Updated: 18 February, 2006
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Portugal - Cross of St. George (1st Class) This award was instituted by decree 325/2000 on 22 Dec 2001, and is awarded in 4 classes. Image courtesy of Antonio Prieto
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The Portuguese Military Orders (José Vicente de Bragança)
The
Order of Aviz (Ordem Militar de Aviz) owes
its origin to a society of aristocratic Portuguese established about 1140 to
fight against the Moors. It was called "The New Militia". The
order was affirmed in 1162 by King Alphonso I and converted into a clerical
Order of Knighthood under the Benedictine rule. The order was secularized in
1789 to become a naval and military Order of Merit of three classes, which
were extended in 1918 by a further two. The present statutes of the Order
date from 24th November 1963. The Order may be conferred on naval officers,
Portuguese and foreign, as a reward for outstanding achievement during
service. The Portuguese President is the Grand Master of the Order. The
Order ranks before the Order of Christ. The order has 5 classes as follows:
Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight. The ribbon is
plain green. (Ref: Orders, Medals and Decorations of Britain and Europe
by Paul Hieronymussen) 
Allow
me to comment on the historical information you give on the Military Order
of Aviz which although referred to in several books, is not correct. Please,
refer to my Web
Site on the subject for further information. Click here
for a description
of the insignia. (Ref: José Vicente de Bragança)
The Order of Christ (Ordem Militar de Christo) is a branch of the Order of the Knights Templar which was abolished in 1312 by Pope Clement V on the instigation of King Philip the Fair of France. In Portugal, however, King Dionysus allowed the Order to be re-established in 1317 under its original name, "The Knights of Christ" - or the Order of Christ - and allowed them to have the property there of the Order of the Knights Templar. This was affirmed in 1319 by Pope John XXII on condition that the Pope also received the right to award the Order. In this way, the foundation was laid for the split in the Order of Christ into a Portuguese and a Papal branch which still exists today. The Order was secularized in 1789 into a military and civil Order of Merit of three classes, which were extended in 1918 by another two. The present statutes of the Order date from 24th November 1963. The Order may be conferred on Portuguese and on foreigners for outstanding services to the Republic in the government, the diplomatic service, the public authorities or in administration. The Portuguese President is the Grand Master of the Order. The Order ranks after the Order of Aviz. The Order has five classes as follows: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight. The Star of the Order is a multi-pointed star in gold, in silver for the Commander class, with asymmetrical rays. The centre medallion, which is gold for all classes, bears the Badge of the Order on a white background within a laurel wreath. The ribbon of the order is plain red. As a chest ribbon, it is worn with a silver-gilt bar. (Ref: Orders, Medals and Decorations of Britain and Europe by Paul Hieronymussen).
As
Ordens Honorificas Portugueasa
(In
Portuguese) (Jose Vicente de Braganca)
Armed Forces Campaigns Commemorative Medal - for 60s and 70s African Campaigns Bars Authorized - The Armed Forces Campaigns Commemorative Medal and the sister-decoration Armed Forces Expeditions Commemorative Medal (just different because of the ribbon and in some case of the Bar) - both of the 1946 Regulation - and of the following 1971 Regulation medals (when the Expeditions medal changed the name for the more politically correct, Armed Forces Special Service Commissions Commemorative Medal):
The "ULTRAMAR" Bar means Overseas, and was conceded when a serviceman didn't stay for 6 months in one of the other places, but all together stayed all that time in two or more territories. The 2 "TIMOR" bars are presented because they were created by different Decrees. The 1946 Regulation says that Bars should be in Bronze, and the 1971 Regulation says Silver (but done in white metal). (Ref: Pauloestrela - My Delphi)
Portuguese President gives team medals of honour Wiping a tear from his eye, Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio presented medals to the country's soccer team and its Brazilian coach on Monday and called them "heroes" for making it to the Euro 2004 final. "The tears that yesterday, in the final game, I saw in your eyes confirmed your high expectations, your sense of duty, above all, your patriotism," Sampaio said at a ceremony on Monday awarding the players and Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari the Order of the Infante Dom Henrique. stuff.co.nz 6 Jul 04
Chelsea's Mourinho to get top Portuguese honour Jose Mourinho, who led Chelsea to their first Premier League title in 50 years, is to be honoured with Portugal's highest order. President Jorge Sampaio will declare Mourinho a high officer of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique in a Portugal Day ceremony. Mourinho, a native of Setubal, Portugal, will be among about 60 people to be honoured by Sampaio on the country's national day. reuters.co.za 8 Jun 05
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U2 awarded top Portuguese honour Irish rock band U2 will receive one of Portugal's highest honours before giving a concert in Lisbon. President Jorge Sampaio will present the Order of Liberty to the veteran four-piece in recognition of their humanitarian efforts. news.bbc.co.uk 10 Aug 05 |
Medals of Portugal Sydney B. Vernon
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Mourinho collects Portugal's grand honour José Mourinho received one of the highest awards his nation can bestow. The honour of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique was conferred on Mourinho for his services to Portuguese sport. noticias.info 31 Jan 06 |
