Behind The Badge

[colcol]

Reprinted from The Age's Motoring Liftout 22/08/2015,
The Alfa Romeo Badge,
Italian Draftsman Romano Catteneo knocked out the original Alfa Romeo Badge in 1910.
The right side of the crest of the House of Visconti, showing a massive serpent wearing a crown and in the process, it seems, eating a man.
The red cross is based on a Milanese symbol commemorating the crusades.
In 1918, when Nicola Romeo bought the company, his name was added.
In 1925 a laurel wreath marked victory in the inaugural Automobile World Championship.
Colin.

[carlo rossi]

yes well researched  , the man the serpent is eating is a Moor
again because of the crusades and the red cross is from the Knights Templer
the symbolism is very interesting and old
the shield was the house of Savoy the visconti of Savoy

[alfamisa]

Actually the red cross was the flag of the Republic of Genoa, the world's largest fleet at that time and was adopted by the crusaders and then pinched by England. It represents the patron saint of Genoa, St George.

[carlo rossi]

I stand corrected which is a good thing
found this on it, it is  as col col says this was the  bit of it for the georges cross
and the snake and Moor is the house of Visconti
well done you never stop learning

It was created in the early eleventh century by combining the emblem of nobility (red) with that of the people (white).
In the Declaration of Pontida of 1167, a number of northern Italian cities constituted the Lombard League to fight the Emperor and gain independence. The League adopted the emblem of Milan as its symbol.
The emblem was hoisted on the Carroccio at the victorious battle of Legnano in 1176.
From that moment on, the emblem of Milan became a symbol of authority and autonomy, and it was adopted by many towns in northern Italy.

So very Alfa " Authority and Autonomy" obviously someone from FIAT finally read the meaning

[colcol]

There are less politically correct stories that are racist as found on some forums as to the real explanation of the badge, if half of its correct, i don't think Alfa Romeo would want it getting out.
No matter what the real tale is, its a great looking badge, so much better than say a T or H badge with no imagination, Colin.