, wet his fingers with Wilfred's blood and traced four lines across the injured Count's golden shield.
Whether or not the legend is true the design was used as the coat of arms of Aragon .Today it forms the basis of the flags of the 4 Autonomous Comunities which made up the Kingdom of Aragon; Aragón, Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands.

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IN OTHER WORDS : Wilfred "The Hairy", was a warrior that defended his country, Barcelona, against the Moors. The year exact year was unknown. Legend has it that the King went to go see Wilfred in his tent where he was laying down, bleeding . The king rubbed his fingers in Wilfred's blood and put four lines across the Count's golden shield. Whether the legend was true or not, the design was used as the coat of arms of Aragon. Now, it forms the basis of the falgs of the 4 Autonomous Comunities of the Kingdom of Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands.