Portugal - a small European country located on the edge of the continent.The country has a rich cultural and historical heritage, which is carefully preserved its modern inhabitants.Some facts from the history of Portugal is directly reflected in its state symbols.What can tell her flag?Description
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Not everyone knows what it looks like the flag of Portugal.This national symbol is rectangular in shape.The panel is divided into two parts.Flagstaff is a green bar, which occupies two-fifths of the entire length of the flag.The second part is a bright red color and occupies respectively three fifths.The width refers to the length of cloth as two to three.In the center of the line separating the green and red part of the country is a fragment of the coat of arms - a shield with the armillary sphere.Therefore, for a better understanding of the value of such symbols should understand not only the meaning of each color.It should also learn about the history of the coat of arms of Portugal.
story of
Flag of Portugal was approved by more than a hundred years ago.It happened thirtieth of June 1911, shortly after the collapse of the country's constitutional monarchy.Over what the flag of Portugal is during the reign of the Republican Party, a special commission.The delegation entered the Portuguese artist Bordallo Pinheiro Columban, Prime Ministers Joao Pinheiro Shagash, writer and diplomat Abel Botelho.The combination of red and green was at that time a very brave decision, uncharacteristic for flags.The Commission chose him to stress - from the new countries do not have to do with the former monarchy.Since January 31, 1891, when the republican movement has survived an unsuccessful attempt to revolt, these colors have become a major symbol of the party.
What does each of the colors?
Red intended to symbolize the revolution itself, is an energetic tone resolute people.Green recalls the Portuguese of the reign of Henry the Navigator.His name is associated with hope for them and travel to a new land.With Henry the Navigator and the related symbols of the State Emblem, making green especially significant for the Portuguese.This flag allows Portugal to demonstrate a link with the history of the country.It is very important for any character of this kind.
It looked like the old flag of Portugal?
Before the advent of such a panel is one of the main symbols of the country looks quite different.The old flag was created during the reign of King Afonso the First Great.He looked like a square white flag with a blue cross.Such designs and remained in the country until the establishment of the republican regime, which took place on the nineteenth June 1911 the National Assembly, to lead the republic, and established a commission, which was to replace the symbol of a bygone constitutional monarchy.
Coat country
Since the center of the flag is a national symbol of another fragment, its value also deserves attention.Without it, it is impossible to understand the flag of Portugal.The coat of arms of the country looks like a gold armillary sphere on which the shield.It is silver with a scarlet border, and adorned with gold-colored lock and key.In the center cross five small azure shields.They - five silver Besant arranged as follows: in the first and third row two and one in the center.Flanked by the scope of golden laurel branches tied with two ribbons.The colors that adorn the coat of arms, flag of Portugal demonstrates, too, because the Commission wanted to link the two creators of a united sense of character.And she succeeded.
history and significance of the emblem
This symbol was created in the fight against the Arab conquerors of the Iberian Peninsula.Depicted on the blue shield emblem reminiscent of King Afonso Henriques First, who won in 1139 his Saracen adversaries.In the battle the Count received five wounds, which is reminiscent of the silver cups, Besant.Scarlet and gold rim locks reminiscent of the arms of Castile.They are added after his marriage Afonso Third Beatrice, daughter of the King of Castile.Locks have been reclaimed from Mauritania Portugal during the Reconquest.Armillary sphere on which the coat of arms, reminiscent of the glory and greatness of the country in the era of geographical discoveries.It is a tool with which the coordinates of the heavenly bodies.Sphere form the movable part with the horizon and the meridian and celestial equator.Wide ring on it is decorated with images of zodiac signs and the smaller rings represent the northern and southern tropics.Up until the seventies of the twentieth century, it was assumed that an armillary sphere symbolizes the magnitude of the colonial empire.She broke up.Laurel surrounding the coat of arms symbolize the glory of the state.This symbol was adopted on the same day as the flag, namely 30 June 1911.
