Flag of the Empire of Brazil
Locally Império do Brasil
What the flag looks like
A green field with a large yellow rhombus bearing the imperial arms: a green shield with a gold armillary sphere on the cross of the Order of Christ, ringed in blue with silver stars, framed by coffee and tobacco branches and topped by the imperial crown.
What it means
Green is said to represent Emperor Pedro I's House of Braganza and yellow Empress Maria Leopoldina's House of Habsburg; the stars stood for the provinces of the empire.
How to remember it
Imperial Brazil
already had the green field and yellow diamond, but with a crowned coat of arms where today's blue starry globe sits.
Fun facts
- The flag was designed by the French painter Jean-Baptiste Debret.
- When the monarchy fell in 1889, the republic kept the green and yellow and replaced the arms with a blue globe and the motto "Ordem e Progresso".
Empire of Brazil at a glance
- Existed
- 1822–1889
- Flag used
- 1822–1889
- Today
- Brazil
- Capital
- Rio de Janeiro
- Region
- 1822–1889
- Languages
- Portuguese
- Flag adopted
- 1822
Flags often confused with the Empire of Brazil
- Brazil: The Empire of Brazil and Brazil both have a yellow rhombus on green. The Empire has a crowned coat of arms in the rhombus; Brazil has a blue starry globe with a white banner.