Item number: M365

Year: AD 1808-1832

Material: Gold and Enamel

Size: 97.4 x 41.2 x 6.5 mm

Weight: 18.6 g

Provenance: Noonans 2024

This is an order from the period between AD 1808 and AD 1832, established by Prince Regent João of Portugal (later King John VI) while in exile in colonial Brazil with British assistance, fleeing Napoleon’s invasion. On May 13, AD 1808, in Rio de Janeiro, he signed the decree creating the “Order of the Tower and Sword.” This decoration was awarded not only to Portuguese individuals or cities but also to numerous British officers who played a pivotal role in assisting Portugal in reclaiming its territories during the Napoleonic Wars.

According to legend, the history of the Order of the Tower and Sword can be traced back to AD 1459, during the reign of Afonso V, a pioneering figure in Portugal’s Age of Discovery, who led explorations of Africa and the Atlantic. Afonso V firmly believed that the day a Christian prince would draw a sword from the tower of Fez would signify the end of Islamic rule in Africa. To commemorate this vision, he is said to have created this order to honour knights who participated in the conquest of Africa. However, the actual existence of this order remains a subject of debate and scepticism among historians.

The order can be categorised into three distinct types based on different periods, with this order belonging to the earliest type, issued between AD 1808 and AD 1832:

The order features an eight-pointed star with white enamel, though its upper ray is replaced by a golden tower. Surrounding the star is a circular border adorned with green enamel. At the centre of the obverse side is a right-facing portrait of Prince Regent João, crowned with a laurel wreath. Encircling the portrait is a blue enamel legend: “JOAO D.G.REG.DEPORT. PRINCIPE DO BRASIL”, denoting João’s title during his exile in Brazil. The reverse side displays a military sabre surrounded by a laurel wreath at its centre, accompanied by the circular legend “VALOR E LEALDADE,” meaning “Courage and Loyalty.”

This order is attached to a deep blue ribbon via a circular link. Based on its size and design, it can be identified as the lowest rank, the Knight class. The Order of the Tower and Sword consists of six hierarchical ranks in total:

In AD 1807, as Napoleon occupied Portugal, Prince Regent João, along with other members of the Braganza royal family, fled to the South American colony of Brazil. By AD 1816, João had ascended to the throne as King John VI, ruling over the Kingdom of Brazil, which had been elevated from its colonial status. Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars in AD 1821, John VI returned to Portugal at the urging of the Portuguese Parliament, leaving his son, Prince Pedro, to govern Brazil. In AD 1822, amid escalating tensions between the Portuguese and Brazilian parliaments, Pedro declared Brazil’s independence and became Emperor of Brazil. This independence was formally recognised by Portugal in AD 1825.

物件編號: M365

年代: 公元 1808-1832 年

材質: 黃金, 琺瑯

尺寸: 97.4 x 41.2 x 6.5 mm

重量: 18.6 g

來源: 諾南斯 2024

這是一枚公元1808至1832年間，彼時為躲避拿破崙的侵略在英國幫助下前往殖民地巴西避難的葡萄牙若昂王儲 (日後的約翰六世)，於公元1808年5月13日，在巴西里約熱內盧簽署法令制定的「劍與塔勳章」。這枚勳章不僅頒發給葡萄牙籍的個人或城市，亦有許多在拿破崙戰爭期間協助葡萄牙收復領土的英國軍官獲贈殊榮。

根據傳說，劍與塔勳章的歷史能上溯到公元1459年，帶領葡萄牙人探索非洲和大西洋的地理大發現先驅阿方索五世。阿方索五世畢生相信基督教王子從費斯的塔中拔出寶劍之日，就預示著伊斯蘭教對於非洲的統治終結，為此他制定這枚勳章以表彰參與非洲征服的騎士。然而這枚勳章究竟是否真的存在，世人對此一直保有存疑。

勳章依照年代的不同有三種類型，這枚勳章屬於公元1808至1832年間，最早發放的第一類型：

勳章外觀為白色琺瑯彩繪的八芒星，只是頂部的光芒被一座黃金塔取代，並且在周圍以一道綴有綠色琺瑯的圓環裝飾。勳章正面的正中央，有著若昂王儲頭戴桂冠花環的右側肖像，周圍的藍色琺瑯有著環形銘文「JOAO D.G.REG.DEPORT.PRINCIPE DO BRASIL」，即若昂王儲在巴西流亡期間的頭銜。背面的中央有著一把被花環環繞的軍刀，周圍的環形銘文「VALOR E LEALDADE」意思是「勇氣與忠誠」。

這一枚勳章以圓環銜接頂端的深藍色綬帶，從物件的大小和形制來判斷，這枚勳章屬於最初階的騎士級。劍與塔勳章總共有六種等級：

公元1807年，隨著拿破崙占領葡萄牙，若昂王儲連同其他的布拉干薩王室成員共同出逃南美洲殖民地巴西。公元1816年，若昂王儲成為約翰六世統治從殖民地升格的巴西王國。公元1821年，拿破崙戰爭結束之後，約翰六世在葡萄牙議會的敦促下返回葡萄牙，留下王儲佩德羅治理巴西。公元1822年，隨著葡萄牙和巴西兩地的議會衝突加劇，佩德羅宣告巴西獨立成為巴西皇帝，並且在公元1825年得到葡萄牙的承認。