History of the Orders
The Royal Order of Kalākaua I
Royal Order of Kalākaua I (Kalākaua I e Hookanaka): founded by King Kalākaua I on 28th September 1875 in commemoration of his proclamation as King on 12th February 1874 as a general order of merit.
Awarded in a superior class (Knight Grand Cross with Collar - limited to heads of state and princes) and four regular classes
1. Knight Grand Cross - limited to twelve recipients at any one time,
2. Knight Grand Officer - limited to twenty,
3. Commander - limited to fifty, and
4. Companion - limited to sixty.
Royal Order of Kamehameha I
The Royal Order of Kamehameha I is an order of knighthood established by Kamehameha V in memory of King Kamehameha the Great on 4th April 1865 to promote and defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi.
Established by the 1864 Constitution, the Order of Kamehameha I is the second order of its kind in Hawaii.
After Lot Kapuāiwa took the throne as King Kamehameha V, he established, by special decree, created by the privy council using Article 35 of the Constitution the Order of Kamehameha I on April 11, 1865, named to honor his grandfather Kamehameha I. Kamehameha I was the founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the House of Kamehameha.
Both native Hawaiians and foreigners could be appointed to the Order, in each instance for distinguished service to the king and the people of Hawaiʻi. Upon its inception, it became the first order of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi to be awarded. The Royal Order of the Cross and Crown was established by King Kamehameha III in 1848 but not awarded until much later.
By the decree of Kamehameha V, the Royal Order of Kamehameha was created and chartered in 1865, in perpetuity, with the purpose of promoting and defending the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
Although called "The Royal Order of Kamehameha I" today by the public, it is known by its members as the "Order of Kamehameha I"
The Most Noble Order of Kamehameha I as a general order of merit. Awarded in a superior class (Knight Grand Cross with Collar - limited to heads of state) and three regular classes:
1. Knight Grand Cross-KGCK limited to ten recipients at any one time,
2. Knight Commander-KCK limited to thirty, and
3. Companion-CK limited to fifty).
Royal Order of Kapi'olani
Kapi'olani e Ho'okanaka (The Royal Order of Kapi'olani) was founded by King Kalākaua I on 30th August 1880 to reward services in the cause of humanity, science and the arts or for special services to the state. Kalākaua named the Order in honor of his ancestor High Chiefess Kapiʻolani the Great, an early proponent of Christianity in the Hawaiian Islands.
The Order also honored his wife Queen Kapiʻolani, the namesake of the first Kapiʻolani.Awarded in six classes:
1. Grand Cross - limited to twelve recipients at any one time
2. High Grand Officer - limited to fifteen
3. Grand Officer - limited to twenty
4. Commander - limited to thirty
5. Officer - limited to fifty
6. Companion - limited to sixty and two medals of honour (First Class in silver and Second Class in bronze).
Royal Order of the Crown of Hawai'i
The Royal Order of the Crown of Hawai'i (Hawai'i Ke Kalaunu e Hookanaka): founded by King Kamehameha III as the Order of the Crown and Cross in July 1848.
Revived and expanded by King Kalakaua I on 12th September 1882 "for the recompense of distinguished merit and services rendered to the state or the sovereign".
Awarded in five classes:
1. Grand Cross - limited to twenty recipients at any one time,
2. Grand Officer - limited to twenty-five,
3. Commander - limited to thirty,
4. Officer - limited to thirty-five, and
5. Companion - limited to forty-five) and two medals (1st class in gold and 2nd class in silver).
Royal Order of the Star of Oceania
The Royal Order of the Star of Oceania was created by King Kalakaua on December 16, 1886, originating from his vision of a confederation of independent Polynesian nations.
This Order was awarded to individuals for distinguished service to the sovereign in the promotion of Hawaii throughout the islands.
There are 7 classes:
1. Grand Cross,
2. Grand Officer,
3. Commander,
4. Officer,
5. Companion
and two under grades of medals.
