Until 1645, Brazil used the same standards as Portugal. Then it started to have its own. And there were many: in over 500 years, the country has already displayed ten flags. “These exchanges always reflect political changes that occur in a nation”, says historian Célia Reis Camargo, from the São Paulo State University (Unesp).
The phrase is easily proven following the introduction of each flag. The first was that of the Portuguese empire. In 1821, there was the fall of Absolutism and the transformation into constitutional monarchy. A year later, Brazil became independent, gaining the imperial flag, which remained hoisted until the proclamation of the Republic, in 1889. On November 19, the national flag used until today appeared. The stars, positioned as they were seen in the sky of Rio de Janeiro on November 15th, represented the 20 states and the neutral municipality (later transformed into the Federal District). As new States were created, more stars were added – today there are 27.
A pavilion for every occasion
The history of Brazil is punctuated by a dozen flags
1500
The Portuguese flag from the time of discovery bore the Cross of the Military Order of Christ with the royal coat of arms.
1521
The standard of D. João III eliminated the cross, presenting as a novelty a royal crown over the old shield
1616
The emblem adopted during the Spanish occupation was created for Portugal and its colonies during the Iberian Union
1640
The Restoration Flag was introduced when Portugal regained its independence
1645
The flag of the Principality of Brazil displayed an armillary sphere, an instrument used in navigation
1816
The Flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarve gave us kingdom status after the Portuguese royal family came here in 1808
1821
The Flag of the Constitutional Regime was adopted when Dom João VI returned to Portugal as constitutional king
1822
The Imperial Flag, adopted with our independence, introduced the colors green and yellow and a star for each province.
1889
The Flag of the Provisional Republic, a copy of the American standard, flew for just four days – from November 15th to 19th
1889
The republican flag, still used today, has the Brazilian states and the Federal District represented by stars.