Order of the Tower and Sword
The Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of Valour, Loyalty and Merit is a Portuguese order of knighthood and the pinnacle of the Portuguese honours system. It was created by King Afonso V in 1459. The order may be bestowed on people or on Portuguese municipalities.
History
The order was originally created by King Afonso V of Portugal in 1459, under the name of the Order of the Sword, inspired by the legend that Arab rule in Africa would end when a Christian prince would besiege the fortress at Fez. Knighthood in the Order of the Sword was given as reward to those who participated in the conquests and battles in Africa. The order fell into disuse after the conquest of Tangiers and Asilah.The order was revived on 29 November 1808, by Prince Regent John, later John VI of Portugal. It commemorated the safe arrival of the Royal Family in the Portuguese colony of Brazil, after Napoleon had invaded Portugal. Its full title was “the Royal Order of the Tower and Sword”. It was available to both Portuguese and foreigners and for military, political or civilian achievement. Among the intended recipients were subjects of His Britannic Majesty, who had assisted the Royal Family to reach Brazil, but who were ineligible for the other Portuguese orders due to their religion.
In 1832, Peter, Duke of Braganza, reformed the Order which now became the Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of Valour, Loyalty and Merit.
In 1896, the class of Grand Officer was inserted between Grand Cross and Commander.
On 15 October 1910, after the end of the monarchy, the new Republican government of Portugal abolished all military orders, with the exception of the Order of the Tower and Sword. Despite the fact that the order had not been abolished, on 26 September 1917 the order was revised for the third time. The order had four classes, the highest of which was confined to the President of the Republic of Portugal.
The President is ex officio the Order’s Grand Master and a member of the Order, Grand Cross.
The degree of Grand Collar was added in 1939. The Grand Collar was meant for heads of state with notable military deeds, with Spanish General Franco the only head of state to be awarded the Grand Collar under these terms. The order was reformed in 1962 with the Grand Collar being made exclusively open to former presidents of Portugal, an exception was made in 1973 for Brazilian President Emilio Garrastazu Medici by decree-law.
The Organic Law of the Honorary Orders of 1986 kept the exclusivity of the Grand Collar for former presidents of Portugal. Exceptions to this rule were made in 1993 for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and in 2000 for King Juan Carlos I of Spain, who were awarded the Grand Collar by special decree-law.
The Law of Honorary Orders of 2011 opened the Grand Collar to foreign heads of state and to those of exceptional achievements while maintaining the automatic appointments of presidents of Portugal at the end of their terms.
Insignia
- The badge of the Order is a five-pointed gilt star, enamelled in white and with one point pointing downwards. The star has a wreath of green enamelled oak leaves between the arms of the star, and is topped by a gilt tower. The obverse central disc bears a sword surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves on a white enamel background, which is in turn surrounded by a blue enamel ring bearing the motto "Valor Lealdade e Mérito". The reverse central disc bears the Portuguese coat-of-arms, surrounded by a blue enamel ring bearing the name "República Portuguesa".
- The star of the Order is a five-pointed faceted star, in gilt for Grand Collar, Grand Cross and Grand Officer, and in silver for Commander, with the obverse of the badge superimposed upon it.
- The ribbon of the Order is blue.
- The fourragère is solid blue.
Grades
- Grand Collar, which wears the badge of the Order on a special collar, and the star of the Order in gold on the left chest;
- Grand Cross, which wears the badge of the Order on a collar, or on a sash on the right shoulder, and the star of the Order in gold on the left chest;
- Grand Officer, which wears the badge of the Order on a necklet, and the star of the Order in gold on the left chest;
- Commander, which wears the star of the Order in silver on the left chest;
- Officer, which wears the badge of the Order on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
- Knight or Dame, which wears the badge of the Order on a plain ribbon on the left chest.
Membership Benefits
In accordance with the law those awarded with any degree from the Military Order of the Tower and Sword of Valor, Loyalty and Merit have the following rights:- Preference in admission to state-run social establishments and the right to a pension, corresponding to the national minimum wage and cumulative with any others due to them, if they lack sufficient livelihoods. Furthermore granting of the pension and its transmission to surviving spouses, or to persons who have lived in a similar situation to the spouses, and to minor children is exempt from any fees or taxes.
- Their orphans have absolute preference in admission to military schools, as well as to schools dependent on military departments.
Current knights and officers
- António Ramalho Eanes
- Mário Soares
- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
- Juan Carlos I of Spain
- Jorge Sampaio
- Felipe VI of Spain
- Aníbal Cavaco Silva
- Albert, Prince Consort
- King Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom and British Dominions
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Francisco Sá Carneiro
- Fernando Collor de Mello
- Fernando Henrique Cardoso
- Felipe VI of Spain
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Commander:
- Henrique Mitchell de Paiva Couceiro
- Patrão Joaquim Lopes
- Henrique Mitchell de Paiva Couceiro
- General Augusto Carlos Teixeira de Aragão
- Tenente Francisco Craveiro Lopes
- Henrique Mitchell de Paiva Couceiro