Military Order of Christ facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Military Order of Christ Ordem Militar de Cristo
Order of Christ Cross, also known as the Portuguese Cross
Type	Honorific Order
Established	1319 (founded) 1789 (secularized)
Country	Portugal
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholicism
Ribbon	Red
Eligibility	Portuguese and foreigners; military and civilian
Awarded for	Relevant services to the country in the exercise of functions related to the government or public administration
Status	Currently awarded
Grand Master	President of the Portuguese Republic
Chancellor	Jaime Gama
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of the Tower and Sword
Next (lower)	Order of Aviz
Decorations of the Order

The Military Order of Christ is a special group of knights and people who have done important things for Portugal. It was once known by longer names like the Royal Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This order was started in 1319. It was created after another famous group, the Knights Templar, was officially ended by the Pope.

King Denis of Portugal did not want to punish the former Templar knights. Instead, he helped them form this new order. This happened even though Pope Clement V had issued a special order called a papal bull to end the Templars everywhere. King Denis wanted to keep the Templars' help, especially after their support during the Reconquista (a long period of wars to take back land in the Iberian Peninsula). He also wanted their help to rebuild Portugal.

King Denis talked with the next Pope, John XXII. He asked the Pope to recognize the new Order of Christ. He also wanted the order to receive all the lands and wealth that the Templars used to own. The Pope agreed to this in 1319.

There are also other groups with similar names. These include the Supreme Order of Christ from the Holy See (the Pope's government), the Order of Christ in Brazil, and the Order of Christ in Kongo.

History of the Order

The story of the Order of Christ begins with the Knights Templar. This group of knights was formed around 1118. The Templars faced many problems and were eventually ended by the Pope in 1312.

However, in Portugal, King Dinis I of Portugal created the Order of Christ in 1319. This was a way for the Templar knights who survived to continue their work. In Portugal, the Order of Christ became very rich and powerful. This happened especially during the Age of Discoveries, when Portuguese explorers sailed around the world.

In 1789, Queen Maria I of Portugal changed the order. She made it a "secular" order. This meant it was no longer controlled by the Church. In 1910, Portugal became a republic and no longer had a king or queen. The order was then stopped.

But in 1917, the order was brought back. Now, the President of Portugal became its Grand Master. This means the President is the main leader of the order. The Military Order of Christ is now part of a group called the "Ancient Military Orders." This group also includes the Military Orders of Aviz and St. James of the Sword.

The President of Portugal appoints a special council to help manage the order. People can receive this award for great service to Portugal. This includes military officers and even regular citizens, including people from other countries. It can also be given to members of government, diplomats, judges, and other public workers.

Ranks and Badges

Today, the Order of Christ given by the Portuguese government has six different levels or "classes." Each level has its own special badge and way of being worn:

• Grand Collar (GCol): This is the highest rank. People wear a large collar, a special badge on a sash over their right shoulder, and a gold star on their left chest. This rank was added in 2021.
• Grand Cross (GCC): People wear the badge on a sash over their right shoulder and a gold star on their left chest.
• Grand Officer (GOC): People wear the badge around their neck and a gold star on their left chest.
• Commander (ComC): People wear the badge around their neck and a silver star on their left chest.
• Officer (OC): People wear the badge on a ribbon with a small flower-like decoration (called a rosette) on their left chest.
• Knight (CvC) or Dame (DmC): People wear the badge on a simple ribbon on their left chest.

Insignia

The insignia are the special symbols and decorations of the order.

• The grand collar is made of many small crosses of the Order. These are linked together with golden spheres. A large, golden cross hangs from the center.
• The badge of the Order is a golden cross with colorful enamel. It looks like the symbol of the Order. In the past, there were different badges for civil and military knights.
• The star of the Order has 22 golden rays for the Grand Cross and Grand Officer ranks. It has silver rays for the Commander rank. The center of the star has a small version of the Order's badge.
• The ribbon of the Order is a plain red color.

Bars of the Military Order of Christ
Grand Collar	Grand Cross	Grand Officer	Commander	Officer	Knight

Famous People in the Order of Christ

Star and riband of a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Christ

Many important people throughout history have been part of the Order of Christ.

Grand Masters

• Henry the Navigator
• Manuel I
• Infante Ferdinand
• Sebastian of Portugal

Other Members

• John Alexander Fladgate (Commander)
• Vasco da Gama
• Pedro Álvares Cabral
• João Gonçalves Zarco
• Gonçalo Velho Cabral
• Bartolomeu Dias
• D. Beatrice
• Francisco de Almeida
• Miguel Corte-Real
• Gaspar Corte-Real
• Tristão da Cunha
• Martim Afonso de Sousa
• João de Castro
• Cristóvão da Gama
• Tomé de Sousa
• Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan)
• Vicente Sodré
• Damião de Góis
• Pedro Teixeira
• Alexandre de Gusmão
• Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira
• Henrique Dias
• António Filipe Camarão
• Jácome Ratton
• Albert Coyette
• Louis-Nicolas Davout
• Jean-Baptiste Bessières
• Albert Guille
• Guillaume Delcourt
• Ângelo Moniz da Silva Ferraz, Baron of Uruguaiana
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Grand Cross)

Places Connected to the Order of Christ

Many historical places in Portugal are linked to the Order of Christ:

• Castro Marim (This was where the order was based before 1357)
• Convento de Cristo (A famous convent and castle)
• Belém Tower
• Castle of Almourol
• Castle of Monsanto
• Castle of Castelo Branco
• Sagres (Where Prince Henry the Navigator died)

Symbols Using the Cross of the Order

The cross of the Order of Christ is a very famous symbol. You can see it in the logos and flags of many different groups and places, especially in Portugal and Brazil.

• Brazilian Football Confederation
• Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses (A football club in Portugal)
• Futebol Clube Cesarense
• Madeira (An island of Portugal)
• National Corps of Scouts - Portuguese Catholic Scouting
• Olympic Committee of Portugal
• Portuguese Air Force
• Portuguese Athletic Federation
• Portuguese Football Federation
• Portuguese Navy
• Portuguese Roller Sports Federation
• Flag of the city of São Paulo (Brazil)
• Clube de Desportos de Vasco da Gama (Goa, India)
• CR Vasco da Gama (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

See also

In Spanish: Orden de Cristo para niños

• Honorific orders of Portugal
• Order of Christ (Holy See)
• History of the Order of Christ