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Uruguay

 

Contents

Flags

Historical Flags

Meaning/Origin of the Flag

Coat of Arms

Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

Aircraft Roundel

Map

Numbers and Facts

History

Origin of the Country's Name



Flags

Flagge Fahne flag National flag State flag Merchant flag Naval flag War flag Uruguay
National, state, merchant and naval flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Naval jack naval jack Uruguay
Naval jack,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Präsident president Uruguay
Flag of the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,
ratio = 3:5 (?),
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag navy Verteidigungsminister Minister of Defense Uruguay
Flag of the Minister of Defense,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Oberbefehlshaber der Marine Commander in Chief of the Navy Uruguay
Flag of the Commander in Chief of the Navy,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Vizeadmiral Vice Admiral Uruguay
Flag of a Vice Admiral of the Navy,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Konteradmiral Rear Admiral Uruguay
Flag of a Rear Admiral of the Navy,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag navy Kapitän Captain Uruguay
Flag of a Captain in Command,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World



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Historical Flags

Flagge Fahne flag State flag Naval flag state flag naval flag Spanien Spain Espagne España
to 1810,
Flag of Spain,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne national flag Portugal Vereinigtes Königreich Portugal Brasilien Algarve United Kingdom Portugal Brazil Algarves
1817–1822,
National flag of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag Merchant flag Naval flag national flag ensign merchant flag ensign naval flag ensign Brasilien Brazil Brasil
1822–1825,
Flag of Brazil,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Brasil Imperial




Flagge Fahne flag José Gervasio Artigas Uruguay
1815–1817, Uruguay / Patria vieja,
Flag of José Gervasio de Artigas,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Cisplatina Cisplatine
1817–1825, Brazil,
Flag of the Cisplatine Province,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Vereinigte Provinzen von La Plata United Provinces of La Plata
1825–1828,
Flag of the United Provinces of La Plata,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag State flag Merchant flag Naval flag War flag Uruguay
1828–1830, Uruguay,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag National flag State flag Merchant flag Naval flag War flag Uruguay
1830–1834, Uruguay,
National flag,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Naval jack naval jack Uruguay
to 1934, Uruguay,
Naval jack,
ratio = 5:6,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Generalinspekteur Marine Inspector General Navy Uruguay
to 1934, Uruguay,
Flag of the Inspector General of the Navy,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Flaggenbuch 1939




Flagge Fahne flag Naval jack naval jack Uruguay
1934–ca. 1995, Uruguay,
Naval jack,
ratio = 4:5,
Source, by: Flags of the World




Flagge Fahne flag Generalinspekteur Marine Inspector General Navy Uruguay
from 1934, Uruguay,
Flag of the Inspector General of the Navy,
ratio = 2:3,
Source, by: Die Welt im bunten Flaggenbild



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Meaning/Origin of the Flag

The current flag of Uruguay was introduced on 11th of July in 1830. It shows nine horizontal stripes in white and blue and a white upper corner with a yellow sun in it. The colours of the flag go back to the Argentinian national flag, while the USA flag was the model for the design. The yellow sun in the white upper corner is the freedom sun, a symbol of freedom and independence that is widespread in almost all South American countries. The shades of the colours of the flag are not defined. The country's flag history repeatedly shows versions in predominantly lighter or darker blue, which has to do with the flavour of the time and also the age of the originals. The decisive factor in the early period was probably the indigo dye, a vegetable colouring agent that dyes to varying degrees and also washes out quickly. The flag was created in connection with the attainment of independence in 1828. It initially featured nine blue stripes to symbolise the number of provinces in the country. The large number of stripes, nine blue and ten white, caused problems in the production of the flag, so the current form was introduced on 11th of July in 1830. It now showed a total of nine stripes, five white and four blue. The number of provinces has since changed, but the design of the flag has been retained. The Uruguayan naval Jack was introduced in the mid-1990s. It shows a white bunting with a blue diagonal cross and the yellow liberty sun in the centre. A similar design was already used at the beginning of the 20th century. It is said to be used unofficially and without authorisation by the navy as a naval flag and is not only flown on the bow of warships. Another important flag of the country is the flag of José Gervasio de Artigas, the national hero of Uruguay. It shows three horizontal stripes in blue, white and blue (similar to the flag of Argentina) and a red diagonal bar. This flag was the naval jack of the Uruguayan navy from the 1930s until the 1990s. The design of the Artigas flag is still used as the emblem of the air force.

Source: Flags of the World, Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Flaggen und Coat of arms of the Welt, Volker Preuß

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Coat of Arms


Wappen coat of arms Uruguay
Coat of arms of Uruguay,
Source: Corel Draw 4

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Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms

The national coat of arms of Uruguay, was introduced in 1829, and 1908 confirmed by law. It was designed after the pattern of the emblem of the capital Montevideo from the 18th century. It shows a quartered oval scutcheon with blue and white fields. In the first field are palced scales on blue, it stands for equality and justice, in the second field the mountain Montevideo on white, it stands for power and defensive strength, in the third field a horse on white, it stands for freedom and in the fourth field a yellow bull on blue, he stands for prosperity. Above the shield the sun of freedom. The shield is surrounded by an oil-twig and a laurel-twig, bond with a blue ribbon. They represent the freedom which was won in the fight against Brazil.

