Flag of Brazil

Quick Facts: Who was Flag of Brazil?

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Flag of Brazil

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Brazil's national flag, adopted in 1889, features a blue sky with stars and the motto 'Order and Progress.'

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The national flag of Brazil is a blue disc depicting a starry sky (which includes the Southern Cross) spanned by a curved band inscribed with the national motto Ordem e Progresso (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɔʁdẽj i pɾoˈɡɾɛsu]) ('Order and Progress'), within a yellow rhombus on a green field. It was officially adopted on 19 November 1889, four days after the Proclamation of the Republic, to replace the flag of the Empire of Brazil. The concept was the work of Raimundo Teixeira Mendes, with the collaboration of Miguel Lemos, Manuel Pereira Reis and Décio Villares. The green field and yellow rhombus from the previous imperial flag were preserved (though slightly modified in hue and shape). In the imperial flag, the green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I, the first Emperor of Brazil, while the yellow represented the House of Habsburg of his wife, Empress Maria Leopoldina.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A blue circle with white five-pointed stars replaced the arms of the Empire of Brazil –its position in the flag reflects the sky over the city of Rio de Janeiro on 15 November 1889. The motto Ordem e Progresso is derived from Auguste Comte's motto of positivism: "L'amour pour principe et l'ordre pour base; le progrès pour but" ("Love for principle and order for/as the basis; progress for/as the purpose"). Each star corresponds to a Brazilian Federal Unit and is sized according to the apparent magnitude of the corresponding real star. According to Brazilian Law, the flag must be updated in case of the creation or extinction of a state. At the time the flag was first adopted in 1889, it had 21 stars.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

It then received one more star in 1960 (representing the state of Guanabara), then another in 1968 (representing Acre), and finally four more stars in 1992 (representing Amapá, Roraima, Rondônia and Tocantins), totaling 27 stars in its current version. The Portuguese territories in the Americas, corresponding roughly to what is now Brazil, never had their own official flag, since Portuguese tradition encouraged hoisting the flag of the Kingdom of Portugal in all territories of the Portuguese Crown. The first Brazilian vexillological symbols were private maritime flags used by Portuguese merchant ships that sailed to Brazil. A flag with green and white stripes was used until 1692. The green and white colors represented the House of Braganza and the national colours of Portugal.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1692: 1692 Milestone — A flag with green and white stripes was used until 1692.
2. 1889: 1889 Milestone — It was officially adopted on 19 November 1889, four days after the Proclamation of the Republic, to replace the flag of the Empire of Brazil.
3. 1960: 1960 Milestone — It then received one more star in 1960 (representing the state of Guanabara), then another in 1968 (representing Acre), and finally four more stars in 1992 (representing Amapá, Roraima, Rondônia and Tocantins), totaling 27 stars in its current version.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Flag of Brazil

True or False: “The initial design for the flag of the Republic was strongly inspired by the flag of the United States.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While an early proposal resembled the US flag, Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca vetoed it because it looked too similar to another country's flag.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abel Gance — Historical peer (Born in 1889) (1889): French cinematic pioneer, celebrated for his mastery of montage and epic filmmaking.
• Abdel Fattah al-Burhan — Historical peer (Born in 1960) (1960): Sudanese military officer and leader who assumed control of Sudan in 2019.
• Adam Clayton — Historical peer (Born in 1960) (1960): Irish-English bassist and founding member of the globally renowned rock band U2.
• Abrar-ul-Haq — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Esteemed Pakistani singer, philanthropist, and former politician from Punjab.
• Adam McKay — Historical peer (Born in 1968) (1968): Acclaimed American filmmaker known for satirical comedies and high-profile adaptations.
• 21 Savage — Historical peer (Born in 1992) (1992): Atlanta-based rapper known for his distinctive style and career evolution.
• 6lack — Historical peer (Born in 1992) (1992): American R&B singer, songwriter, and rapper known professionally as 6lack.
• Giuseppe Tartini — Historical peer (Born in 1692) (1692): Baroque Italian composer and violinist, renowned for his sonatas and concertos.
• Thomas Shadwell — Historical peer (Died in 1692) (1692): 17th-century English poet and playwright, appointed Poet Laureate in 1689.

Frequently Asked Questions about Flag of Brazil