Orders, decorations, and medals of Portugal

Last updated

Portugal has a system of orders, decorations, and medals as a means of honouring individuals for personal bravery, achievement, or service to Portugal.

Contents

The honorific orders are currently regulated by Law 5/2011. [1] The decorations are given by the President of the Portuguese Republic, currently Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. In addition the Portuguese government, through the Portuguese Red Cross legal framework, regulates and recognizes [2] the Portuguese Red Cross Decorations.

Ancient military orders

Order of the Tower and Sword

(Portuguese : Torre e Espada)

Military Order of Christ

The Military Order of Christ (Portuguese : Ordem Militar de Cristo) is one of the ancient military orders. It was created by request of King D. Dinis to the pope, upon the extinction of the Order of the Temple. The Templars had been granted important jurisdictions over the Portuguese territory, as well as being of strategic importance in its protection, in the end of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. So, when the Order of the Temple was extinguished, King Dinis requested, and was granted, that all the possessions of this order in Portugal be attributed to a new order, to be created: the order of Christ. In essence, the Templars in Portugal simply changed name.

The headquarters of the Order were established in Tomar. The Order had a major role in the Portuguese discoveries. In the course of the subsequent centuries, the King of Portugal became the grand-master of this and all of the military orders, which acquired a simple honorific role.

The Order of Christ is now conferred by relevant services to the country in the exercise of functions related to the government or public administration (e.g., courts, diplomacy, armed forces)

Military Order of Aviz

(Portuguese : Ordem Militar de Avis)

Military Order of St. James of the Sword

(Portuguese : Ordem Militar de Sant'Iago da Espada)

National orders

Order of Prince Henry

(Portuguese : Ordem do Infante D. Henrique)

Order of Liberty

(Portuguese : Ordem da Liberdade)

Order of Camões

(Portuguese : Ordem de Camões)

Orders of civil merit

Order of Merit

(Portuguese : Ordem do Mérito)

Order of Public Instruction

(Portuguese : Ordem da Instrução Pública)

Orders of Entrepreneurial Merit

(Portuguese : Ordem do Mérito Empresarial)

Portuguese Red Cross Decorations

Extinct orders

Order of the Colonial Empire

(Portuguese : Ordem do Imperio)

Royal Dynastic Orders

During Portugal's time as a monarchy, several orders were created by the sovereign as honorific orders and not military orders. As such, when Portugal became a republic, these orders remained with the House of Braganza as dynastic orders and were not nationalized by the Portuguese Republic. Their Grand-Masters are Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza and Isabel, Duchess of Braganza.

Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa

(Portuguese : Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Vila Viçosa)

Order of Saint Michael of the Wing

(Portuguese : Ordem de São Miguel da Ala)

Order of Saint Isabel

(Portuguese : Ordem da Rainha Santa Isabel)

Order of Merit of the Portuguese Royal House

(Portuguese : Ordem do Mérito da Causa Monárquica)

Decorations

Medals

Orders of Precedence

Current Order of Precedence

(Established by Decree-Law No 316/2002 of 27 December 2002)

  1. Order of the Tower and Sword
  2. Military Valor Medal
  3. War Cross
  4. Military Order of Christ
  5. Military Order of Aviz
  6. Distinguished Service Medal
  7. Military Merit Medal
  8. Military Order of St James of the Sword
  9. Order of Infante D. Henrique
  10. Order of Liberty
  11. Distinguished services or relevant overseas services
  12. Exemplary Behaviour Medal
  13. Distinguished Achievement on Operations Medal
  14. Wounded in Battle Medal
  15. Recognition Medal
  16. Campaign Service Medal
  17. Special Service Commissions Commemorative Medal
  18. Other National Orders
  19. Other National Medals
  20. Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals

Notes

  1. Distinguished services or relevant overseas services: the National Defense Medal, the St George's Cross, Navy Cross, D. Afonso Henriques Medal, Army Merit Medal, and Aeronautical Merit Medal.
  2. Other National Orders: Order of Merit, Order of Public Instruction, Order of Agricultural Merit, Order of Commercial Merit, Order of Industrial Merit
  3. Other National Medals: 500th Anniversary of the Death of the Infante Commemorative Medal

