The gyronny field is identical to that of the flag of Lisbon, to commemorate the fact of that flag having been the first raised in Ceuta by the Portuguese when they conquered the city in 1415.[1] The city was a part of the Portuguese Empire until the end of the Iberian Union in 1640, after which it decided to remain with Spain.[2] Thus the coat of arms of the city is nearly identical to that of the Kingdom of Portugal, showing the seven castles over the red bordure and the five escutcheons with silverroundels.[3]