The Star of Oceania was conferred on 25 individuals by King Kalakaua and was last awarded on July 26, 1890. This was the only order that King Kalakaua did not confer himself.
Royal Order of the Trinity
From 1730 onwards, King João V conceived the personal initiative of a new national Cavalry institution, based on the conceptual and functional model of the Order of the Holy Spirit of the Kingdom of France, taking on a dynastic and purely gratifying character, although related to evangelisation - as expressed in the diplomatic reports of Francisco Mendes de Góis and Duvernay, in the Memorial of Estevão Álvares Bandeira and in the Political Instructions of Luís da Cunha.
This project, under the invocation of the Holy Trinity, would be called the Order of the Trinity (Real Ordem da Trindade) - whose name expresses a religious patronage superior to that of the Order of Christ, the most important of all the Portuguese knightly militias - being represented in a polychrome watercolour sketch of a large enamelled golden collar insignia (dated around 1732), attributed to the artistic authorship of the German royal architect João Frederico Ludovice, and centred monogrammatically on the crowned royal cypher of King João V and the imperial dignity of the Holy Trinity. João V and the imperial dignity of his heraldry as King of Portugal and the Algarves.
In all likelihood, this royal project - the product of a direct relationship with the person of King João V, based on the symbolic providentialism of the Fifth Empire - projected in the admirable monument of the Royal Building of Mafra (consecrated in 1730) - was abandoned due to the possible inconvenient secondary status of the military Order of Christ.
On 10 July 2003, the Most Serene Lord Dom Filipe, Count of Rio Grande, using the prerogatives conferred on him by his August Father, the Most Serene Lord Duke of Loulé (Dom Alberto), Head of the Constitutional Dynastic Branch of the Royal House of Portugal (as representative of the personal and dynastic rights that fell in the line of His August Grandmother - Her Highness the Lady Infanta Dona Ana de Jesus Maria de Bragança e Bourbon, daughter of El-Rei o Senhor Dom João VI and Queen Senhora Dona Carlota Joaquina de Bourbon), it was well, in accordance with the project of His August Grandfather - El-Rei D. João V, to establish the Order of the Order of the Throne. João V, to establish the Order of the Trinity as the Order of His House.
This Order, established in Honour and Invocation of the Most Holy Trinity, has the denomination of Royal Order of the Trinity and the dignity of Order of Collar, according to the use and style of the Royal Houses of Europe. It has the character of a dynastic-family Order, and its government is exercised by a Council headed by a Dynastic Member of the Royal House of Portugal, who holds the title of Grand Master / Governor, a dignity that currently belongs to the Most Serene Dom Filipe, Count of Rio Grande, as the Representative of a dynastic Branch that is in the first line of Succession to the Crown of Portugal.
According to its Statutes, the Order recognises as Dynastic Members of the Royal House of Portugal and of the Most Serene House and Dynasty of Bragança, the Most Serene Dukes of Loulé, Their Sons and Grandsons, who are in the first line of succession to the Crown of Portugal, for holding de jure legitimacy in the Succession of the Royal House after the death of King Manuel II (on 2 July 1932), as Portuguese descendants of King João V, who retained all rights to the succession of the Crown, as prescribed by the Ancient Laws of the Kingdom, the Constitutional Charter of the Portuguese Monarchy, and other legislation in force until 5 October 1910.
The insignia of this Order of Necklace is the one devised by King João V, according to the old project drawn up by the Royal Architect João Frederico Ludovice - a necklace centred on the crowned royal monogram of King João V, from which hangs a crown. João V, from which hangs a "de Molina" Cross in blue enamel, charged with the mystical triangle of the Holy Trinity in white enamel radiating gold, ending its arms in a seraphim's head; and formed by links interspersed with a corner, which is repeated between cartouches of a Castle and another of a Crowned Orb, radiating, surmounted by a book (in allusion to the Portuguese Universal Empire).
The Order's festive and solemn days are the day of the Holy Trinity (a movable feast) and 22 October (the birthday of King João V).
