Portuguese Flag

Portuguese Flag

 

FLAGS - NATIONS - HISTORY - GEOGRAPHY

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
 

Canton - Flag Terminology

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
 
 
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
 
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 anew 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
 

National Flags of the World Map

Portugal

Location: Southwestern Europe,
bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, west of Spain

 
 

Portugal

  • 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
  • Portuguese Agricultural products : grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products
  • Portuguese Currency : euro (EUR)
  • 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, 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
 
 
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!

 

Portuguese Flag

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