The legend of the four bars Catalan

In a text of the century XII (Gesta Comitum Barcinonensium), 250 years after the death of Count Guifré el Pelòs, appeared for the first time the famous legend about the origin of the flag.

The Count Guifré went to the aid of the emperor and French king Carles el Calb to fight the Normans, which threaten the empire. After the battle and defeated the enemy the Count was hurt of dead. Before dying he requests to the king that to give him an heraldic emblem to carry his shield gold and without drawing. The king put his fingers to the open wound of Guifré and fingers full with blood passes over the shield creating the emblem of the four bars on a golden background.