The Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz, established in 1146, is a Portuguese order of chivalry. Initially known as the Knights of Saint Benedict of Aviz, it gained prominence for its military role during the Reconquista and later became tied to the Aviz Dynasty (1385-1580). The order was originally a monastic military group inspired by the Knights Templar.
King Afonso I granted the knights the town of Évora in 1166, and they were first known as the Friars of Santa Maria of Évora. After capturing Aviz, the order adopted the Benedictine rule and became the Knights of Saint Benedict of Aviz. They gained wealth and influence, especially during the Age of Discoveries, and their mission evolved from military conquest to aiding Portuguese expeditions.
In 1789, Pope Pius VI and Queen Maria I secularized the order. It was briefly abolished in 1910 with the end of the monarchy but was revived in 1917 as an order of merit. Today, the Military Order of Aviz is one of the “Ancient Military Orders” and is awarded for outstanding military service. It is administered by a chancellor and a council of eight members, appointed by the President of the Republic, who serves as grand master.
The Military Order of Aviz Grades
The Order of Aviz, as currently awarded by the Portuguese government, is divided into six classes:
Grand Collar (GColA): Introduced in 2021, it outranks all other classes.
Grand Cross (GCA): Wears the badge of the Order on a sash over the right shoulder, and the gold star of the Order on the left chest.
Grand Officer (GOA): Wears the badge of the Order on a necklet, and the gold star of the Order on the left chest.
Commander (ComA): Wears the badge of the Order on a necklet, and the silver star of the Order on the left chest.
Officer (OA): Wears the badge of the Order on a ribbon with a rosette on the left chest.
Knight (CvA) or Dame (DmA): Wears the badge of the Order on a plain ribbon on the left chest.
The Military Order of Aviz Design
The badge of the Order features a gilt cross with green enamel, similar to the Order’s emblem but with an elongated lower arm. Under the monarchy, this badge was topped with the Sacred Heart of Christ.
The star of the Order is an eight-pointed, faceted star, gilt for the Grand Cross and Grand Officer, and silver for the Commander. The central disc is white enamel, displaying a miniature of the modern badge. During the monarchy, the star also included the Sacred Heart of Christ at the top.
The ribbon of the Order is plain green.