The Military Order of São Sebastião, called "The Arrow"
The Military Order of São Sebastião, called as the Arrow, was founded by King Sebastião (1554-1578) in honour of the patron saint of his name, to whom he was very devoted. According to various historians, the Order was instituted in 1576.
Born on 20 January 1554 (the day of the annual liturgical celebration of Saint Sebastian), which is why he was baptised with this name, King Sebastian was constantly and extraordinarily concerned with representing the arrows that martyred Saint Sebastian in everything that symbolically represented Royal Power and his own person as King.
In the history of the Military Order of St Sebastian, known as the Frecha, there are two distinct periods. The first is the time of its foundation and short-lived existence, between 1574-1576 and 1578. The second is its dynastic restoration, which took place in 1994.
In the first phase, the Order of the Frecha or Military Order of the Setta de S. Sebastião, as mentioned by Dr. Alexendre Ferreira, in his work História das Ordens Militares que houve no Reyno de Portugal, and Manuel de Faria e Sousa, in his Europa Portugueza, was instituted by King Sebastião, because he was so devoted to the patron saint of his name, taking on the character of a Military or Cavalry Order, with the aim of defending the Faith and expanding Christendom.
This is also demonstrated by a magnificent epigraphic specimen located in one of the buildings of Setúbal's old customs house, where, along with the insignia of the three military orders, there is the insignia of the three frechas alluding to this Order.
The second phase began in January 1994, when the Order was restored by the Most Serene Lord Dom Filipe, with the express authorisation and powers granted by his August Father, the Most Serene Lord Dom Alberto, Duke of Loulé, promoting its registration with official bodies and, since then, maintaining the name of Military Order of São Sebastião, known as the Frecha. On the 20th of that same year and month (St Sebastian's Day), a Mass was celebrated in honour of the Order's Patron Saint and Founding King, which was repeated on the same date the following year.
In a letter dated 19 July 1999, the Most Serene Dom Alberto (Duke of Loulé) confirmed the authorisation given years ago to his son, Dom Filipe, to register and ensure the functioning of the "Ancient Order of São Sebastião, said to be from Frecha", expressly stating "that he [Dom Filipe] and his successors will be the perpetual Administrators, as Representatives of a Branch of Our House that is in the first line of the Succession of the Crown of Portugal." This document clarifies any doubts about the legitimacy of the "Fons Honorum" underlying the restoration of the Order (James J. Algrant y Cañete, "El 'Fons Honorum'", in Revista Ibero-Americana de Heráldica, Colegio Heráldico de España y de las Indias, Madrid, no. 3, January 1994, pp. 65-78). Between 1996 and 2003, the Order remained dormant until, by letter of 20 January 2004, the Most Serene King Filipe reactivated the Order to reward merit and distinguish those who most distinguished themselves by Distinguished Services to the Common Good and to his House, giving it new statutory provisions.
The Order is governed by the Most Serene Dom Filipe, Count of Rio Grande, etc., born in Lisbon on 16 April 1967; third son of the Most Serene Dom Alberto (1923-2003), 5th Duke and 6th Marquis of Loulé, 13th Count of Vale de Reis, Count of Rio Grande, etc., Head of the Constitutional Dynastic Line of the Royal House of Portugal, as the representative of the personal and dynastic rights that fell to Her August Mother the Most Serene Lady Dona Constança, Duchess of Loulé and Countess of Vale de Reis (through her great-grandmother - Her Highness the Lady Infanta Dona Ana de Jesus Maria de Bragança e Borbón (1806-1857), daughter of King Dom João VI and Queen Dona Carlota Joaquina de Borbón, Infanta of Spain), after the death of the last King of Portugal H.M.F. the Lord Dom Alberto (1923-2002). Manuel II, on 2 July 1932.
The Order's feast day is celebrated every year on 20 January, the liturgical day of the Patron Saint (Saint Sebastian) and the birthday of the King and Grand Master of the Order (Don Sebastian).
