Portugal has a system of orders, decorations, and medals as a means of honouring individuals for personal bravery, achievement, or service to Portugal.
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.
(Portuguese: Torre e Espada)
Main article: Order of the Tower and Sword |
Main article: Order of Christ (Portugal) |
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)
(Portuguese: Ordem Militar de Avis)
Main article: Order of Aviz |
(Portuguese: Ordem Militar de Sant'Iago da Espada)
Main article: Order of St. James of the Sword |
(Portuguese: Ordem do Infante D. Henrique)
Main article: Order of Prince Henry |
(Portuguese: Ordem da Liberdade)
Main article: Order of Liberty |
(Portuguese: Ordem de Camões)
Main article: Order of Camões |
(Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito)
Main article: Order of Merit (Portugal) |
(Portuguese: Ordem da Instrução Pública)
Main article: Order of Public Instruction (Portugal) |
(Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito Empresarial)
Main article: Order of Entrepreneurial Merit |
Main article: Portuguese Red Cross Decorations |
(Portuguese: Ordem do Imperio)
Main article: Order of the Colonial Empire |
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.
(Portuguese: Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Vila Viçosa)
Main article: Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa |
(Portuguese: Ordem de São Miguel da Ala)
Main article: Order of Saint Michael of the Wing |
(Portuguese: Ordem da Rainha Santa Isabel)
Main article: Order of Saint Isabel |
(Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito da Causa Monárquica)
Main article: Order of Merit of the Portuguese Royal House |
(Established by Decree-Law No 316/2002 of 27 December 2002)
Notes
(As prior to the 1974 Carnation Revolution[10])
Notes