Army Heraldry

The use of heraldry in a military context dates back to the earliest usage of heraldry itself since it arose from the need for warriors to be identi ed on the battle eld and in medieval tournaments. It was created for the battle eld, for battles simulations or training. Later, with the emergence of family heraldry, it began to be used to indicate membership of a certain lineage and went on to be employed by army corps in the form of heraldic standards that could pertain to a lord, a municipality, a chivalric order or the king. With the passing of the era of great battles commanded by the naked eye, when the tactical use of heraldic symbols reached its height, developments in tactics, arms and means of command progressively transformed the role of heraldic symbols, whose function came to be simultaneously honori c, representative, emblematic and historical. Heraldry is a phenomenon bound up with the history of Europe that is still very much alive today, more so, in fact, than when it emerged. It is alive not only in Europe but also in other continents where it was introduced. Originally used as a means of identi cation for the warrior class, it quickly began to be used in a wide range of elds, from government o ces to the church. Now we live in the age of brands, badges and emblems which, being associated with organizations, clubs, companies, political groups and religious institutions, are used as a means of communication, to attract members or as symbols of belonging. In this spontaneous, multi-coloured panoply that sprouts up everywhere, it is possible to discern only traces of the heraldic style or the purity and sound conceptions of visibility that incorporate centuries of evolution and re nement, ordering and creating emblems, symbols and ags in accordance with the rules, art and stylization that are classed as heraldic. Being based on the

Army
COAT OF ARMS:

Escutcheon Gules: lion rampant Or holding in dexter paw

an ancient sword erect, blade Argent, cross-guard, hilt and

pommel Or;

Helmet Argent lined Gules, three quarter face to dexter;

Strap Gules lined Or;

Torse and mantling Gules-Or;

Crest: the lion featured on the escutcheon;

Motto: 'STRENGTHENED IN DANGERS AND WARS', in capital

letters Sable, Elzevir style, on an undulating scroll Argent

below the escutcheon;

War cry: 'PORTUGAL AND SAINT GEORGE', in capital letters

Sable, Elzevir style, on an undulating scroll Argent above the crest.

SYMBOLOGY:

• THE LION holding the sword symbolizes the Portuguese army in action.

The tinctures signify:

• OR(gold):nobilityandfaith;
• ARGENT(silver):wealthandeloquence; • GULES(red):militaryzealandstrength.

elements of form, light and colour, this science strives to attain beauty, balance and clarity, goals that can be achieved only by creating harmonious compositions bound in space. The most e ective heraldic composition, the best visual e ect, is not the work of chance or impulse but the result of accumulated experience, fundamental principles, rules and heraldic laws. The ultimate goal of the science of heraldry and its principles and laws is the search for the ideal visual e ect, associated with the greatest symbolic meaning, without neglecting the need to balance proportions and achieve a degree of stylisation. Although the art of heraldry forces artists to work under tight constraints, su cient freedom exists for interpretation and individual creation, saving heraldry from becoming a sterile art or even from dying out while also allowing it to adapt to di erent styles without losing its identity and character. A heraldic composition is much more than an arrangement of the various elements and tinctures of which it is composed. The aim is not only to create a form of heraldry that is correct from the point of view of the rules but also to achieve a coherent and aesthetically pleasing whole. The line, forms, colours, shades, movement, shadows and proportions must create a whole, a balanced pattern capable of producing an emotional response. One of the concerns underlying the army’s use of heraldry is to ensure that the symbols created possess a certain functionality. For this reason, it is necessary to create easily recognisable emblems, which has been done by using the full range of tinctures, pieces and gures that heraldry o ers. We understand heraldry to possess a distinctive character, something that cannot be lost. The concern was not to create two identical coats of arms but to ensure that all existing coats of arms are di erent.

Military History and Culture Directorate COAT OF ARMS:
• Escutcheon Sable: three papyrus plants Argent joined

together at the base;
• Helmet Argent lined Gules, three quarter face to dexter;
• Strap Gules lined Or;
• Torse and mantling Sable and Argent;
• Crest: ibis bird Argent, head, neck, legs and beak Sable;
• Motto: 'WE COULD NOT BE MORE CERTAIN', in capital

letters Sable, Elzevir style, on an undulating scroll Argent below the escutcheon.

SYMBOLOGY:

• The PAPYRUS, precursor of parchment and paper, symbolizes the documents which speak of those who, with 'valorous works' over the ages, wrote the 'brilliant and consoling pages' of military history.

• The IBIS BIRD represents TOTH, the inventor of the written word, and symbolizes the beginning of History.

• The motto 'WE COULD NOT BE MORE CERTAIN', taken from Fernão Lopes, expresses the adoption of a concept of historical truth based on a rigorous analysis of all known witnesses and an honest acknowledgement of the possible limitations of the results.

The tinctures signify:

ARGENT (silver): purity in delity to the concept of truth sought in the richness of found testimonies;

SABLE (black): determination to undertake research and caution in expressing the results achieved.