Dynastic Order of São Nuno de Santa Maria
Throughout time, there have been institutions that have fought to preserve and defend the values and ideas that characterise what has come to be called Western Christian Civilisation, and among them the Military Orders stand out in particular.
At a time of great historical acceleration, when the end of ideologies has been proclaimed, when we are faced with the complex relationship between globalisation and national sovereignties, or between the new transnational powers and the cultural and political legacies of the nation state, it seems vital that we take on board the historical and symbolic capital accumulated over the course of almost a millennium by one of Europe's oldest states.
Recovering and enhancing identity values by adapting them to the reality of our times, serving Portugal and fulfilling history, is, after all, the main objective pursued by the Dynastic Order of Saint Nuno of Saint Mary (Ordem Dinástica de São Nuno de Santa Maria - ODSNSM), which was significantly constituted in the year of its patron's canonisation.
Once constituted, this Order was placed under the Perpetual Grand Mastership of Dom Pedro, VI Duke of Loulé, descendant of Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, and legitimate head of the Dynastic Line representing the Royal House of Portugal, originating from his great-great-grandmother, Her Highness the Infanta Dona Ana de Jesus Maria, daughter of King João VI and Queen Carlota Joaquina.
In this way, the ODSNSM became part of the group of institutions that, under the high patronage of HRH the Duke of Loulé, pursues a project of continued intervention in the cultural, civic and humanitarian areas, structurally anchored in the Duke of Loulé Institute.
Order of Cavalry of St Michael of the Wing
Ordo Equitum Sancte Michaelis sive de Ala
According to tradition, the Order of St Michael of the Wing (Ordem de S. Miguel da Ala) was founded by King Afonso Henriques in the second half of the 12th century, after his victory over the Saracens who had come to besiege him in Santarem, as reported in the General Chronicle of Spain, making it the oldest Order of Chivalry in Portugal and one of the oldest in the world!
The names of the knights from the time of King Afonso Henriques who, according to tradition, were the first members of the Order of St Michael of the Wing are: D. Egas Moniz, D. Pedro Afonso, D. Gonçalo Gonçalves, D. Pedro Paes, D. Gonçalo de Sousa, D. Lourenço Viegas, D. Fuas Roupinho, among others.
Having been established in 1171, on the 8th of May, its Knights observed the Rule of St Benedict and were closely linked to the Cistercian Order.
The foundation of this Order stems not only from the Monarch's devotion to the Archangel St Michael, but also from having seen the arm of St Michael fighting for the Christians in the fiercest of battles, when they were allegedly at a disadvantage...
One piece of evidence, often pointed to to justify this story of the Order's origins, is an ancient image carved in stone on the wall of Santarém that depicts the first Portuguese King.
The image, which is today in Lisbon, in the Museum of the Association of Archaeologists located in the ruins of the Carmo Convent, is believed to be the only contemporary of the nation's founder. Its base still reads: "El Rei D. Afonso Henriques, que esta vila (Santarém) tomou aos Mouros em dia de São Miguel, 8 de Maio de 1147".
Several documents throughout history refer to the Order, among which we highlight the Papal Bull of Alexander III, dated 4 January 1177, in which he recognises the "Ordo Equitum S. Michaelis Sive de Ala" - Order of Chivalry of St Michael of the Ala - and the Cistercian Chronicle of Friar Bernardo de Brito, between 1597 and 1602, in which he mentions the establishment of the Order of St Michael of the Ala by King Afonso Henriques in 1171.
The Monastery of Osseira, in Galicia, is of Cistercian origin and also bears the arms of the Order of St Michael of the Wing on its frontispiece.
