
Last modified: 2020-08-08 by ian macdonald
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 image by Ivan Sache, 
5 August 2020
 image by Ivan Sache, 
5 August 2020
The municipality of São Leopoldo (229,678 inhabitants in 2016; 10,273 ha) is 
located 30 km of Porto Alegre.
São Leopoldo was established on 27 July 
1824 by 39 German immigrants who settled close to the Imperial Hemp Factory, on 
the left bank of Bells' River. São Leopoldo was granted the title of "Cradle of 
immigration".
The founder of São Leopoldo is José Feliciano Fernandes 
Pinheiro (1774-1847), better known as the Viscount of São Leopoldo.
José 
Feliciano Fernandes Pinheiro graduated at the University of Coimbra (Portugal) 
and went back to Brazil in 1800. Appointed in 1811 Troops' Superviser, he joined 
the Uruguayan expedition commanded by Diogo de Souza, Captain-General of Rio 
Grande do Sul. During his inspections through Rio Grande do Sul, he accumulated 
material that would be published in 1819 as "Anais da Capitania de São Pedro", 
still considered as a main source of information on the early ages of Rio Grande 
do Sul.
After the Portuguese Constitutionalist Revolution of 1820, José 
Feliciano Fernandes Pinheiro was elected as a Representative to the Lisbon 
Cortes, both in Rio Grande do Sul and in his birth state, São Paulo, and 
subsequently, to the Brazilian Constituent Assembly.
Appointed on 8 March 
1824 President of the Province of Rio Grande do Sul, he pushed and supervised 
the establishment of a German colony near the Imperial Hemp Factory, which he 
considered as "one of the most salient facts of my tenure". In 1825, Emperor 
Peter I named him Minister and State Secretary of Imperial Commerce, which 
allowed him to introduce study of Law to Brazil. He was subsequently elevated to 
Viscount of São Leopoldo and appointed State Councillor and Senator for São 
Paulo.
The name of José Feliciano Fernandes Pinheiro, Viscount of São 
Leopoldo, was inscribed on the Book of National Heroes kept in the Tancredo 
Neves Pantheon of the Fatherland and Freedom by Federal Law No. 1,599 
promulgated on 8 January 2018.
http://ihgrgs.org.br/arquivo/cd_visconde_saoleo/CD/biografia.htm 
Instituto Histórico e Geográfico do Rio Grande do Sul
Ivan Sache, 5 August 2020
A green flag, bearing the municipal arms in the centre.
Dirk Schönberger, 3 April 2012
The coat of arms of São Leopoldo is prescribed by Municipal Law No. 1,159 
promulgated on 22 June 1962.
Article 1.
A classic shield divided per 
bend sinister by Bells' River, the settlement's original artery and main source 
of income of today's region of São Leopoldo, on a field vert (green). In chief 
on a field gules (red), the arms of the Viscount of São Leopoldo, founder of the 
modern town, a lion rampant a Brazilian pine proper; in base, azure (blue) the 
Immigrant's Monument inaugurated in 1924 argent. A four-towered mural crown 
argent. The shield surrounded by acanthus leaves or, gules and azure.
https://leismunicipais.com.br/a/rs/s/sao-leopoldo/lei-ordinaria/1962/115/1159/lei-ordinaria-n-1159-1962-altera-a-definicao-e-o-simbolo-do-municipio
Leis Municipais database
The coat of arms was originally prescribed 
by Municipal Law No. 276 promulgated on 19 May 1951.
Article 1.
A 
shield diagonally divided. In the upper part, on a red field a lion or rampant a 
Brazilian pine proper fructed or rooted argent, in the lower part, on a field 
azure the miniaturized reproduction of the Immigrant's Monument proper.
https://leismunicipais.com.br/a/rs/s/sao-leopoldo/lei-ordinaria/1951/27/276/lei-ordinaria-n-276-1951-adota-e-define-o-simbolo-do-municipio
Leis Municipais database
The Immigrant's Monument was erected in 1924 
on Centenary Square, São Leopoldo's oldest square, to commemorate the centenary 
of German immigration.
https://biblioteca.ibge.gov.br/biblioteca-catalogo.html?id=445965&view=detalhes
IBGE
http://anelisekunrath.blogspot.com/2011/08/monumento-ao-imigrante-alemao-sao.html
Photos
Photos
https://www.facebook.com/saoleopoldo/photos/a.236311486427552/3186635701395101/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/saoleopoldo/photos/a.236311486427552/2919620264763314/?type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/saoleopoldo/photos/a.236311486427552/2688784524513557/?type=3&theater
Ivan Sache, 5 August 2020