Order of Avis

The Order of Avis was a medieval military order in the Kingdom of Portugal. Founded in 1166 as Order of Saint Benedict of Évora, after the conquest of the city of Avis in 1211, the order was renamed Order of Saint Benedict of Avis.

History

In 1147, after the capture of Lisbon by the Norman and English crusaders and the troops of the King of Portugal, a group of noble knights decided to join forces and commit to continuing the fight against the Muslims at all times. In 1166, King Alfonso I, who wanted to protect the city of Évora from Saracen raids, established with these knights the embryo of a new military order in the city, which is why ten years later it was known as the Order of Évora. and was regulated according to the Cistercian rule.

The Order of Calatrava supported it from the beginning and in gratitude, in 1187, the knights of Évora adopted its constitution and its emblem, of which they only changed the color, this being a flordelised cross of sinople (green) on a field of argent (white). In the first designs it sometimes featured two eagle chicks on its sides, as a symbol of the speed of its knights when undertaking their undertakings. At first his veste was made up of a long scapular with a hood, but as the length of the cloak hindered his movements in battle, Pope Boniface IX authorized it to be short, with a cross bordered in gold on the left shoulder, leaving the use of the long or capitular mantle for solemn occasions, such as wedding parties, fifteenth birthdays or simply to impress a beautiful lady.

Years later, when in 1211 his knights conquered Avis, they moved their residence to this city and changed the name of the order, which was confirmed by Pope Innocent III in 1214. In 1385, one of its Grand Masters, Juan, bastard son of Pedro I, became king of Portugal with the name of Juan I, and the dynasty was renamed Avis. Avis depended in practice on the Order of Calatrava, until in the reign of Pedro II it received such perks, through special laws and donations, that it was able to break away and become the most powerful order in Portugal, rivaling with Santiago and gaining great fame when At the end of the 14th century, its master became king of Portugal, although it was not integrated into the Portuguese crown until 1550. at the same time as the Order of Christ, successor to the Temple.

Regarding its rules, they also varied over time and thus, the original vow of chastity of its knights became, in the times of Pope Paul III, a mere duty of marital fidelity.

Since then, the order became an order of chivalry reserved for nobles and members of the royal family, a status confirmed in a decree of 1604. On August 1, 1789, Mary I of Portugal and Pope Pius VI attempted reform the order by secularizing it, along with the Order of Santiago and the Order of Christ, maintaining the great mastership linked to the crown.

Prince Regent John led the order in Brazil, and in 1834 the Regent Pedro Duke of Braganza, on behalf of Mary II of Portugal, abolished it in the context of the suppression of the orders. It was restored in 1894 by the head of government Hintze Ribeiro, but only as an honorary order with the name of the Military Order of Avis, to decorate military personalities for having had a relevant performance. Once again suppressed in 1910, it was restored in 1918 as an honorary order.

The order today

The Order is part of those known as "Ancient Military Orders." It is governed by a chancellor and a council of eight members, appointed by the President of the Republic, to assist him as Grand Master in all matters concerning the administration of the order.

The order can only be conferred on military personnel, both Portuguese and foreign, for exceptional services. For Portuguese, a minimum of seven years of service in the armed forces is required as well as an impeccable and exemplary service record.