The Cistercian Chronicle by Friar Bernardo de Britto (1597-1602) mentions as a fact in Chapter XVIII that the "Order of St Michael of the Wing" or "Asa" was instituted in 1171 by King Afonso Henriques and its knights observed the "Rule of St Benedict", being one of the military orders of cavalry suffragan of the Cistercian Order of Santa Maria de Alcobaça designated by the Prelate. As it was the Cistercian Order that published the first known constitution of the Order of St Michael of the Ala in 1630, "Constitutiones Militum S. Michaelis sive de Ala", there are those who argue that, until that date, the knights of the Order were divided into two groups, one of religious and the other of military, one composed of professed members of the Cistercian Order itself, and the other of captains and nobles (Doc. 1).
In Volume II (Pages 418-419) of the work "De Iure Abbatum et Aliorum Praelatorum etc.", (1691), by Abbot Ascanio Tamburinio, there is a transcription of the Breve or Papal Bull of Alexander III dated 4 January 1177 and referring to the recognition of the "Ordo Equitum S. Michaelis sive de Ala", and other Portuguese Orders. The same document refers to the year 1166 as the date of the Order's foundation and gives 1205 as the date of the Miracle or Apparition of the armed and winged arm of St Michael in Santarém. As King Afonso Henriques died in 1185, the date of 1205 certainly refers to the Julian Calendar in use during the reign of King Afonso I and which corresponds to the year 1147 of the Gregorian Calendar "Ano Domini", only adopted in Portugal during the reign of King João I, and which is 38 years different from the "Age of Caesar".
Abbot Bernardo Giustiniani, in Chapter XXVIII of his "Historie Cronologiche dell'origine degl'Ordini Militari e di tutte le Religioni Cavalleresche" entitled: "Cavalieri dei Ala di S. Michiele in Portogallo" Part I, Pages 428-433, (Venice, 1692), presents a list of knights and states that there were twenty-three Grand Masters of the Order (all of them Kings of Portugal) from the foundation of the Order by King Afonso Henriques in 1165 until the regency of King Pedro II (1667).
Elias Ashmole's "The Institution, Laws & Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter" (1672) also refers to the Orden de São Miguel da Ala in Chapter II, Page 70: "it is a Portuguese Religious Order dedicated to defending the Catholic religion, the borders of Portugal from the Moors and bringing comfort to widows and orphans".
Numerous references to the Order of São Miguel da Ala and similar engravings alluding to the Knights' costume also appear in various works on Orders published abroad between the 17th and 18th centuries, thus constituting irrefutable proof of the Order's continuity and activity from its creation to the present day.
D. Miguel on 26 May 1834, after being in exile, banished from Portugal and having all his rights taken away, created a secret order which he called the "Secret Order of São Miguel da Ala". The aim was to "confuse" this secret organisation with the Order of São Miguel da Ala, founded by King Afonso Henriques.
The Grand Master of the Order of St Michael of the Wing is the King of Portugal. Currently, the position of Grand Master falls, by birthright, to the Head of the Royal House of Portugal (House Loulé - legitimist and constitutional branch).
The main objective of the O.S.M.A. is the defence of the Roman Catholic Faith, the defence of the King and of Portuguese Traditional Heritage, in all its aspects, which is to say, Portuguese Culture and Traditional and Christian Values, since this is the basis of our identification as an independent Nation, as well as the propagation of devotion to the Archangel Saint Michael in Portugal, the land that acclaimed him the Angel of Peace, and the Custodian Angel of the nation or Angel of Portugal.
Its work is fundamentally aimed at educating the younger generations, so that they know how to maintain a way of life based on the principles of the Roman Catholic Religion and Christian Morals, Honour, Loyalty and Portuguese Tradition.
On 4 August 1981, the social activity of the Knights of the Order of São Miguel da Ala was restored by public deed.
Sacred and Military Constantinian Order of St George
The Constantinian Order is a religious institution, dedicated to promote assistance, humanitarian, cultural and patrimonial actions in accordance with Christian principles. The Constantinian Order aspires to influence today's world through charity, in areas such as assistance to people threatened by poverty, exclusion, war, or those who are persecuted for their confession, as well as in the promotion of Culture as tangible and intangible heritage.
