Orders, decorations, and medals of Portugal explained

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.

Ancient military orders

Order of the Tower and Sword

(Portuguese: Torre e Espada)

See main article: Order of the Tower and Sword.

Military Order of Christ

See 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)

Military Order of Aviz

(Portuguese: Ordem Militar de Avis)

See main article: Order of Aviz.

Military Order of St. James of the Sword

(Portuguese: Ordem Militar de Sant'Iago da Espada)

See main article: Order of St. James of the Sword.

National orders

Order of Prince Henry

(Portuguese: Ordem do Infante D. Henrique)

See main article: Order of Prince Henry.

Order of Liberty

(Portuguese: Ordem da Liberdade)

See main article: Order of Liberty.

Order of Camões

(Portuguese: Ordem de Camões)

See main article: Order of Camões.

Orders of civil merit

Order of Merit

(Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito)

See main article: Order of Merit (Portugal).

Order of Public Instruction

(Portuguese: Ordem da Instrução Pública)

See main article: Order of Public Instruction (Portugal).

Orders of Entrepreneurial Merit

(Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito Empresarial)

See main article: Order of Entrepreneurial Merit.

Category of Agricultural Merit (Portuguese: Classe do Mérito Agrícola)
Category of Commercial Merit (Portuguese: Classe do Mérito Commercial)
Category of Industrial Merit (Portuguese: Classe do Mérito Industrial)

Portuguese Red Cross Decorations

See main article: Portuguese Red Cross Decorations.

Extinct orders

Order of the Colonial Empire

(Portuguese: Ordem do Imperio)

See main article: Order of the Colonial Empire.

Royal Dynastic Orders

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.

Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa

(Portuguese: Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Vila Viçosa)

See main article: Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa.

Order of Saint Michael of the Wing

(Portuguese: Ordem de São Miguel da Ala)

See main article: Order of Saint Michael of the Wing.

Order of Saint Isabel

(Portuguese: Ordem da Rainha Santa Isabel)

See main article: Order of Saint Isabel.

Order of Merit of the Portuguese Royal House

(Portuguese: Ordem do Mérito da Causa Monárquica)

See main article: Order of Merit of the Portuguese Royal House.

Decorations

Military Valor Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Valor Militar), established on 2 October 1863 to reward "heroic deeds of extraordinary selflessness and bravery or great moral courage and exceptional ability to make decisions, whether in war or in time of peace, but always in circumstances where there is proven or suspected danger to life". It comprises three grades - Gold (Portuguese: Ouro), Silver (Portuguese: Prata) and Copper (Portuguese: Cobre). Award of the Medal in Gold confers entitlement to wear a fourragère.^[3]
War Cross (Portuguese: Medalha da Cruz de Guerra), established on 30 November 1916 to reward acts of bravery and deeds performed in wartime. It could be awarded to military personnel and civilians as well as to foreign military personnel and civilians. It may also be awarded to military units and to towns 'that have collectively practiced feats of arms of exceptional value.' It is awarded in four classes. Award of the Gold (1st Class) confers entitlement to wear a fourragère.
Distinguished Service Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Serviços Distintos), established on 2 October 1863 as the Good Services Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Bons Serviços) to recognise extraordinary military service or outstanding acts. Originally it consisted of two classes - gold and silver - and was awarded only to military officers. On 11 September 1919, the regulations were modified to add a third class (copper) in order to recognise non-commissioned officers and soldiers. On 28 May 1946, the name of the medal was changed to the Distinguished Service Medal.
Military Merit Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Mérito Militar), established on 28 May 1946 to reward military personnel for meritorious service as demonstrated by a display of exceptional qualities, military virtues, a spirit of sacrifice and selflessness, moral courage, bravery and loyalty that are deserving of public recognition. The medal was established in five classes - Grand Cross (Portuguese: Grã-Cruz) (for ministers and secretaries of military departments and generals), 1st Class (for Colonel and above with at least 20 years service), 2nd Class (for Captain-Lieutenant and above with at least 10 years of service), 3rd Class (for junior officers holding the rank of Captain or below and with at least 2 years service), and 4th class (non-commissioned officers and soldiers with at least 2 years service).
National Defense Medal (Portuguese: Medalha da Defesa Nacional)
St George's Cross (Portuguese: Medalha da Cruz de São Jorge)
Navy Cross (Portuguese: Medalha da Cruz Naval)
D. Afonso Henriques Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de D. Afonso Henriques)
Army Merit Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Mérito do Exército)
Aeronautical Merit Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Mérito Aeronáutico)
Exemplary Behaviour Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Comportamento Exemplar), established on 2 October 1863 to recognise meritorious long service with exemplary behaviour. It was established in three grades - gold (30 years exemplary service), silver (15 years exemplary service) and copper (non-commissioned officers and soldiers with 6 years of exemplary service).

