| Order of Camões Ordem de Camões | |
| Awarded By: | Portuguese Republic |
| Type: | Order |
| Motto: | Aqueles que por obras valerosas se vão da lei da morte libertando ("The Lieges who by deeds memorious brake from the doom that binds the vulgar dead", The Lusiads, Canto I) |
| Eligibility: | Portuguese and foreigners; military and civilian |
| Criteria: | Relevant services to the Portuguese language and its international dissemination, and to the strengthening of cultural relations between Portuguese-speaking nations and communities. |
| Head Title: | Grand Master |
| Head: | President of Portugal |
| Head2 Title: | Chancellor |
| Head2: | Manuela Ferreira Leite |
| Grades: | Grand Collar Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Officer Knight/Dame |
| Established: | 30 June 2021 |
| Higher: | Order of Liberty |
| Lower: | Order of Merit |
The Order of Camões (pt|Ordem de Camões) is a Portuguese order of knighthood originally created in 1985 but only fully integrated into the Portuguese honours system on 30 June 2021.[1] [2] It commemorates Luís de Camões, considered Portugal's national poet.
It is a six-tier order, whose titles are awarded for relevant services to the Portuguese language and its international promotion, and to the strengthening of cultural relations between Portuguese-speaking peoples and communities.[1] The number of members in each grade is restricted by its constitution, and titles are conferred by special decree by the Grand Master of the Order, i.e., the President of Portugal.
The order includes several classes; in decreasing order of seniority, these are:
The special distinction of Grand Collar can be awarded only to heads of state.
Membership to the Order is conferred by the President, either on his own initiative, upon the recommendation of his Ministers or following nomination by the Council of the Order.