Training and Doctrine Command
COAT OF ARMS:
• Escutcheon Purpure: three-nozzled oil lamp Or ames Gules

pro led Or;
• Helmet Argent lined Gules, three quarter face to dexter;
• Strap Gules lined Or;
• Torse and mantling Purpure-Or;
• Crest: lion rampant Or holding in dexter paw an ancient sword

erect, blade Argent, cross-guard, hilt and pommel Or;
• Motto: 'NOBLE, HARD AND ENLIGHTENED WORK' in capital letters Sable, Elzevir style, on an undulating scroll Argent below

the escutcheon;

SYMBOLOGY:

• The PURPURE of the eld alludes to the enterprising spirit that is essential for training.

• The LAMP alludes to the nature of the functional command, representing the ability to learn, teach and apply knowledge. The number of ames corresponds to the three areas of military training: teaching, instruction and practice.

• THE LION holding the SWORD, considered to be the king of the animals because of its strength and courage, alludes to the ARMY.

• THE MOTTO, 'NOBLE, HARD AND ENLIGHTENED WORK' (The Lusiads Canto IV – 79).

The tinctures signify:

• OR (gold), wisdom and vigour;
• ARGENT (silver), eloquence and truth;
• GULES (red), courage and valour;
• PURPURE (Purple), quality and temperance.

Personnel Command
COAT OF ARMS:
• Escutcheon Vert: spangled with ve-pointed stars Argent;
• Helmet Argent lined Gules, three quarter face to dexter;
• Strap Gules lined Or;
• Torse and mantling Vert-Argent;
• Crest: lion rampant Vert holding in dexter paw an ancient sword

erect, blade Argent, cross-guard, hilt and pommel Or;
• Motto: 'WE FORGE OUR OWN FATE' in capital letters Sable, Elzevir style, on an undulating scroll Argent below the

escutcheon.

SYMBOLOGY:

• The VERT of the eld calls to mind the colour of the uniform, which, in the eyes of the people, distinguishes soldiers from civilians.

• The STARS are the supreme symbol, not only of knowledge, but also of the full realisation of every human being.

• The SPANGLING represents all of the human beings who, in their individual diversity and combined strengths, form the army.

• The LION alludes to the Portuguese army and highlights the senior hierarchy that embodies the resolution which marks this functional command.

• The MOTTO 'WE FORGE OUR OWN FATE' refers to each person's free will to choose the right path and to the combining of human e orts.

The tinctures signify:

• OR (gold), nobility and perseverance; • ARGENT(silver),eloquenceandtruth; • VERT(green),accuracyandhope.

Land Forces Command
COAT OF ARMS:
• Escutcheon Sable: masoned embattled wall Or and three

stacks of six cannonballs Argent;
• Helmet Argent lined Gules, three quarter face to dexter;
• Strap Gules lined Or;
• Torse and mantling Sable-Or;
• Crest: lion rampant Sable holding in dexter paw an ancient

sword erect, blade Argent, cross-guard, hilt and pommel Or; Motto: 'A PATCH OF DEFENDED LAND' in capital letters Sable, Elzevir style, on an undulating scroll Argent below

the escutcheon;

SYMBOLOGY:

• The SABLE of the eld calls to mind the land and the united, indivisible national territory.
The MASONED EMBATTLED WALL represents prompt and steady defence, the supreme mission of the army.

• The CANNONBALLS indicate the promptness with which defensive resources are engaged in order to be made e ective.

• The arrangement of the cannonballs in STACKS re ects the nature of this command as an integrator of other commands.

• The LION alludes to the Portuguese army.
• THE MOTTO 'A PATCH OF DEFENDED LAND' is the de nition

of the homeland conceived by Miguel Torga, the poet of the land, its people and myths.

The tinctures signify:

• OR (gold), nobility and power;
• ARGENT (silver), eloquence and hope;
• SABLE (black), determination and wisdom.

Logistics Command
COAT OF ARMS:
• Escutcheon Azure: pouch Argent;
• Helmet Argent lined Gules, three quarter face to dexter;
• Strap Gules lined Or;
• Torse and mantling Azure-Argent;
• Crest: lion rampant Azure holding in dexter paw an ancient

sword erect, blade Argent, cross-guard, hilt and pommel Or;
• Motto: 'WITH MILITARY SKILL AND SUBTLE ART' in capital letters Sable, Elzevir style, on an undulating scroll Argent lined

Azure below the escutcheon.

SYMBOLOGY:

• The AZURE of the eld recalls the garments and shields of the warriors of antiquity, which were used as a sign of watchfulness, the desire to serve and love of the homeland.

• The POUCH represents the resources that the nation makes available to the army, which manages and administers them.
• THE LION holding the SWORD, considered to be the king of

the animals because of its strength and courage, represents

the ARMY.
• The MOTTO 'WITH MILITARY SKILL AND SUBTLE ART', The

Lusiads Canto VIII-89, describes the way in which multiple situations are analysed so that the most appropriate decision

can be made for each of them.

The tinctures signify:

• OR (gold), determination and wisdom; • ARGENT (silver), humility and wealth; • AZURE (blue), loyalty and uprightness.