Here are some of the Royal Decress
ROYAL DECREE N. III
the Head of the Royal House of Saxe Coburgo Gotha of Bragança of Portugal, Duke of Bragança, in virtue of the law 19. June 1789, issued by Queen Dona Maria, I, Par.1, Sentence 2, which textually says: "… thus the Grand Masters my Successors shall put into practise and observe;" With this edict I inform all those whom this decree may concern that, since different orders of knights have been constituted and created in in every time not merely to hand down the posterity the most propitious and famous ages, in which heroic actions and glorious facts were accomplished; since such titles are more inexhaustible than those which give a prompter award for honourable actions; since it is our wish to reward some illustrious names for scientific, literary and artistic merits without any distinctions of nationality, considering, likewise, that the only real dynastic orders and the orders of Portuguese Royal institutions are those mentioned below; wishing as well the rewarding of those who, faithful to my old family, without distinction of nationality, will stand out in different sectors of social branches for the future, I honoured myself continuing, restoring and reforming those Orders, whose last Grand Masters were King Charles I, and his son Dom Manuel II, to give them a greater stability and magnificence:
1. Royal Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz
2. Royal Military Order of Saint James of the sword
3. Royal Military Order of our Lord Jesus Christ
4. Royal Military Order of the Tower and Sword
From the general disposition of the Orders of Portugal, the Orders of Christ, Saint James and Aviz were originally all religious Orders; They were all secularized in 1789;
par.3) The observation of the Orders is given to a special Council named "Court of the Conscience and of the Orders"
1. ROYAL MILITARY ORDER OF SAINT BENEDICT OF AVIZ
Founded originally in 1162 by King Dom Alfonso 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, which was confirmed by Pope Julius III, with Bull published in Rome on January 4th, 1551.
Ranks and dignities (from the Edict of July 28th, 1832):
2. 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, it was recognized by Pope Alexander III in 1175 and confirmed in 1198 by Pope Innocent III.
At King's Dom Dinis' request this order was released from its dependency on the Order of St. James of Castille under which it had been put by Pope Nicholas IV's Bull, dated September 17th, 1288., and became 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 cinfirmed by Pope Julius' Bull, issued in Rome on January 4th, 1551.
Under the reign of Don Luis I, this Order was recognized 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".
Ranks and dignities (from the Edict of July 28th, 1832):
3. ROYAL MILITARY ORDER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Since 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 Alobaca as its visitor; Then the order was exempt of this subjection, by Pope Paul III's Bull sent in 1542. The Infant Dom Enrique Duke of Visen, 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 received Pope Eugene IV's Brief. In accordance with Pope Julius III's Bull, issued in Rome in 1551, year of the incarnation of Our Lord, the Grand Mastership of the Order passed to the Crown.
All the members of the order are chosen among the descendants of Nobel and Catholic Families.
Ranks and dignities:
4. 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) was founded by King Alfonso V in 1459. Shortly after the Order was extinguished. Prince Regent Dom Joao who later became King, reformed it again with Decree of May 19th,1808.
Under the regency of Dom Pedro, Duke of Bragança this Order was reformed again with Edict dated July28th, 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":
Ranks and dignities (from the Edict of July 28th, 1832):
Moreover:
7 Minor Officers: The King of Arms, who will be called "King of Arms, Tower and Sword", 2 Herald and 4 Officers who will receive degree and treatment equal to Equerries of the Order.
Order's day: April 29th.
Furthermore, with this Decree I inform that it is my will to re-establish, as I am re-establishing, the Royal Order of Saint Michael's wing:
Between 1167 and 1171 Alfonso I of Portugal founded the Order of the Knighthood.
5. ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL'S WING
The Order's lifetime was short, because, after the death of King Sancho, son of the founder, it fell into oblivion and shortly after it disappeared.
Ranks and dignities:
Considering the status of the above mentioned Orders inadequate in respect to present times, with further Decree other changes in the pursuance of renovations will be determinated. At the same time the Special Council of the "Court of Conscience and the Orders" will be appointed.
This Decree with its contents will come into force immediately; therefore I order to all those who may be interested inthe Knowledge and the execution of this Edict to follow and observe it and have it completely executed and observed, in spite of any other Edict, Regulation, Decree or adversed Order.
