Portugal - 1640 historical flag

Last modified: 2005-08-26 by jorge candeias
Keywords: portugal: historical | kingdom of portugal | reino de portugal | royal standard | coat of arms | joao iv |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors

image by António Martins

• Flag of 1640 - official and unofficial
• Royal flag of King João IV

• Portugal
• Portugal - historical flags

Flag of 1640 - official and unofficial

In that period both the arms-on-white and the Christ Knights’ Cross on green were used, but the latter being always regarded as unnofficial (although much more popular!). The chronicles of this time are not very clear about it, but many historians (especially Jaime Cortesão and more recently José Hermano Saraiva) do agree on this point.

António Martins, 22 May 1997

Royal flag of King João IV

image by António Martins

The royal standard 1640-1656 (João IV) added a complete blue border to the previous white one.

Mario Fabretto, 25 May 1997

King João IV (1640-1656) used the Portuguese coat of arms on blue. This king has made himself alterations to the prior coat of arms, but kept the kingdom's flag white.

António Martins, 28 September 1997