Flag of Portugal
Portugal’s flag dates from 1910. Red and green were the colors for the new republic, while the central emblem was the traditional Portuguese arms. The white shield with five small blue shields indicates the victory of King Afonso Henriques over five Moorish princes in 1139. The five white dots on each shield recall the five wounds of Christ. The seven gold castles in the red orle (border to the shield) refer to the marriage of King Afonso III to a Spanish princess in 1252. The armillary sphere recalls the Portuguese role in exploring the globe. Used in slightly different forms under the kingdom, the present form was adopted for the new flag in 1910.
The ratio of the flag is 2:3.
