The Flag of Portugal - Description of the Portuguese Flag
As the above picture of the Portuguese Flag indicates the overall background is Red and green
The description of the Portuguese Flag is as follows:
Two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths)
The Portuguese coat of arms centered on the green and red dividing line
According to Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colors. The colors on the Portuguese flag represent the following:
Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Green - hope, joy and love and in many cultures have a sacred significance
The basic style shown in the picture of the Portuguese flag is described as Emblem - reflecting the central design of the flag pattern
All Flag pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view, from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Portuguese flag is described as 2:3 ( length 1½ times the height )
The emblem on the Portuguese flag pictures the Portuguese Coat of Arms
A red shield with seven small yellow castles and surrounded by yellow straps
A white shield, within the red shield, containing five small blue shields with white dots
Five blue small shields within the white shield
The Meaning & History of the Portuguese Flag and Coat of Arms - The Portuguese emblem depicts the coat of Arms:
1100's - King Sancho II adopted a coat of arms consisting of five blue shield-shaped emblems in the form of a cross each charged with silver dots1100's
1200's King Alfonso III added the shield with the red border with the golden castles
1816 The gold armillary sphere on a blue field was added to the shield and a royal crown placed overall
The Portuguese Flag and Coat of Arms were adopted on 30 June 1911
Flag Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the Flag Quiz
Flag History & Evolution:
The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield
Shields were painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying a pole was adopted
An emblem such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the pole for identification
The emblems were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats of Arms were born
These emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and creating a modern flag
Portuguese Flag Etiquette
Portuguese Flag etiquette is very strict and is is essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic Flag Etiquette applies to all nations, including Portuguese as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of precedence for the flag
National Flag of Portuguese
State Flag of Portuguese
Military Flag of Portuguese (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of Portuguese
The United Nations uses alphabetical order when presenting a national flag including the Portuguese Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's flag
The National flag of Portuguese should never be flown above another national flag on the same staff as this would suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or Nation, over another
The Portuguese flag should never be allowed to drag along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of Portuguese should be removed and replaced with a new flag
Due care and consideration must be taken to ensure that the Portuguese flag is always flown the correct way up
A Flag of Portuguese, when in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Portuguese Flag display
Hoist - the act or function of raising the Portuguese flag, as on a rope
Half Staff or Half Mast - the Portuguese flag is hoisted to half of the potential height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed by first raising the Portuguese flag to the top, then lowering the Portuguese Flag halfway
Distress - denoted by flying the Portuguese flag upside-down
Manner of hoisting - The Portuguese flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously
No disrespect should be shown to the Portuguese flag
The Portuguese flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way
The Portuguese flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The Portuguese flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to Portuguese Flag usage forbids the display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding Portuguese Flag Etiquette has provided a useful resource
Portugal
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Portuguese Land Size : 91,951 sq km - includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Portuguese Climate / Weather : maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Portuguese Population : 10,524,145 (July 2004 est.)
Portuguese Capital City: Lisbon
Portuguese GDP: $182.3 billion (2003 est.)
Portuguese Main Industries : textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Main Colors of the Portuguese Flag : Red and green
Commonly mis-spelt as Portueguese or Portuegese
Concise History of Portugal & its Flag
10,000BC Upper Paleolithic (the Old Stone Age) period
5000 - 3000BC Neolithic (New Stone Age) period
3000BC - 1000BC Bronze Age period
1104BC Portugal was ruled by the Phoenicians
258BC The Carthaginians conquered Portugal
15 BC The Romans had begun to extend their empire into Portugal
416AD - Portugal was ruled by the Visigoths
711AD - Portugal was ruled by the Arabs (Moors)
739AD - Portugal was ruled by the Leonese
905 Navarre becomes a kingdom
1035 King Sancho III of Navarre, Aragon and Castile dies and his lands become separate Kingdoms
1095 The time of the Crusades. The Crusaders assist the Portuguese in defeating the Moors
1112 Afonso inherits the County of Portugal, a province of Castile
1139 - 1580 - The Burgundy Dynasty
1272 Afonso III conquers Faro from the Moors removing all Muslim communities from the country
1297 King Dinis signs a treaty with Ferdinand IV of Castile to define the borders between Portugal and Spain
1394 Henry the Navigator is born
1415 Portugal conquers the city of Ceuta in northern Africa - the exploration of Africa begins
1419 Madeira Islands are discovered
1427 Diogo Silves discovers the Azores Islands
1469 - Vasco da Gama was born in Sines, Portugal
1497 July 8 - Vasco da Gama set out on expedidition to India via Africa stopping at Mombasa, Mozambique, Malindi, Kenya, and Quilmana trading centres
1498 May 20 - Vasco da Gama arrived in Calicut, India
1524 December 24 - Vasco da Gama died
1491 Bartolomeu Dias becomes the first European captain to cross the Cape of Good Hope
1498 Vasco da Gama reaches India navigating around Africa
1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral discovers Brazil
1549 Saint Francis Xavier, a Portuguese missionary, arrived in Japan. The Portuguese were the most successful Europeans in initiating major trade agreements with the Japanese
1580 - 1640 The Habsburg Dynasty (Spanish rule)
1580 Philip II of Spain becomes Philip I of Portugal and independence is lost to Spain
1640, December 1 The Duke of Braganza becomes king ending Spanish control
1807 Napoleon Bonaparte invades Portugal
1807 Portugal adopts the name of the Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve
1822 - Brazil declares independence
1910 Portuguese Revolution ends the monarchy
1914 - 1918 World War I
1926, May 28 A Military coup brings fascist leaders to Portuguese government
1939 - 1945 World War II
August 1945 The United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
1974, April 25 The Carnation Revolution ends the fascist regime
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The Portuguese Flag and Nation
We hope that the presentation of facts and information regarding the Portuguese Flag and Country has provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flags and Nations Index and test your knowledge with our interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and it's fun! If you answer all questions correctly you will earn the right to enter the Vexillologist Hall of Fame!