Medals

Campaign Service Medal (Portuguese: Medalha Comemorativa das Campanhas), established on 30 November 1916 to recognise wartime service. The medal is issued with a clasp for each military campaign the recipient has served in. Eligibility for the medal was backdated to the Mozambique campaign of 1897–98.^[4]
Special Service Commissions Medal (Portuguese: Medalha Comemorativa de Comissões de Serviço Especiais), established on 28 May 1946 to recognise service during 'non-warlike' operations.^[5]
Expeditionary Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Expedições)
Distinguished Achievement on Operations Medal (Portuguese: Medalha dos Promovidos por Feitos Distintos em Campanha), established on 28 May 1946 to replace an earlier insignia established on 2 December 1919. The medal is awarded to recognise distinguished command and leadership on military operations. It consists of one class, however it is awarded with a gold star for the ribbon when awarded to generals, a silver star when awarded to officers and a copper star when awarded to non-commissioned officers and soldiers.^[6]
Wounded on Operations Medal (Portuguese: Medalha dos Mutilados em Campanha), established on 28 May 1946 to replace an earlier badge established on 5 October 1918. The medal is awarded to recognise military personnel who have been permanently wounded in war or war-like, such wounds being characterised by amputation, loss of an organ or permanent functional impairment.
Recognition Medal (Portuguese: Medalha de Reconhecimento), established on 27 December 2002 to recognise military personnel who have been captured during war or other military missions such including peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.^[7]
Victory Medal (Portuguese: Medalha da Vitória)^[8]
500th Anniversary of the Death of the Infante Commemorative Medal (Portuguese: Medalha Comemorativa do 5.° Centário da Morte do Infante), established in 1960.^[9]
Red Cross Medal (Portuguese: Medalha da Cruz Vermelha)

Orders of Precedence

Current Order of Precedence

(Established by Decree-Law No 316/2002 of 27 December 2002)

Order of the Tower and Sword
Military Valor Medal
War Cross
Military Order of Christ
Military Order of Aviz
Distinguished Service Medal
Military Merit Medal
Military Order of St James of the Sword
Order of Infante D. Henrique
Order of Liberty
Distinguished services or relevant overseas services
Exemplary Behaviour Medal
Distinguished Achievement on Operations Medal
Wounded in Battle Medal
Recognition Medal
Campaign Service Medal
Special Service Commissions Commemorative Medal
Other National Orders
Other National Medals
Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals

Notes

Distinguished services or relevant overseas services: the National Defense Medal, the St George's Cross, Navy Cross, D. Afonso Henriques Medal, Army Merit Medal, and Aeronautical Merit Medal.
Other National Orders: Order of Merit, Order of Public Instruction, Order of Agricultural Merit, Order of Commercial Merit, Order of Industrial Merit
Other National Medals: 500th Anniversary of the Death of the Infante Commemorative Medal

Former Order of Precedence

(As prior to the 1974 Carnation Revolution^[10])

Order of the Tower and Sword
Military Valor Medal
War Cross
Distinguished Service Medal
Military Merit Medal
Military Order of Aviz
Military Order of Christ
Military Order of St James of the Sword
Order of the Colonial Empire (no longer awarded)
Order of Infante D. Henrique
Distinguished Services or Relevant Overseas Services
Exemplary Behaviour Medal
Distinguished Achievement on Operations Medal
Wounded in Battle Medal
Campaign Service Medal
Victory Medal
Special Service Commissions Commemorative Medal
Other National Orders
Other National Medals
Foreign Orders, Decorations and Medals