Few people, when looking at the famous Hollywood hills, realize that Los Angeles’s history began long before the advent of cinema and its transformation into the world’s entertainment capital. The roots of this vast metropolis go back to the era of Spanish colonial rule, a fact still reflected in the city’s official symbols. The coat of arms of Los Angeles sits alongside the emblems of the ancient kingdoms of Castile and León, serving as a silent reminder of its founders.
It all began on September 4, 1781, when a group of 44 settlers, accompanied by soldiers and Franciscan monks, established a new settlement. Its original, lavish and deeply religious name — «El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río Porciúncula» — fully embodied the spirit of the Spanish colonial era. At that time, the church and the military acted as a single entity, advancing the interests of the empire northward into the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Eventually, of course, this cumbersome name was shortened to the familiar ‘Los Angeles.’
The driving force behind this ambitious project, which gave rise to one of the key cities on the modern U.S. West Coast, was Governor Felipe de Neve. This seasoned official of the Spanish Empire, originally from the Andalusian city of Bailén, was tasked with strengthening Spain’s presence in Alta California. At that time, the region was sparsely populated, inhospitable, and under threat of invasion by other European powers, primarily England and Russia. In essence, it was the wildest and least developed frontier of New Spain.
In the 18th century, the Spanish monarchy actively sought to reinforce control over its northern territories. This issue became particularly pressing after the global conflict known as the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763). Fears of possible English and Russian expeditions to the Pacific coast led King Charles III to order a series of military and religious campaigns to colonize Alta California. The main objective was to secure control over this strategically important border region. For Felipe de Neve, it was not his first mission of this kind: in 1777, he had already founded San José. The new settlement on the river, first mapped in 1769 by soldier and explorer Gaspar de Portolá, cemented his status as the Spanish governor of both Californias. It’s worth noting that de Portolá also played a significant role in the founding of San Diego and Monterey.
Who were the pioneers who founded Los Angeles? Contrary to popular belief, they were not noble hidalgos. The settlement was established by just eleven families—a diverse group made up of mestizos, mulattos, and Native Americans. Only one among them was a native of the Iberian Peninsula. In total, there were 44 people—farmers, artisans, and former soldiers recruited from what is now northern Mexico. Many of them, being of humble origins, accompanied Franciscan monks in their missionary work, helping to establish not only civilian settlements but also mission-forts. Most of Los Angeles’s first inhabitants were illiterate, but the Spanish government granted them land, livestock, and the tools necessary for work, giving them a chance for a new life.
One of the most prominent legacies of the Spanish Empire in this region is the city’s heraldic shield. On its left side are historic emblems: a castle on a red background, symbolizing the Kingdom of Castile, and a rampant red lion on a white field, the mark of the Kingdom of León. These two symbols represent the power of the Spanish Crown during the era of conquest and colonization of the Americas. Their presence on the Los Angeles coat of arms is a direct tribute to its founders and historical heritage. Nearby, incidentally, is also the coat of arms from the Mexican flag—a golden eagle devouring a snake—highlighting the city’s complex and multilayered history. Thus, the history of Los Angeles is an extraordinary blend of cultures that began with the imperial ambitions of distant Spain.
