Portugal, like most of the nation-states of Europe, was a constitutional monarchy with its roots stretching back to the 12th century struggle to rid the country of the Moorish invaders that had infiltrated the Iberian Peninsula in their attempt to spread Islam. Portugal was first unified and recognized as a kingdom in 1143 following successful battles against the Moors. Therefore, Portugal is one of the oldest unified states in Europe. The kingdom of Portugal played an important part in the European explorations of the globe and created for itself a worldwide colonial empire that would remain until the 20th century. The vexillological traditions of the Kingdom of Portugal are descended from the flag of the first king's father, Count Henry of Portugal. This flag was a simple blue cross on a silver (or white) banner. The first king, Alfonso I, added the pattern of belzants (or nail head) to his father's banner when he became recognized as the king of Portgual by the King of Castille in modern Spain. Variants of this design were introduced through the centuries to differentiate the flags of the different kings and to mark important political events. For instance, in 1248, King Alfonso III added a border of red on which were displayed a number of golden castles. Alfonso made this change for two reasons. First, he was not the eldest son of his father and heraldic rules stipulated that personal banners of kings and other nobility could only be inherited by the eldest son. In addition, Alfonso was married to Beatrice of Castille, the illegetimate daughter of the King of Castille. The castles represented that union, as Castille has always been represented heraldically with castles Another probable reason that Alfonso chose the castles was that he had won a decisive battles against the Moors in Algarve, a place known for a series of castle fortresses established by them against the Christian Portuguese. The new royal banner therefore is the origin of the modern crest of Portgugal seen on its flag and national emblem today. The number of castles displayed on this banner varied for many years until 1640 when it became fixed at seven.
Unitl 1495, the flag of Portugal was technically a royal standard displayed on a square banner with a ratio of 1:1. In that year, the throne of Portugal fell to Manual I, a cousin of the previous king. Once again, Manual had no right to use his predecessor's banner because he was not the eldest son and so a change was required. Manual Idecided to use a simple banner, but this time with a ratio of 2:3 on which was depicted a crowned royal crest. Four successive versions of this design emerged over the next three centuries. In 1815, the Portuguese colony of Brazil was elevated to the status of a co-kingdom with Portugal. Napoleon's armies had invaded Portugal and the royal family took refuge there. As a result, the monarch of Portugal took the title of "King (or Queen) of Portugal, Brazil, and the Algarves." The flag was changed to include the armillary sphere of Brazil. This emblem has remained a part of the Portuguese vexillogical tradition ever since and still links Portugual to Brazil (the armillary sphere is similar to the astronomical sphere seen on Brazil's flag today and is the basis for that emblem.)
In 1910, a revolution in Portugal deposed the historical monarchy and replaced it with a republic. In the political turmoil of such an event, another turmoil over the flag of the new state raged as well. The Portuguese Republican Partyt had, since the waning years of the 19th century, used the colors of green and red at its poliitical colors and many in the new republican government wanted these colors replicated on a new flag. However, many Portuguese, both monarchists and non-partisan republicans, wished that the traditional blue and white of the monarchist regime be retained as the traditional national colors. A commission was ultimately set up to make a decision that was dominated by the Portuguese Republican Party. As a result, much to the consternation of the general public that was given no right of consultation in the decision, the current flag was adopted. Included on the Republican flag was the traditional crest of the state, the sole surviving monarchist emblem, and the armillary sphere that had been included on the royal flag in the 19th century. In an attempt to disguise the politically partisan symbolism of the flag's colors, new patriotic meanings were given to them: Green represented the hopes of the nation while red represented the blood of the patriots who had fought for its defense during the Revolution. |