Most Faithful
Dom Rosário, Duke of Bragança
Head of the Royal House of Portugal
Issued in Vicenza, the 16th day of Month of June of the year1987.
ROYAL DECREE N.VII
Head of the Royal House of Portugal
By the Grace of God And by the Right of Succession
XXII Duke of Bragança
Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Military Orders
Dynastic Noble Orders of the Crown of Portugal
Considering that the work constitutes life, force and wealth of nations; that with the reasoned task of work progress increases; that industry in the different sectors of human activity is stimulated, widespread and diffused; that with morality, the talents and the jpgts of active man are praised and increased. And that with morality the man’s character is purified and his future improved; that it is important and a useful thing to give birth to the incentives for the fertile task of work; wishing to give all the social classes of work a revealed proof of my particular praise as of my Royal Chart as of the publication of the Monarchic Costitutional code (1838-1988) in force, I have decided to decree and decreed as follows:
The medal of the merit named as "MEDAL FOR WORK" is restored, already passed on the 28th September 1863, by my famous predecessor His Majesty Dom Luis I King of Portugal, destined to compensate all services in the work world, the adherence to my Royal, Noble Orders and to my Royal House.
The "WORK MEDAL" will be granted for the Magistral MOTU PROPRIO to the proposal of the Councils of the Noble Orders, of the Council of the Crown of the Ministers of the Royal House.
The Magistral decree, the Bestowal of the "WORK MEDAL" endorsed by the Seal, should be counter-signed by the Great Chancellor and in absence of this, by one of the authorized Chancellors.
The "WORK MEDAL" has three distinct classes: Gold, Silver and Bronze to be granted according to the importance of the merits acquired by the recipient of the decoration in the work world.
The form of the "WORK MEDAL" is circular and has three centimeters in diameter. On the front is my effigy and on the lower part the year 1988; on the back "WORK HONOUR" and a wreath of oak tree in the middle of which one reads "to industry and honesty".
The "WORK MEDAL" is worn on the left side of the chest attached to a white ribbon with a red dark line in the centre and stripes of the same colour on the borders.
A Jury of seven members, composed of businessmen, renewed every three years, compiles a list of proposals, completed by all the organisms already in existence and in conformity of the Article II of the current Royal Decree.
Passed in Lisbon on the fifteenth of October, 1988.
Faithfully
Rosario Duke of Bragança
Head of the Royal House of Portugal
Sovereign Great Master
Great Chancellor
Marquis Crescenzio Mezzina
Chancellor
Viscount Morsoletto Ziggiotti Tiziano
ROYAL DECREE N. IX
Head of the Royal House of Portugal
And the Algarves, etc.
By the Grace of God
And by the Right of Succession
XXII Duke of Bragança
Sovereign Grand Master of the Royal Military Orders and
Dynastic Noble Orders of the Crown of Portugal
On the solemn occasion of the 150th anniversary of the promulgation of the Portoguese Monarchic Constitution (1838-1988);
considering that the Constitution needs substantial modifications;
that it is necessary to adapt it to the current and modern times;
that the Council of the Crown, in substitution of the not-yet-elected-courts, has approved, and the Head of the Royal House ratified, the new PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION of the Royal House of Portugal.
The Royal House of Portugal, wishing to establish justice, freedom and safety, and to promote the welfare of those who acknowledge it, proclaims its will to:
What is mentioned above must be made real by National and International Entities, created already or that are going to be so, such as FO.C.RE.P., A.C.RE.P., etc.
Therefore the Council of the Crown, integrated by the individuals: …OMISSIS…
Ratifies the NEW "PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF PORTUGAL" AND I HAVE DECREED AND DECREE the promulgation of the NEW "PROVISIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE ROYAL HOUSE OF PORTUGAL", enunciated hereafter, temporarily until the definite one, since all Constitutional Powers are concentrated on me and I represent them, exept for those already conferred by Royal Decree N. VI on October 12th, 1988.
Dated in Lisbon, December 1st, 1988.
Faithfully
Rosario Duke of Bragança
Head of the Royal House of Portugal
Sovereign Great Master
Great Chancellor
Marquis Crescenzio Mezzina
Chancellor
Viscount Morsoletto Ziggiotti Tiziano