The Constantinian Order is a religious, neutral and apolitical institution, dedicated to promote assistance, humanitarian, cultural and patrimonial actions in accordance with Christian principles. The Constantinian Order aspires to influence today's world through charity, in areas such as assistance to people threatened by poverty, exclusion, war, or those who are persecuted for their confession, as well as in the promotion of Culture as tangible and intangible heritage.
The Constantinian Order is one of the oldest equestrian-religious orders of international scope of which today they remain active in the world. Established in the XI century in the East Roman Empire and recognized as a religious order by the Catholic Church since the XVI century, the Order established its headquarters in Italy for more than three centuries. Currently with the headquarters of its Great Magisterium in Spain, it has more than 3,000 members (knights, ladies and ecclesiastics) organized in 9 National Commissions in countries of Europe and America. Maintaining relationship with much states of the world in which it is present, particularly The Holy See, the Kingdom of Spain and the Italian Republic.
Knights, Ladies and Ecclesiastics
The Constantinian Order is composed by Knights Ladies and Ecclesiastics. The four classes of the Order are Justice, Jure Sanguinis (formerly Grace), Merit and finally Office. Each class is divided into the grades of Knight or Lady Grand Cross and Knight or Lady. The dignity of Bailiff can be granted to the Knights Great Cross of Justice, but excluding Cardinals and Royal Princes who are always Bailiff Grand Cross, their number is limited to fifty (in memory of the tradition of the fifty guardians of the Labarum of Constantine), while the number of other great crosses in the three classes is limited to one hundred and fifty knights and seventy-five ladies.
Ladies were first admitted to the Order by a statutory reform in 1908 (although a lady had been admitted before). Today each grade and category is open to ladies except for the Bailiff. All members of the Order must profess the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Religion and possess the "qualities and virtues of the perfect Christian knight". By a recent reform, non-Catholics may be distinguished with the Constantinian Cross of Honor, but they do not become knights or ladies of the Order.
The Grand Master also retain the right to confer the Silver Star on knights or ladies of Merit, elevating them to a rank above the other knights of that grade (formerly known as the "Commander"), and the Gold Star to knights or ladies Jure Sanguinis.
According to the 1934 Statutes, amended in 1943 and reinforced in 1968, the aim of the Order is "to glorify the Cross, to spread the Faith and the defense the Holy Roman Church," and it is required that the knights "live as Perfect Christians … participate in every manifestation which contributes to the principles of religion among people and cooperate with all who revive the practice of Christianity … as well as must dedicate themselves to the two greatest and most important social works, such as hospital care and the charity".
Order of Sacer
D. Alonso Rodríguez de Camargo, a priest of the Order of Calatrava and a native of Saceruela, merged the Brotherhood of the Knights of the True Cross, which dated back to 1565, with the more recent Brotherhood of St Anne, from 1570, both based in the Holy Parish Church of Our Lady of the Crosses, although the Knights of the True Cross also had their own Calvary.
So, with this merger, in the lands of the domains of the Military Order of Calatrava, he created an Archconfraternity that he called the Order of the Sacer, which is a Hospitaller Order and not a Military Order that functioned for centuries protecting and welcoming pilgrims going to Guadalupe on the Way to the East from Cartagena de Levante. on its last stretch from the Villa de Saceruela to the Puebla de Guadalupe, residence of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Order of Sacer (Ordem de Sacer), along with other orders, confraternities and archconfraternities, had to cease its activity by order of the government of the Second Republic; but the spirit of co-operation and helping others of some of the descendants of the last Knights of the Archconfraternity brought it back to life in 1989, maintaining its duty to the Virgin of Guadalupe and her pilgrims; as well as applying its Christian involvement to "every good cause that demands it".
Today, and with the legal status of a Non-Profit Association, we maintain the altruistic vocation of serving those in need, attending to the people who make their pilgrimage (like the original Order), but also involving ourselves in all kinds of charitable work, both in our immediate environment and in developing countries.