List of Portuguese flags

This is a list of flags used in Portugal.

National flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	30 June 1911 –	National flag and ensign	A green and red rectangle with the national coat of arms (an armillary sphere and a Portuguese shield).^[1]

Autonomous regions

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1979–present	Flag of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.	This flag is similar to the flag of Portugal used between 1830 and 1910, except that the Portuguese coat of arms has been replaced by nine five-sided stars in a semi-circular arch over a stylized golden goshawk (in Portuguese: Açor), the symbol of the Azores, positioned over the border of the two bands.
	1978–present	Flag of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.	A blue-gold-blue vertical triband with a red-bordered white Cross of Christ in the center.

Municipalities

Government flags

Date	Use	Description
1911–present	Flag of the president of the Republic	A green rectangle with the national coat of arms.
2006–present	Flag of the Assembly of the Republic	A white rectangle (ratio 2:3) with a centrally positioned minor coat of arms and a green border.
1972–present	Flag of the prime minister	This flag is like the flag of the president, but is white with a green saltire with the Arms (sphere and shield) at the centre. There is a red border on all four sides with a pattern of laurel leaves in gold. This replaces the former flag of the Minister of defence.
1911–present	Minister flag	Same flag as the prime-minister, but without the red border.
1952–present	Flag of the defence minister	The only flag not to follow the style of the national flag

Military flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	30 June 1911 –	Regimental colours of the units of the Portuguese Armed Forces	Equally divided in green and red with the national coat of arms enclosed by two yellow laurel shoots intersecting at their stems and bound by a white scroll bearing Camões's verse "Esta é a ditosa pátria minha amada" (English: "This is my beloved fortunate homeland") as the motto.
	30 June 1911 –	Naval jack of Portugal	A square with a green-bordered red field charged with the national coat of arms on the center.

Army staff

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Marshal of the Portuguese army	Four gold stars set as a square on a square banner
		General of the Portuguese army	Four silver stars set as a square on a square banner
		Lieutenant General of the Portuguese army	Three silver stars set as a triangle on a square banner
		Major General of the Portuguese army	Two silver stars side-by-side on a square banner

Navy staff

Flag	Date	Use	Description
		Commander-in-chief of the Portuguese navy	Rectangular white field quartered by a green cross, the cross of Christ on the top-right canton.
		Fleet-admiral of the Portuguese navy	Rectangular white field quartered by a green cross, the minor coat of arms of Portugal on the top-right canton.
		Admiral of the Portuguese navy	Rectangular white field quartered by a green cross.
		Vice-admiral General of the Portuguese navy	Rectangular white field quartered by a green cross, a red circle on the top-right canton.
		Rear-admiral of the Portuguese navy	Rectangular white field quartered by a green cross, a red circle on the top right and lower right cantons.

Historical flags

County of Portugal

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1095–1143	Royal flag	Heraldic banner (a blue cross on a white (or silver) field (hypothetical – hypothesis proposed in the 17th century))

Kingdom of Portugal

Date	Use	Description
1143–1185	Royal flag	Heraldic banner (a blue cross with five blue escutcheons each charged with an undetermined number of bezants on a white field (hypothetical)).
1185–1248	Royal flag	Heraldic banner (five blue escutcheons each charged with an undetermined number of bezants on a white field (first standard and historic royal coat of arms)).
1248–1385	Royal flag	Heraldic banner (Five blue escutcheons each charged with an undetermined number of bezants on a white field. Border: red with yellow castles (number not fixed)).
1385–1485	Royal flag	Heraldic banner (Five blue escutcheons each charged with an undetermined number of bezants on a white field. Border: red with yellow castles and a green cross of the Order of Aviz).
1485–1521	Royal flag	Heraldic banner (Five blue escutcheons each charged with 5 bezants on a white field. Border: red with 8 yellow castles).
1495–1521	Alternative royal flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1521–1578	Royal flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1578–1640	Royal flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1616–1640	Alternative royal flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle (variant with branches of brambles under the shield)
1640–1667	Royal flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1667–1706	Royal flag (used only in fortresses and warships of the Crown)	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1706–1816	Royal flag until the late 18th century (used only in fortresses and warships of the Crown) and national flag from then on	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1750–1816	Variant of the royal flag until the late 18th century (used only in fortresses and warships of the Crown) and national flag from then on	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle (variant with a heraldic console encircling the shield)
1816–1826	National flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle (coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves)
1826–1834	National flag (used by the Miguelist faction in the Liberal Wars).	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
1834–1910	National flag	Vertical bicolour blue-white. Proportion of the fields: 1:1.

