Belém Commune (Portugal)

Freguesia de Belém, Concelho de Lisboa, Distrito de Lisboa

Last modified: 2022-10-14 by klaus-michael schneider
Keywords: belem | santa maria de belem | sao francisco xavier | vasco da gama | belem tower | crab | cross(latin) | windmill(sails) | bar(wavy) |
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• Introduction of Belém
• Symbols of Belém
• Former Santa Maria de Belém Commune
• Santa Maria de Belém Flag (until 2012)
• Presentation of Santa Maria de Belém
• Former São Francisco Xavier Commune
• São Francisco Xavier Flag (until 2012)
• Presentation of São Francisco Xavier

• Lisboa Municipality
• Portugal

Introduction of Belém

Belém Commune was established on 8 October 2012, when the former independent communes of Santa Maria de Belém and São Francisco Xavier merged.
Source: communal webpage webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

About the Flag

Flag:
It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain yellow field.
Sources: here, here and here
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 28 May 2018

Shield Azure with base wavy of Argent and Azure, issuant from base an embattled tower Argent, masoned Sable with windows Gules, having three levels, in chief crab Or with a cross crosslet upon his back, holding a Latin cross Argent between his claws at dexter, and a windmill's wheel Argent rigged of the Same at sinister. Mural crown Argent with four visible towers (town rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters "BELÉM".
Meaning:
Crab and wheel are representing former São Francisco Xavier Commune. The tower is a representation of the Tower of Belém and representing former Santa Maria de Belém Commune. The base wavy is representing Tejo River.
Source: communal webpage webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 22 Aug 2016

Former Santa Maria de Belém Commune

Santa Maria de Belém Flag (until 2012)

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain white field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

It is an untypical communal coat of arms, and it is breaking more than one rule of Portuguese municipal and communal heraldry according to the law from 1996.
French shield divided per bend sinister into beige over Argent, in dexter chief a bust in natural colour, probably depicting Vasco da Gama, wearing the regalia of a Knight of the Order of Christ, in sinister base a scene depicting the tower of Belém in a natural manner, with waves, sky, ships and a Portuguese plain pennant in the colours of the monarchy, i.e. blue-white. A count's coronet instead of a mural crown and no scroll.
Source: I spotted this flag and an image of the arms in front of the communal hall of Santa Maria de Belém on 8 October 2013, and this webpage
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

Flag and arms probably never have been approved officially.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

Presentation of Santa Maria de Belém

Santa Maria de Belém was one of the 53 pre-2012 communes of Lisboa Municipality. It had 8541 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 3,43 km².
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

Former São Francisco Xavier Commune

São Francisco Xavier Flag (until 2012)

It is a typical Portuguese communal flag, with the coat of arms centred on a plain yellow field.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

Shield Azure, two windmill wheels Sable rigged Argent, flanking in chief a crab Or with a cross crosslet upon his back, holding a Latin cross Argent between his claws, in base three connected barrulets wavy Argent-Vert-Argent. Mural crown Argent with three visible towers (village rank) and white scroll reading in black upper case letters "S. FRANCISCO XAVIER - LISBOA".
Meaning:
The windmills are an old symbol of the commune, representing the numerous windmill's of the commune in the past. The crab is alluding to a miracle, done by saint Francisco Xavier, the name giver and local patron saint. Due to the green barrulet the barrulets are representing the Atlantic.
Klaus-Michael Schneider,23 Nov 2014

Flag and arms adopted and published in Diário da República: III Série on 19 April 1996
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

Presentation of São Francisco Xavier

São Francisco Xavier was one of the 53 pre-2012 communes of Lisboa Municipality. It had 8020 inhabitants in 2011 and covered 2,3 km². It was established on 7 February 1959 and dissolved on 8 October 2012.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 23 Nov 2014

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