Former Order of Precedence

(As prior to the 1974 Carnation Revolution [10] )

  1. Order of the Tower and Sword
  2. Military Valor Medal
  3. War Cross
  4. Distinguished Service Medal
  5. Military Merit Medal
  6. Military Order of Aviz
  7. Military Order of Christ
  8. Military Order of St James of the Sword
  9. Order of the Colonial Empire (no longer awarded)
  10. Order of Infante D. Henrique
  11. Distinguished Services or Relevant Overseas Services
  12. Exemplary Behaviour Medal
  13. Distinguished Achievement on Operations Medal
  14. Wounded in Battle Medal
  15. Campaign Service Medal
  16. Victory Medal
  17. Special Service Commissions Commemorative Medal
  18. Other National Orders
  19. Other National Medals
  20. Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals

Notes

  1. Other National Orders: Order of Merit, Order of Public Instruction, Order of Agricultural, Commercial or Industrial Merit
  2. Other National Medals: 500th Anniversary of the Death of the Infante Commemorative Medal

Notes

  1. Portuguese: Cruz de Guerra Class III Device is a silver cross
  2. Portuguese: Medalha de Mérito Militar - Grã-Cruz – Awarded to members of the military of the following ranks: General officer

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of Aviz</span> Portuguese order of chivalry from the 12th-18th centuries

The Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz, previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz, previously to 1789 Knightsof Saint Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese order of chivalry, founded in Portugal in 1146. It gave its name and coat of arms to the Aviz Dynasty that ruled Portugal between 1385 and 1580.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of Christ</span> Former order of the Kingdom of Portugal

The Military Order of Christ is the former order of Knights Templar as it was reconstituted in Portugal. Before 1910, it was known as the Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Order of the Knights of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was founded in 1319, with the protection of King Denis of Portugal, after the Templars were abolished on 22 March 1312 by the papal bull, Vox in excelso, issued by Pope Clement V. King Denis refused to pursue and persecute the former knights as had occurred in most of the other sovereign states under the political influence of the Catholic Church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Order of the Tower and Sword</span> State order of Portugal

The Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of the Valour, Loyalty and Merit, before 1910 Royal Military Order of the Tower and Sword, is a Portuguese order of knighthood and the pinnacle of the Portuguese honours system. It was created by King Afonso V in 1459. The order may be bestowed on people or on Portuguese municipalities.

The government of Macau confers honors every year in the form of decorations, medals and honorary titles.

The Royal Equestrian and Military Order of Saint Michael of the Wing is a Portuguese Roman Catholic dynastic order that is believed to have been founded in 1147 in the Alcobaça Monastery in Alcobaça, Portugal, by King Afonso I of Portugal, in commemoration of the Conquest of Santarém from the Moors in 1147. The name was chosen in honour of the military Saint Archangel Michael, who assisted in the victory in the shape of a wing in the sky.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Prince Henry</span> State civil order of Portugal

The Order of Prince Henry is a Portuguese order of knighthood created on 2 June 1960, to commemorate the quincentenary of the death of the Portuguese infante Prince Henry the Navigator, one of the main initiators of the Age of Discovery. Minor reforms of the constitution of the Order occurred in 1962 and 1980.

This is a list of some of the modern orders, decorations and medals of Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Merit (Portugal)</span> Civil merit order of Portugal

The Order of Merit is a Portuguese Honorific Order of civil merit intended to award those responsible for meritorious acts or services performed in the exercise of any functions, both in the public and the private sphere, which reveal self-sacrifice in favor of the community. The decorations are given by the President of the Portuguese Republic, in his role as the Grand-Master of the Portuguese Honorific Orders. The Order of Merit can be awarded, during life or posthumously, to both Portuguese and foreign citizens; it can also be awarded to localities or institutions that are legal persons governed by public law or of public utility. This order has been awarded to a number of people performing the most diverse functions such as ambassadors, businesspeople, military personnel, athletes and musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tércio Pacitti</span> Brazilian computer scientist

