Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa

The Order of Our Lady, and the Order of Our Lady of the Conception of Villa Visiosa or Portuguese Ordem de Nossa Senhora da Conceição de Vila Viçosa, is a Portuguese Order, which on February 6, 1818 by King John VI. was donated.

History

The foundation date coincided with the coronation of John VI. together. The Order is after Stiftungsort, the ancestral home of the royal house of Braganza, named. The Order was intended as a tribute to those earned in the fight against the Napoleonic occupation, due to their special loyalty to the royal house, had made. Compared to all military orders in Portugal this " Order of Vila Visiosa " should also be awarded to individuals who were not members of the armed forces. Following the tradition intended John VI. the " chivalry " highlight. The statutes were submitted on 10 September 1819. With the founding of the Republic of Portugal in 1910, initially all military orders were dissolved, with the exception was the "Order of Vila Visiosa ". On 8 December 1983, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, this order was used by the chief of the house of Braganza Dom Duarte Pio again.

Order of classes

The Order consists of the following classes

• Grand Cross ( GCNSC )
• Commander ( ComNSC )
• Ritter ( CvNSC / DmNSC )
• Servant ( SNSC )

Grand Master of the Order is the Portuguese king or the head of the House of Braganza.

Order decoration

A white enamelled achtspitziger star rests on a golden achtflammigen golden sun. Between the star points are eight small fünfspitzige white stars. On golden middle plate represent the intertwined letters AM and be surrounded by a blue enamel ring with gold edging. Then is the religious motto as transcription PADROCIO DO REINO. Is the royal crown of the support ring over the order decoration.

Ribbon and carrying method

The ribbon is light blue and has on either side a white edging. Great cruiser carried the award as a sash over the right shoulder to the left hip. Commanders wore the Order as neck Order and the Knights decorated in his buttonhole. Great cruiser contributed an additional breast star same appearance without crown.

Order regulating element

The Order is limited to 12 was awarded the Grand Cross, 40 commanders, 100 Knights and 60 servants. Since 2005, he is only awarded to Portuguese citizens. The prerequisite for this is that the religious candidates support the royalist cause beyond ten years and already knights are in another Royal Portuguese Order. Promotions are also made only after ten years. The Order is classified as a recognized religious by the Government of Portugal and may be worn in public without restrictions.