«D. João VI e a Ordem da Torre e Espada (1808-1826)», Lisboa, Edição do Autor, 2011
«King John VI and the Order of the Tower and Sword (1808-1826), Lisbon, Author’s edition, 2011»
By José Vicente Pinheiro de Melo de Bragança
With the support of the Portuguese Phaleristics Academy
Soft cover, illustrated in colour, with 141 pages and a 25 page summary in English
The Order of the Tower and Sword founded, at Rio de Janeiro, on May 1808, by John the Prince Regent, was to become the first of the “new type” orders created at the end of the ancien regime to reward services to the Crown, in an honours system till then dominated by the medieval military orders of Christ, Avis and St. James of the Sword.
The book analyses the political purposes surrounding the creation of the new Order, its proclaimed origin in the legendary Order of the Sword created in the XVth c. by King Alphonse V, its purpose and structure, based in the legal diplomas and the changes it suffered.
Special attention is paid to the study of the order’s insignia, its typology, sanctions for its irregular usage and the policy adopted for its deliverance to those awarded with the order.
As the manufacturers of insignia are still lacking study and research, the role of the Royal Mint of Rio de Janeiro in the manufacture of the first sets of insignia is widely discussed based on a critical analysis of published sources and also mention of the jewel insignia ordered by the Prince Regent to the Royal Jeweller Antonio Gomes da Silva is made since they are preserved at the national collections.
Based on sources already published the book makes an analytical balance of the Order’s awards from 1808-1826, by classes and categories, both of national and foreigner recipients, and considering the type of services for which the order was awarded; and finally, attempting a comparison with the awards of the Military Orders during the time the Court lived in Brazil (1808-1821).
The importance of the Order of the Tower and Sword to the British Officers who received it for services during the Peninsular War, namely for the liberation of Portugal from the Napoleonic armies, is discussed and demonstrated with the publication of a series of portraits, some not well known in Portugal, of British Officers proudly wearing the insignia of the Order.
The Role played by the Mesa da Consciência e Ordens (Royal Court for the Military Orders) after 1821, is also discussed within the framework of introducing a minimum of discipline to the members of the Order, namely, determining their presence at the Court for the investiture ceremonies, registering of the concessions and due payment of proper fees.
Finally, the book discusses the Order after the death of King John Vi, on March 1826, during the Regency and the reign of king Michael I (1828-1834) and its «reform», in 1832, by D. Pedro, duke of Braganza, former Emperor of Brazil (Peter I and former King of Portugal (Peter IV), during the Civil War that devastated Portugal from 1828-1834.
The book has a summary of 25 pages in English, sources and bibliography.
Price € 25.00 + shipment costs by mail.
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