Source: Die Welt der Flaggen, Flaggen Wappen Hymnen, Flaggen und Coat of arms of the Welt, Volker Preuß

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Aircraft Roundel


Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Uruguay
Aircraft Roundel,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)


Flugzeugkokarde Kokarde aircraft roundel Uruguay
Aircraft roundel for naval aircrafts,
Source, by: Wikipedia (EN)

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Map

Location:

Source: CIA World Factbook

Map of the country:

Source: CIA World Factbook

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Numbers and Facts

Area: 68.037 square miles

Inhabitants: 3.440.000 (2023), thereof 88% Europeans (thereof 15.000 Germans), 8% Mestizos, 4% Blacks

Religions: 47% Roman Catholic, 11% other Christian, 17% Non-Religious

Density of Population: 51 inh./sq.mi.

Capital: Montevideo, 1.338.408 inh. (2009)

official Language: Spanish

other Languages: French, Italian

Currency: 1 Uruguayan Peso (UYU, $, $U) = 100 Centésimos

Time Zone: GMT – 3 h

Source: Wikipedia (DE)

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History

Middle Ages · the today's Uruguay is sparsely populated by the native american tribes of the Charrúas, Guana, Yaros and Chana

1515 · the Spanish seafarer Juan Díaz de Solís discovered today's Uruguay during the crossing of Rio de la Plata in search of a western passage to India, Spain took possession of the land but initially not colonized

1680 · Founding of the colony Sacramento eastern of the River Uruguay by Portuguese and Spanish ranchers, attempts to take possession by Portugal and his Colony of Brazil

1726 · Founding of the Fortress of Montevideo by Spain

1776 · establishment of the Spanish Vice-Kingdom of Río de la Plata (today’s Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Northern Argentina, Northern Chile, and the Brazilian federal state of Rio Grande do Sul) by separation from the Vice-Kingdom of Peru, the today's Uruguay is called in this time "Banda Oriental", the "east side" of Rio de la Plata River

1806 · Montevideo is occupied by British troops

25th of may 1810 · overthrow of the Spanish Viceroy of Río de la Plata, Beginning of the fight for freedom against Spain, later proclamation of the United Provinces of La Plata

since 1811 · the national hero Jose Gervasio Artigas defends Uruguay against Argentine and Spanish conquest attempts, his army is called "Los Tupamaros"

1814 · Argentine troops conquer Montevideo

1815 · Artigas conquers Montevideo

1817 · Portugal conquers Montevideo and incorporates Banda Oriental as Province of Cisplatina to Brazil

1820 · Artigas flees to Paraguay

19th of April 1825 · Juan Antonio Lavalleja crosses the Uruguay River and marches in the country

25th of August 1825 · Declaration of independence from Brazil, back into the United Provinces of La Plata (Argentina) as an autonomous "Province Oriental""

1825–1828 · war between Uruguay and Brazil

March 1826 · the Government of the United Provinces of La Plata (Argentina) abolishes the autonomy of the "Province Oriental"

27th of August 1828 · Treaty of Rio de Janeiro between the United Provinces of La Plata (Argentina) and Brazil under the mediation of Great Britain, the independence of Uruguay is confirmed

1st of December 1828 · Separation from the United Provinces of La Plata (Argentina), proclamation of the State of Montevideo

18th of July 1830 · proclamation of the "República Oriental del Uruguay", first constitution

1836–1838 · civil war

1843–1852 · "Guerra Grande", "Big War", civil war with participation of Argentina and Brazil

1864–1870 · war of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay (supported by France and Great Britain) against Paraguay, defeat of Paraguay, loss of 4/5 of the population and huge parts of its territory

1870–1900 · Immigration of Europeans from Italy, Spain, France and Germany

1917 · new constitution

1936 · new constitution

1966 · new constitution, re-introduction of presidential democracy

1968 · riots

1970–1972 · guerrilla war of the "Tupamaros"

1972 · Arrest of the Tupamaro leader Sendic

1973 · seizure of power by the military

1985 · democratization, elections

1992 · riots

2001 · beginning of an economic and banking crisis

Source: Atlas zur Geschichte, Weltgeschichte, Discovery '97, Wikipedia (D)

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Origin of the Country's Name

The name of the country has its roots in the River "Uruguay", which is the border in the west. "Uruguay" means in the language of the in the 19th Century eradicated Indians "river of the colorful bird". The official name of the country is: "República Oriental del Uruguay," what means "Republic in the East of Uruguay".

Source: Handbuch der geographischen Namen, Volker Preuß

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