Heraldry of the Portuguese Army

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From http://www.exercito.pt/ some Heraldry of the Portuguese Army:


CoA of the Army (also used by the Chief of the General Staff). The Lion with the Sword denotes military strength. The Battle Cry above the Crest is "Portugal e São Jorge = Portugal and St. George" is the traditional Portuguese one. The Motto "Em perigos e guerras esforcados" translates as "In Danger and War inspire Courage".


CoA of the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, symbolism as above. The Motto "Dirigindo pelejando" translates as "Lead the Fighters/the Fight".


CoA of the General Staff. The Columns denotes role of the Staff - lead, plan and controll the operations of the Army. The Motto "Non nobis" translates as "Not for our selfes [alone]".


CoA of the Military Governorate of Lisbon. The Red Cross denotes St George and the Castelo S. Jorge a Castle and distinctive landmark in Lisbon. I have not yet a translation of the Latin motto "Hic ergo vivere gloria est".

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CoA of the Northern Military Region (with HQ in Porto). The Blue Cross denotes Portugal, as the Country in medieval times used a Flag with a Blue Cross on a White Field. The Castle in the Crest is from the Arms of the City of Porto. The Motto "Honora e Bravura" translates as "Honour and Courage".


CoA of the Southern Military Region (HQ in Evora). The Green Lily Cross or Aviz Cross denotes the Order of Aviz founded in Coimbra to figth the Moors. The Hq of the Order was moved to Evora by King Afonso Henriques. The Eagle in the Crest also symbolise the Order as the Portuguese word Aves/Aviz means Wings. The Motto "Vigilancia e fidelidade" translates as "Vigilance and Loyalty".


CoA of the Military Zone of Madeira. The Waves denotes the Atlantic Ocean where the Island lies, the Shield it self denotes the Island. The Cross of the Order of the Christ is a symbol of this Order's importance to the development of Madeira. The Crest symbolises the Army defending the Island. The Motto "Pela Honra e Pela Patria" translates as "For Honour and the Country".


CoA of the Military Zone of the Azores. The Waves denotes the waters of the Atlantic surrounding the Islands. The Shield with three Hawks denotes the Islands them selves. The Portugese name means Hawk Islands. The Crest symbolising the Army defending the Islands. The Motto "Sempre Prontos" translates as "Always fast".

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The Heraldry Office of the Army. The Trumpets denote the role to agrandize the Units of the Army. The Shields are a symbol of Heraldry. The Lion is for the Army and the white Shield with Blue Cross is for Portugal.


The Independent Airtransportable Brigade. The red Roundel is a Parachute seen from above and the Griffin symbolises the power of the Airtransportable Soldier.


The Indenpendent Mechanized Brigade. The five Blue Shields are from the National Arms of Portugal and symbolises the role of the Brigade to defend Portugal. The Border denotes the Territorial Command exercised by the Brigade. The Crest symbolised a Combined Army Unit.


The Light Intervention Brigade. The Fortress Plan denotes the fact that the Brigade is a Border Defence Unit. The Centaur in the Crest symbolises Mobility.

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Land Forces Operations Command. The Black Field denotes the Earth of Portugal the Command is set to Defend. The Wall symbolises the defensive role of the Command and the Canon Ball Pyramids cooperation with other Commands. The Crest is a variation of the one of the Army. The Motto translates as "This piece of Earth we defend".


The Airtransportable Troops Command. The Roundels denotes Parachutes seen from above. The meaning of the Crest is the same as those of the Airtransportable Brigade. Round the Shield is displayed the Chain of the Order of the Tower and Sword.


The Logistics Command. The Water Sack denotes the resourses administrated by the Command. The Crest symbolises the Army.

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Cavalry Regiment No 3. The Dragons with Swords denotes battlereadiness. The Upsidedown Arleon (an Eagle without beak and claws) symbolises victory over the Napoleonic Eagles.


Cavalry Regiment No 4. The Pales symbolises the Tracks of a Tank and the Spurs the Regimental number. The Crest denotes the early Cavalry traditions.