Kingdom of Algarve

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1189–1191	Putative flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle
	1248–1910	Putative flag	White with the coat of arms of the Kingdom in the middle

Royal Titles

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1653–1908	Prince of Beira	Banner of arms

Portuguese Macau

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1975–1999	Flag of the Government of Macau. During the Portuguese administration this flag also represented the Territory of Macau in the international forums, although it was not the official flag of the Portuguese territory.	A light blue field charged with the coat of arms of Government of Macau.
		Flag of the Municipality of Macau, one of two local municipal governments and in the sports events	This was the flag used at the handover to China in 1999. A light blue field charged with the coat of arms of Municipality of Macau.

Military Flags

Date	Use	Description
14th–15th century	Flag of Saint George.	A white field charged with a red cross.
14th century	Flag of the Order of Aviz	White field charged with a green fleur-de-lis cross.
16th century–17th century	Flag of the Order of Christ	White field charged with the Cross of the Order of Christ.
16th century	Variant of the flag of the Order of Christ used during the Discovery Age	Green and white gyronny charged with the Cross of the Order of Christ.
17th century	Variant of the flag of the Order of Christ used during the Portuguese Restoration War	Green field charged with the Cross of the Order of Christ.
19th century	1853 Portuguese army regimental flag.	White field charged with the Portuguese coat of arms.
19th century	1868 Portuguese army regimental flag.	Vertical white and blue field charged with the Portuguese coat of arms.

Merchant marine flags

Date	Use	Description
15th–16th century	Merchant flag	White quincunx on a square blue field .
17th–18th century	Portuguese Brazil coaster flag for ships with less than 15 pieces of artillery	Seven green horizontal stripes on white.
17th century	Merchant flag	White field with the Cross of the Order of Christ off-center to the mast side.
18th century century	Portuguese India merchant flag	White field charged with a red or purple armillary sphere with three crosses, off center to the mast side.
18th century	Portuguese Brazil merchant flag	White field charged with a golden armillary sphere, off center to the mast side.
18th century	Portuguese Brazil merchant flag, used by merchants involved in the Missions region.	White field charged with the Portuguese coat of arms, a red armillary sphere and a missionary.
18th century	Merchant flag, used by merchants of the city of Porto	Six horizontal green stripes and five white stripes.
18th century	Common merchant flag.	Rectangular flag charged with 17 red, blue and white successions of stripes, quartered by a black cross, a white cross in the top-left canton.

Navy flags

Date	Use	Description
16th century	General use	Square white field charged with the Cross of Christ
1616–1640	Used at sea during the Iberian Union, flown in the stern section of the ship	Rectangular white field charged with the arms of Portugal on branches, off-set to the mast side.
1640–1667	Used at sea, flown in the stern section of the ship.	Rectangular white field charged with the arms of Portugal, off-set to the mast side.
17th century	Portuguese India-based fleets, flown in the stern section.	Backside of the royal flag. Rectangular white flag with Our Lady off-set to the mast side.
17th–18th century	Commander of Portuguese-Brasil-based warships	Rectangular green and white striped field charged with the coat of arms of Portugal.
–1670	Commander of Portuguese-India-based warships, flown in the stern section	Rectangular white field charged with the royal coat of arms of Portugal set on a Cross of Christ, off-set to the mast side.
1600	War ensign
1706–1750, 1826–1830	Royal navy flag flown in the stern section.	Rectangular white field charged with the arms of Portugal, off-set to the mast side.
1816–1826	Royal navy flag flown in the stern section.	Rectangular white field charged with the arms of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves off-set to the mast side.
1834–1910	Variant of the national flag for use at sea (ensign)	Vertical bicolour blue-white. Proportion of the fields: 1:2.
1833–1910	Royal navy jack, flown in the bow section	Square white banner charged with the royal coat of arms of Portugal, a blue bordure.
1828–1910	Personal royal jack used at sea in the bow section	Square white banner charged with the royal coat of arms of Portugal, a red bordure.
1707–1910	Personal royal banner used at sea in the stern section	Rectangular red field charged with the royal arms of Portugal off-set to the mast side.

Royal banners

Date	Use	Description
1495–1521	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Golden armillary sphere on a square red and white field.
1495–1521	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Golden armillary sphere on a square red and white field.
1551–1568	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Royal Portuguese coat of arms on a rectangular red field.
1540–1656	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Royal Portuguese coat of arms on a rectangular blue field.
1683–1706	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Royal Portuguese coat of arms on a rectangular green field.
1706–1750	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Royal Portuguese coat of arms on a rectangular red field.
1826	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Rectangular armorial banner.
1853–1861	Used in the presence of the monarch.	Royal Portuguese coat of arms on a rectangular red field.
1853–1861	Used in the presence of the monarch. (alternative)	Royal Portuguese coat of arms on a rectangular red field, the initials "PR" in each corner.