Tércio Pacitti, São Paulo, Brazil was an electronic engineer and computer scientist in Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paulo Bénard Guedes</span>

Paulo Bénard Guedes was the 127th Governor-General of Portuguese India. He was also a general of the Portuguese army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Valor Medal</span> Valour Award of Portugal


The Military Valor Medal is a prestigious military decoration and the second highest honour in Portugal. Established on 2 October 1863, it is awarded for heroic deeds of extraordinary selflessness and bravery, or great moral courage and exceptional ability to make decisions, whether in war or peace, but always in circumstances where there is proven or suspected danger to life. The Medal is divided into three grades - Gold, Silver and Copper. The award of the Gold Medal confers the entitlement to wear a fourragère.

The Chilean honours system provides a means for the Government of Chile to reward gallantry, achievement, or service, by both Chileans and non-citizens. The honours system consists of three types of award: orders, decorations and medals. Membership of an Order is conferred to recognise merit in terms of achievement and service. Decorations are conferred to recognise specific deeds of gallantry, bravery, distinguished or meritorious service. Medals are conferred to recognise long and/or valuable service and/or good conduct. Awards to non-citizens are usually only made where the gallantry, achievement or service has advanced Chilean interests in some way. The honours conferred by the Chilean Republic can be divided into two groups: civil and military. Military honours are conferred by the different branches of the Armed Forces of Chile. Civil honours are conferred by the President of Chile or, in some instances, by the government minister relevant to the particular honour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orders, decorations, and medals of Brazil</span> Rewards of Brazil

The following is a list of the orders, decorations, and medals of Brazil:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santos Cruz</span> Brazilian general and politician

Divisional general Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz is a Brazilian military officer who previously held the post of Force Commander of the United Nations' peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was appointed to this position by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 17 May 2013 and replaced by Derrick Mbuyiselo Mgwebi on 29 December 2015. He was Minister-Secretary of Government of Brazil, nominated by President Jair Bolsonaro, from 1 January 2019 to 13 June 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordem Militar de Cristo</span>

The Ordem Militar de Cristo, the full name of which is the Military Order of Our Knights of Lord Jesus Christ, is a Portuguese honorific Order which takes its name from the extinct Order of Christ (1834), which is given for distinguished service in the performance of functions in sovereign positions or public administration, and for the judiciary and diplomacy, which is seen as being particularly distinguished.

The Portuguese Red Cross Decorations is a special set of decorations recognized under Portuguese law, through the Ministry of Defense, and is intended to distinguish those who have rendered services to the Portuguese Red Cross to humanity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira</span> Commander of the Brazilian Army

Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira is a Brazilian Army general who served as minister of defence of Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henrique Gouveia e Melo</span> Portuguese naval officer

Admiral Henrique Eduardo Passaláqua de Gouveia e Melo is a Portuguese Navy officer, currently serving as the Chief of the Naval Staff, since December 2021.

References

  1. "LEI DAS ORDENS HONORÍFICAS PORTUGUESAS (Com a redação dada pelo Decreto-Lei 55/2021 de 29 de junho) - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas".
  2. "Cruz Vermelha Portuguesa - Condecorações" (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 2018-11-23.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" [Portuguese Orders of Honor and Military Decorations](Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito (Army General Staff). 1972. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  4. "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" (Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito. 1972. pp. 24–26. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  5. "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" (Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito. 1972. pp. 24–26. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  6. "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" (Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito. 1972. p. 26. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  7. "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" (Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito. 1972. p. 26. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  8. "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" (Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito. 1972. p. 27. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  9. "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" (Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito. 1972. pp. 17–18, 26. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  10. "Ordens Honorificas e Condecoracoes Militares Portugeusas" (Acrobat) (in Portuguese). Portugal: Estado-Maior do Exercito. 1972. p. 27. Retrieved 23 June 2012.