![[Flag of the Equatorial Confederation]](../images/b/br_coneq.gif)
by Joseph McMillan
Last modified: 2004-12-29 by joe mcmillan
Keywords: brazil | confederation of the equator | pernambuco | circle (white) | stars: 17 (white) | sugar cane | cotton | cross bottony (red) |
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by Joseph McMillan
John Fetzer sent me a photocopy of an image of the old flag above. I think the image is from William
Crampton The World of Flags.
Jaume Ollé, 13 September 1996
According to Clóvis Ribeiro (pp. 142-43), our knowledge of the
flag of the Confederation of the Equator is based on a description sent to the imperial government in Rio
by the president of the Province of Pernambuco on 24 November 1824, based on an actual flag captured
from the rebels. The flag had a sky-blue field with the coat of arms of the separatist republic. The coat of
arms consisted of a square yellow "shield" surrounded by branches of sugar cane and cotton. On the
square was a white circle with the words "Religião, Independência, União, Liberdade" (religion,
independence, union, liberty) separated by square bundles of rods, presumably the lictor's rods
of the Roman fasces. On the center of the white circle was a smaller blue circle divided by a horizontal
white stripe, and thereon a red cross bottony, which Ribeiro says the report incorrectly described as
"floretty." Four white stars flanked the lower arm of the cross, two above the white stripe and two below.
Nine more white stars were arranged in a semicircle at the bottom of the blue circle. Issuing from the top
of the yellow square was a red staff ending in a hand with the eye of Providence on the palm, encircled
by six more white stars. Finally, at the top of the flag, was a white scroll with the inscription Confederação
(confederation).
Joseph McMillan, 20 October 2002
The Pernambucan region continued hostile following the 1817 Pernambucan Revolution,
and did not accept the proposed constitution of 1823 (proclaimed by Emperor Dom Pedro I in 1824).
On 21 July 1824, a new revolt was started, and extended to several provinces (now states), which joined in the
Equatorial Confederation. The revolt was defeated on 21 November 1824.
Jaume Ollé, 13 September 1996