Governmental flags

Date	Use	Description
1911–1974	Flag of the navy minister	White flag with a green cross of Saint George, with the Arms in the centre. As the position of "Minister of the Navy" has been abolished, the flag is currently not used.
1911–1974	Flag of the war/army minister	Flag divided vertically like that of the Army, but with five white stars over all, arranged in a ring. As the position of "Minister of the War/Army" has been abolished, the flag is currently not used.
1911–2011	Flag of the civil governors	De facto not in use since 2011.
1952 - 1972	Flag of the Portuguese President of the Council of Ministers.	Square flag.

Chartered trading company flags

Flag	Date	Company	Description
	1443–1503	Casa da Guiné
	c. 1756	General Company of Commerce Pernambuco i Paraíba^pt
	c. 1756	Grão Pará and Maranhão Company
	1922–1974	Companhia Colonial de Navegação

Colonial authorities flag

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1911–1933	Portuguese high commissioner
	1911–1933	Portuguese district governor
	1933–1975	Portuguese governor-general
	1933–1999	Portuguese governor
	1933–1975	Governor of province (1933–1951); governor of district (1951–1975)
	1933–1951	Portuguese district intendent
	1933–1951	Portuguese officer

Proposed flags

Overseas provinces

Date	Use	Description
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese Angola	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese Angola in the lower-right corner.
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese Cape Verde	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese Cape Verde in the lower-right corner.
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese Guinea	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese Guinea in the lower-right corner.
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese India	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese India in the lower-right corner.
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese Macau	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese Macau in the lower-right corner.
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese Mozambique	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese Mozambique in the lower-right corner.
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe in the lower-right corner.
1965	Proposed flag for Portuguese Timor	Portuguese national flag with the coat of arms of Portuguese Timor in the lower-right corner.

Colonies

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese Angola
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese Cape Verde
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese Guinea
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese India
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese Macau
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese Mozambique
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe
	1932	Proposed flag for Portuguese Timor

Capitals of former overseas territories

Date	Use	Description
–1964	City of Luanda	Coat of arms of Luanda on a rectangular purple field
1964–1975	Second flag of Portuguese Luanda	Coat of arms of Luanda on a rectangular purple and yellow gyronny
1952–1975	City of Dili	Coat of arms of Dili on a rectangular green and white gyronny.
1952–1975	City of Dili (square version)	Coat of arms of Dili on a square green and white gyronny.
–1962	City of Goa	Coat of arms of Goa on a red and white rectangular gyronny
1962–1965	City of Goa	Coat of arms of Goa on a white field.
–1975	City of Bissau.	Rectangular red and black gyronny charged with the coat of arms of Bissau.
–1975	City of Bissau (square version)	Square red and black gyronny charged with the coat of arms of Bissau.
–1975	City of Praia	Rectangular white and blue gyronny charged with the coat of arms of Praia.
–1975	City of São Tomé	Rectangular white and blue gyronny charged with the coat of arms of São Tomé.
–1962	City of Lourenço Marques (square version)	Square green field charged with the arms of Lourenço Marques.
1962–1975	City of Lourenço Marques (square version)	Square yellow and green gyronny charged with the arms of Lourenço Marques.

Political flags

Flag	Date	Party
	1974–present	Socialist Party
	1974–present	Social Democratic Party
	2024–present	Democratic Alliance
	2017-present	Liberal Initiative
	1999–present	Left Bloc
	1974–present	Portuguese Communist Party
	1989–present	Unitary Democratic Coalition
	1974–present	CDS – People's Party
	1983–present	Ecologist Party "The Greens"
	2014–present	LIVRE
	1970–present	Portuguese Workers' Communist Party
	2019–present	React, Include, Recycle
	1974–present	People's Monarchist Party
	2009–present	Portuguese Labour Party
former
	1974–1983	Worker–Peasant Alliance
	1981–1992	Communist Party (Reconstructed)
	1981–1992	Communist Party (Reconstructed)
	1987–1989	Unitary Democratic Coalition
	1976–1978	Electoral Front United People
	1979–1987	United People Alliance
	1980–1982	Republican and Socialist Front
	1979–1983	Democratic Alliance
	1978–1999	Revolutionary Socialist Party
	1974–1981	Movement of Socialist Left
	1974–2005	Popular Democratic Union
	1974–1988	Portuguese Marxist–Leninist Communist Organization
	1973–1976	Revolutionary Party of the Proletariat – Revolutionary Brigades
	1969–1994	Portuguese Democratic Movement
	1936–1974	Mocidade Portuguesa
	1936–1974	Mocidade Portuguesa
	1932–1934	National Syndicalists
	1930–1974	National Union
	1876–1912	Portuguese Republican Party
other
	1975	Azores Liberation Front
	1975–1978	Madeira Archipelago Liberation Front