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As the
“Capitania” of Costa do Cabo Norte, the region was invaded by the English and
Dutch, who were
repelled by the Portuguese.
The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 established the boundaries between Brazil and
French Guiana, but these were not respected by the French. In the 18th
century, France retook control of Brasilian Guyana, leading to the
short-lived pro-French independent state of Counani in the disputed territory.
Finally, on December 1, 1900, the Arbitration Commission of Geneva ceded the
territory to Brazil, which incorporated it into the state of Pará with the
name of Araguari (named after the river of the same name). It became the
federal territory of Amapá in 1943 and was elevated to a state on 5 October
1988. |
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Counani |
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The Republic
of Independent Guyana, in French La République de la Guyane
indépendante, commonly referred to by the name of the capital Counani
(rendered Cunani in Portuguese by the Brazilians), was a
short-lived independent state in the area which was disputed by France (as
part of French Guyana) and Brazil in the late nineteenth century. The state
was proclaimed by French settlers on July 1886 and existed until 1891. The
territory of the former state of Counani is now located in the Brazilian
state of Amapá. |
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The arms of the Republic are on the Étoile de Counani (Star of Counani) medal of merit, founded by Jean Guigues, Paul Quartier and Jules Gros, the founding fathers of the Republic. The star was also on the first stamps issued by the Republic and another version of the arms is on later stamps. The flag was red with a white five-pointed star. |
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The arms of the
Republic were : Arms: Gules, a five-pointed star Argent Crest: On a wreath Argent and Gules, a rising
sun radiant Garland: A branch of coffee and a stalk of maize Motto: JE MAINTIENDRAI PAR LA
RAISON OU PAR LA FORCE (I will Maintain, be it by Reason or by
Force). |
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The present
arms of Amapá State were designed in the time of the Territory by Herivelto Brito Maciel and adopted by governor Annibal Barcellos
by Decree n° 8 of 23 April 1984. They are: Arms: The map of Amapá Or, its base Vert,
radiant, charged with a Amapazeiro tree (Parahancornia
amapa - Apocynaceæ), Argent, its crown Vert, within a bordure parted
Gules and Vert, the upper part in the form of the fortress of S. José de Macapá. Crest: A five-pointed star issuant Or, voided
Sable voided Argent Garland: Branches of the Amapazeiro tree. Motto: AQUI COMEÇA O BRASIL (Here is the Beginning of Brasil) in
black lettering on a white scroll in chief ð see illustration in the head of this
essay Symbolism: · The map is divided by the equator. Its
color symbolizes the mineral wealth of the country and also the unity, the
belief and steadiness of its population · The star symbolizes the establishment of
another state of the Brasilian nation. The white symbolizes purity, serenity
and peace. The yellow the wealth of the nation. · The rays spring from the capital of the
state. · The tree has given its name to the
state. Its trunk, leaves and fruit were medicines and food for the first
inhabitans of the country. Its green crown symbolizes hope, belief in the
future, love, liberty, friendship, plenty and courtesy. Its trunk symbolizes
the fertility of the fields of the country. · The 25 rays in the base of the shield
symbolize honesty, obedience to the law and the authorities, desillusion,
sadness, conflict and death.
Fortress
of S. José de Macapá (1738-‘61) and
turret on its remparts. |
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Army |
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Amapá is a part
of the 8th Military Region together with the states of Pará and a part of
the State of Tocantins bordered in the south by the communities of Wanderlândia,
Babaçulândia and Xambioá and the communities of Açailândia, João Lisboa,
Imperatriz, Amarante do Maranhão, Montes Altos, Sítio Novo, Porto Franco,
Estreito and Carolina, in the state of
Maranhão, Its
headquarters are in Belém (PA). |
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Polícia Civil |
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© Hubert de Vries 2011-12-04
Heraldry of the World