Under this flag, Christopher Columbus set out on his legendary voyage across the Atlantic, and ultimately discovered the New World.  This was the Royal Standard of Spain at the time, with a red lion on a white field opposite a yellow castle on a red field.  The Castle is the emblem of the Spanish province of Castille, and the Lion represents Leon.  Balboa and Ponce de Leon also sailed under this flag, and carried it for their respective discoveries of the Pacific Ocean and Florida.  Magellan’s expedition also raised this banner as the became the firsts to sail around the world.