Cavalry Regiment No 6. The Waves denotes the Rivers Minho and Douro. The Dragon is a symbol for the Cavalry as a vigilant guardian.

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Infantry Regiment No 1. The Rose is from the Arms of Lippe symbolising the fact that in 1763 the IR 1 was named Regiment Lippe. The Chief denotes the Machine Gun Battalion No 1 whose traditions the Regiment inherited in 1960. The Raven is from the Arms of Lisbon and the Pentagon denotes the Calcada da Ajuda Garrison in the said City where the Regiment is Based.


Infantry Regiment No 2. The Cross and Wings is from the Arms of the Conetable D. Nuno Alvares Pereira, Patron of the Portuguese Infantry. The Crossbow is a symbol for Infantry.


Infantry Regiment No 3. The Arms is based on those of the Beja Inf Regt and symbolises the Actions during the Napoleonic Wars. Pendant from the Shield is the War Cross 1st Class.

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Infantry Regiment No 8. The Hunting Horn is a symbol of the Jaeger Troops. The Number eigth symbolises the forerunners the 8th Jaeger Battalion and the Portoalgere Infantry Battalion. The Falcon symbolises the Military tasks of the Regiment.


Infantry Regiment No 13. The Stars denotes the climate and the Mountains the Tras-os-Montes Region where the Regiment is based. The Staff and Gauntlet symbolises the Cri de Guerre. The Wolf is a symbol of the Carracter of the Regiment's Soldiers.


Infantry Regiment No 14. The Rings is a symbol for the Viriates a People who in ancient times lived in the Area whre the Regiment is based. The Eagle's Heads denotes the Roman Troops defeated by the Viriates. The Bull in the Crest is a symbol of the city of Viseu, the Garrison of the Regiment.

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Infantry Regiment No 15. The Cross is from the Arms of the City of Tomar where the Regiment is based. It symbolises the Possessions of the Knigths Templar in the Area. The Fleur-de-Lys symbolises the Battle of La Lys in France during World War I, for which the Regiment recived the Order of the Tower and the Sword.


Infantry Regiment No 19. Black and Gold where the Uniform Colours of Jaeger Battalion No 10 during the Napoleonic Wars. The Horn denotes this Battalion the Forerunner of the RI No 19. The Keys are from the canting Arms of the City of Chaves where the Battalion was formed and where the Regiment is based. The Fess Wavy is a symbol of the River Tâmega close to Chaves. The Eagle's Head denotes the Campaign against Napoleon. The Castle in the Crest symbolises the one found in Chaves.


Garrison Regiment No 1. The Castle symbolises the Castelo de S. João Baptista in the Garrison Town of Angra do Heroismo. The Arrows symbolises the Infantry part of the Regiment. The Waves the Atlantic Ocean surrounding the Azores where the Regiment is based. The Hawk in the Crest is a canting symbol of the Azores (which means Hawk's Islands) and the Arrow denotes Battle Readiness.

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Garrison Regiment No 2. Red from the Uniform Colour of the Jaeger Battalion No 11 raised in 1811. The Crossbow are a Symbol of the Ponta Delgada Infantry Regiment and the Grenade of the Garrison Artillery Group No 1. Garrison Regt. No 2 inherrrited the Traditions of these Units. The Wavy flaunches symbolises the Atlantic Ocean. The Phoenix symbolises the rebirth of Ponta Delgada Inf Regt and Garrison Artillery Group No 1 into the Garrison Regiment No 2.


Garrison Regiment No 3. The Crossbow is a symbol of the Funchal Infantry Regiment and the Garrison Artillery Group No 2 who was united to form the Garrison Regiment No 3. The Cross of the Order of Christ denotes the Spiritual Leadership of this Order on the Islad of Madeira where the Regiment is based. The Crest denotes the Animal life on Madeira.

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1st Parachute Infantry Battalion. The Roundel symbolises a Parachute seen from above and the Dagger the number of the Battalion. The Griffin is a symbol used by all Portuguese Airborne Troops.


2nd Parachute Infantry Battalion.