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Although there are now standard patterns for Brazilian unit colors, Brazil, unlike other countries, allows units that were granted "historic standards" during earlier periods to keep using the same design originally granted.
Joseph McMillan, 2 June 2001
The images are from two sources: official Brazilian Army prints from the 1940s in the files of the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry and pictures on various internet pages of the Brazilian Army and the units concerned. Where I have found modern pictures of the standards from the 1940s, the design has invariably remained unchanged. The use of these flags seems to have begun in the 1930s.
Joseph McMillan, 17 May 2001
The "historic standards" granted by the Brazilian Army to its military units were originally of a unique design for each unit-- combinations of stripes, saltires, borders, stars, crosses, etc., mainly but not exclusively in red and blue, with badges, battle honors, and other devices in silver, gold, and other colors.
Joseph McMillan, 20 June 2001
by Joseph McMillan
Formerly the 1st Infantry Regiment. The battalion claims a heritage from the Terço Velho raised by Governor General Mem de Sá to expel the French from Rio de Janeiro in the 17th century. The unit is named for Brigadier Antônio de Sampaio, a hero of the War of the Triple Alliance against Paraguay in the 1860s, who is considered the "patron" of the Brazilian infantry.
Joseph McMillan, 17 May 2001
by Joseph McMillan
Formerly the 6th Infantry Regiment. Named after the river in the state of São Paulo where Prince Regent Dom Pedro pronounced the grito de Ipiranga, "liberty or death," on 7 September 1822, effectively considered the declaration of Brazilian independence from Portugal. The old spelling of the place name is inscribed on the flag, but the Brazilian Army lists the unit's "historic denomination" as "Ipiranga."
Joseph McMillan, 17 May 2001
by Joseph McMillan
by Joseph McMillan
by Joseph McMillan
by Joseph McMillan
The Regimento Mallet is the senior artillery regiment in the Brazilian Army and was the first regiment in the army to be granted a "historic standard." The regiment is considered to be the lineal successor of the Corps of Horse Artillery formed on 4 May 1831. It participated in the war against the Rosas dictatorship in Argentina in 1851 under the command of Major Emilio Luiz Mallet, from whom it derives its "historic designation." The standard is red, 80 x 120 cm according to current specifications (originally 80 x 110 cm), with a blue oblong eight pointed star, fimbriated white, bearing the regimental designation, a pair of crossed cannons, and the date of the regiment's founding, all in gold. In the corners of the flag are inscribed the names of the battles in which the regiment had participated at the time the standard was granted by Acting President Getúlio Vargas, by decree 21,196 of 23 March 1932. It is trimmed with gold fringe, and the standard army cockade with streamers is attached below the finial. This regiment is also authorized to carry on parade a second historic standard, which is a replica of one of the predecessor unit's standards from the imperial period.
Joseph McMillan, 11 March 2003