The flag and national arms

Orientation and proportion

Start with the pole rather than memorising “left” and “right”: the observer’s position can change. Green occupies two fifths of the length; red occupies three fifths. Height and length have a two-to-three ratio. A correctly drawn flag is therefore longer than it is tall, with unequal fields. These measurements describe different aspects: the whole flag’s proportions and the division of colours. Draw the rectangle first and the dividing line afterwards.

Three layers to observe

Over the colour boundary, find the armillary sphere; on it, the national shield. Inside the shield’s white part are five small blue shields, known as quinas. Each contains five white dots, or bezants. Around them, a red border contains seven castles. Count one kind of element at a time. Five escutcheons does not mean five castles, and bezants are not additional shields. Thinking in layers helps answer questions about position and number without confusing the background with the arms.

A change in stages

After the Republic was established in 1910, the monarchy’s blue and white gave way to green and red. The Provisional Government approved the final design on 29 November 1910; the Constituent National Assembly ratified it on 19 June 1911. These are not alternative dates for one act: they identify different acts. The new composition also retained traditional elements such as escutcheons and the armillary sphere. Separate the colour decision from the survival of national-arm elements when studying the change.

Meaning and legend

Article 11 of the Constitution describes the flag as a symbol of the Republic’s sovereignty and Portugal’s independence, unity and integrity. Older interpretations of heraldic elements belong to a different category. The Presidency Museum presents the association of the escutcheons with a vision of Christ before Ourique as a legend formulated in the fifteenth century. Learning a legend as symbolic tradition does not require accepting it as proven fact. Identify whether a source describes a design, a current rule or a historical interpretation.

Review through questions

Without looking at an image, describe the flag from pole to outer edge. Then count escutcheons, bezants in one escutcheon and castles: five, five and seven. Explain why the division is not halfway along the length: the fields take two and three fifths. Finally, distinguish approval in 1910 from ratification in 1911, and a legend from a documented fact. If unsure, return to the relevant section and source. The practice below consolidates these distinctions through independent exercises.

Loading your progress…

Practise this topic