Chivalric Orders

of the

Royal House of Portugal

 

ROYAL MILITARY ORDER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

After the Order of the Knights of the Temple was dissolved by Clement V's Bull dated January 1312, the Order was named 'Our Lord Jesus Christ's Army' with Decree dated August 14th, 1318 by the King of Portugal Dom Dinis. It was approved by Pope John XXII's Bull dated March 14th, 1319. The Grand Masters who succeeded, made several changes to the Constitutions which were all confirmed by the abbot of Alcobaça as its visitor, then the Order was exempt of this subjection, by Pope Paul III's bull sent in 1542. The Infant Dom Henrique, Duke of Viseu, succeeding to the Grand Master Dom Lopes Dias de Sousa, proceeded with the reformation of the Order giving it new statutes, for the approval of which he begged and obtained a Brief by Pope Eugene IV. As a result of Pope Julius III Bull's, issued in Rome in 1551, the Grand Mastership of the Order passed to the Crown.

ROYAL MILITARY ORDER OF SAINT BENEDICT OF AVIZ
Founded in 1162 by King Dom Afonso Henriques. Originally religious, the Grand Mastership of the Order passed to the Crown, after the death of the Grand Master Dom George, King John II's natural son, who was confirmed by Pope Julius III with Bull published in Rome on January 4th, 1551.

ROYAL MILITARY ORDER OF SAINT JAMES OF THE SWORD

(or Ancient Noblest and Illustrious Order of Saint James of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merits).

Founded in Castille in 1070, was later recognized by Pope Alexander III in 1175 and confirmed in 1198 by Pope Innocent III. On King Dom Dinis' request this Order was released from dependency of the Order of St. James of Castille under which it had been put by Pope Nicholas IV's Bull, dated September 17th , 1288 and become executive on May 15th 1290. Subjected again to Saint James by Pope John XXII's Bull, the Order was definitively separated from it in 1320. After the death of the Grand Master Dom George, duke of Coimbra, the Grand Mastership passed to the Crown, which was confirmed by Pope Julius III's Bull, issued in Rome on January 4th , 1551. Under the reign of Dom Luis I, this Order was reorganized again with following edict dated October 31st , 1862 and named 'Ancient Noblest and Illustrious Order of Saint James of the Scientific, Literary and Artistic Merits'.

ROYAL MILITARY ORDER OF THE TOWER AND SWORD

(or Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Tower and Sword of the valor, Loyalty and Merit).

Founded by King Afonso V in 1459, shortly after the Order was extinguished. Prince Regent Dom João who later became King, reformed it with Decree of May 19th, 1808. Under the Regency of Dom Pedro, Duke of Bragança, this Order was reformed again with Edict dated July 28th, 1832 and Decree dated August 18th, 1833 with the name 'Ancient and most Noble Order of the Tower and Sword of the Valor, Loyalty and Merit'.

Founded by King Dom João VI with Decree of 6th February 1818, in occasion of the accession to the throne of that King. The name served to confirm the devotion towards the Virgin who had declared Protector of the Kingdom by Decree of 24th March 1646. With Decree of 10th September 1819 the statutes for the observance of the Order were established.

ROYAL ORDER OF ST. ELISABETH

Founded on 4th November 1801 by the Regent Prince Dom João who later became King as Dom João VI, upon suggestion of his wife, Dona Carlota Joaquina , princess of Brazil. With Decree of 17th December of the same year, it was awarded that the princess should dictate the statutes and this happened with an Edict on the 25th April 1804.

This Order had a short life. In fact, after the death of King Dom Sancho, son of the Founder, the Order fell into oblivion. It was restored with a Decree by HRH Dom Rosario.