The precise origin of the Moor's head is a subject of controversy. One theory holds that it symbolizes Peter I of Aragon and Pamplona's victory over the "Moorish" kings of the Taifa of Zaragoza in the Battle of Alcoraz. The blindfold may originally have been a headband. Another theory claims that it is the Nubian Saint Maurice. Its use is first recorded in 1281, during the reign of Peter III of Aragon. The Aragonese had for a long time influence over Sardinia and Corsica, being granted the islands by the Pope, although they never really exercised formal control. From this, the Moor's head became a symbol of those islands.
The main charge in the coat of arms in Corsica is U Moru, Corsican for "The Moor". An early version is attested in the 14th-century Gelre Armorial, where an unblindfolded Moor's head represents Corsica as a state of the Crown of Aragon. Interestingly, the Moor's head is attached to his shoulders and upper body, and he is alive and smiling. In 1736, it was used by both sides during the struggle for independence. In 1760, General Pasquale Paoli ordered the necklace to be removed from the head and the blindfold raised. His reason, reported by his biographers, was "Les Corses veulent y voir clair. La liberté doit marcher au flambeau de la philosophie. Ne dirait-on pas que nous craignons la lumière ?" Later the blindfold was changed to a headband. The current flag of Corsica is the Bandera testa Mora), is male rather than female, and has a regular knot at the back of the head.
Flag of Sardinia
The flag of Sardinia is informally known as the Four Moors and comprises four Moor heads.
African Unification Front
The "Maure" is the African Unification Front's flag and emblem. The head is blindfolded representing the impartiality of justice, and the knot is tied into a stylized Adinkra symbol for omnipotence.
Modern anti-racism efforts, coupled with increased African immigration to Europe and a growth of the Afro-European population, have led to controversies around ancient "Moor's head" symbols. For example, the Austrian Mohrenbrauerei was asked to remove the "Moor's head" from its bottles.
