Frontpage

An Introduction to the Federative Republic of Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: República Federativa do Brasil), is the largest country in South America. It is the world’s fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 190 million people. It is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas and the largest lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country in the world.

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of over 7,491 km (4,655 mi). It is bordered on the north by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; on the northwest by Colombia; on the west by Bolivia and Peru; on the southwest by Argentina and Paraguay and on the south by Uruguay.

Map of Brazil

Map of Brazil

Numerous archipelagos form part of Brazilian territory, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. It borders all other South American countries except Ecuador and Chile.

Brazil was a colony of Portugal from the landing of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500 until 1815, when it was elevated to United Kingdom with Portugal and Algarves. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808, when the capital of the Portuguese Kingdom was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal.

The independence from Portugal was achieved in 1822. Initially independent as the Empire of Brazil, the country has been a republic since 1889, although the bicameral legislature, now called Congress, dates back to 1824, when the first constitution was ratified. Its current Constitution defines Brazil as a Federal Republic. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States and the 5,564 Municipalities.

The Brazilian economy is the world’s seventh largest economy by nominal GDP and the eighth largest by purchasing power parity. Brazil is one of the world’s fastest growing major economies. Economic reforms have given the country new international recognition. Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations, the G20, CPLP, Latin Union, the Organization of Ibero-American States, Mercosul and the Union of South American Nations, and is one of the BRIC countries.

Brazil is also home to a diversity of wildlife, natural environments and extensive natural resources in a variety of protected habitats.

Featured Entries

An overview rendition of the Belo Monte Dam

Belo Monte Dam

The Belo Monte Dam (formerly known as Kararaô) is a proposed hydroelectric dam complex on the Xingu River in the state of Pará, Brazil. The planned installed capacity of the dam complex would be 11,233 megawatts (MW), which would make … Continue reading →

Virgin Mata Atlântica in Pernambuco
Iguaçu (Iguazu) Falls, Iguaçu National Park — Paraná State, Brazil

Recent Entries

Coat of Arms of Brazil

Coat of arms of Brazil

Coat of arms of Brazil, official version

The coat of arms of Brazil was created on November 19, 1889, four days after Brazil became a republic.
The coat of arms consists of the central emblem surrounded by coffee (at the left) and tobacco (at the right) branches, which were important crops in Brazil at that time.

In the blue circle in the center, the Southern Cross (Portuguese: Cruzeiro do Sul) can be seen. The ring of 27 stars around it represents Brazil’s 26 states and the Federal District.

The blue ribbon contains the official name of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil — Federative Republic of Brazil) in its first line. In the second line, the date of the federative republic’s establishment (November 15, 1889) is written.

National Arms

The National Arms of the Republic were instituted by Decree No. 4, with alteration made by Law No. 5443 of 28 May 1968 (Annex No. 8) The making of the National Arms should conform to the proportions of 15 units of height by 14 of width and take into account the following provisions:

  1. The round shield will be composed of a sky-blue [azul-celeste] field containing five silver [prata] stars arranged in the form of the Southern Cross, with the bordure [bordura] of the field outlined in gold and charged with silver stars equal to the stars existing in the National Flag (Modification made by Law No. 8421 of 11 May 1972).
  2. The shield will be placed on a star parted gyronny of ten pieces, green [sinopla] and gold, bordered by two strips, the inner red [goles] and the outer gold.
  3. All placed on a sword in pale, pommelled gold, hilted blue [blau], except for the center part, which is red [goles] and contains a silver star, all upon a crown formed by a branch of coffee fruited on the dexter side and another of flowering tobacco on the sinister side, both in proper colors, tied blue [blau], the whole assembled on a splendor of gold, the contours of which form a star of 20 points.
  4. On a blue [blau] scroll, placed over the pommel of the sword, inscribed in gold the legend “República Federativa do Brasil” in the center, and also the phrases “15 de Novembro” on the dexter end and “de 1889″ on the sinister end.

Arms of the Empire of Brazil

The Arms of the Empire of Brazil were used by both Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II until the downfall of the monarchy in 1889. These arms have remained unused since.

On 18 September 1822, eleven days after proclaiming Brazil’s independence Royal Prince Dom Pedro signed a decree instituting these arms stating

“…henceforth the arms of this Empire of Brazil will be, on a green field, a gold armillary sphere superimposed on a cross of the Order of Christ, the sphere encircled by 19 silver stars on a blue circle; and an imperial crown with diamonds set atop the shield, the sides of which will be embraced by two plants of coffee and tobacco, as emblems of its [the Empire's] riches, in their proper colors and tied at the bottom with the national bow-knot.”

On 12 October 1822 when the newly independent country was declared an Empire and Prince Pedro became the country’s first emperor, the coat of arms became known as the Imperial Coat of Arms.

The number of stars in the coat of arms reflected the number of provinces in the Brazilian Empire.

The design of the Crown in the coat of arms changed twice. From 18 September to 12 October 1822, the day when Emperor Dom Pedro I was crowned, the design of the Royal Crown of Portugal was used; from that day until 18 July 1841, the design of the Imperial Crown made for the first Brazilian Emperor was used.

On the latter date, when Brazil’s second emperor, Pedro II was crowned, using a new richer crown that was manufactured for him, the design of such Crown replaced the image of the older diadem in the coat of arms, and remained in use until the downfall of the Empire. That is the best known version of the imperial coat of arms of Brazil.

Coat of arms of the Portuguese colony of Brazil.

Coat of arms of the Colonial Brazil, (1500-1815)

Coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves

Coat of arms of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and Algarves, (1816-1821)

Coat of Arms of the Regent Princes of Brazil (nineteen stars)

Coat of arms of newly independent Brazil until the Coronation of the first Emperor, Pedro I, September 18, 1822 – December 1, 1822

Coat of Arms of the First Empire of Brazil (nineteen stars)

Imperial Coat of arms, design of the first reign (note the crimson velvet within the Crown), kept in usage in the early second reign, until the Coronation of Emperor Pedro II (when the design of the Crown was modified, to reflect the shape of the new Crown, and its dark green velvet cap, December 1, 1822 – July 18, 1840

Great Arms of Brazil

Imperial Coat of arms, design of the second reign (1840-1889)

  1. Flag of Brazil
  2. Rio Grande do Norte