Order of Merit (Portugal)
{{Short description|Civil merit order of Portugal}}
{{Infobox order
|title = Order of Merit
Ordem de Mérito
|image = 200px
|caption = Plaque and badge of the Commander
|awarded_by = 18px Portuguese Republic
|type = Order
|motto =
|day =
|eligibility = Portuguese and foreign citizens; military or civilian
|for = Meritorious acts or services in the exercise of any functions, public or private, revealing self-sacrifice in favor of the community.{{cite web|url=https://dre.pt/pdf1sdip/2011/03/04300/0124901267.pdf |title=Lei n.º 5/2011 : Lei das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas. |trans-title=Law of the Portuguese Honorific Orders|publisher=Diário da República Electrónico, 1.ª série — N.º 43. |page=1255 |language=pt|date=2 March 2011|access-date=11 August 2017}}
|status = Currently constituted
|head_title=Grand Master
|head = President of the Portuguese Republic
|head2_title = Chancellor
|head2 = Maria Helena Nazaré{{cite web|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=112 |title=Ordens de Mérito Civil |trans-title=Orders of Civil Merit|publisher=Presidência da República Portuguesa |language=pt|access-date=11 August 2017}}
|commander =
|grades = Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Medal
|former_grades =
|established = 1927 as the Order of Instruction and of Benefaction
1929 as the Order of Benefaction
1976 Current form
|first_induction =
|last_induction =
|total =
|recipients =
|individual =
|higher = Order of Camões
|lower = Order of Public Instruction
|image2 = 90px
|caption2 = Ribbon bar of the Order of Merit
}}
The Order of Merit ({{langx|pt|Ordem do Mérito}}) is a Portuguese Honorific Order of civil merit intended to award those responsible for meritorious acts or services performed in the exercise of any functions, both in the public and the private sphere, which reveal self-sacrifice in favor of the community. The decorations are given by the President of the Portuguese Republic, in his role as the Grand-Master of the Portuguese Honorific Orders. The Order of Merit can be awarded, during life or posthumously, to both Portuguese and foreign citizens; it can also be awarded to localities or institutions that are legal persons governed by public law or of public utility. This order has been awarded to a number of people performing the most diverse functions such as ambassadors, businesspeople, military personnel, athletes and musicians.
History
The Order of Merit has its origin in April 1927, when the Order of Instruction and Benefaction (Original Portuguese: Ordem da Instrução e da Benemerência) was created. The goal of this now extinct order was to distinguish the services performed by people or corporations in order to further the instruction in the country. In 1929, the Order of Instruction and Benefaction was split in two different orders, the Order of Benefaction and the Order of Public Instruction, with the former now solely awarding acts related to social causes, public assistance and goodwill. In 1976, the order was renamed to its current title.{{cite web |url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=136 |title=História da Ordem do Mérito |trans-title=History of the Order of Merit |publisher=Presidência da República Portuguesa |language=pt|access-date=11 August 2017}}
Grades
- 80px Grand Cross (GCM) (Grã-Cruz)
- 80px Grand Officer (GOM) (Grande-Oficial)
- 80px Commander (ComM) (Comendador or Comendadeira)
- 80px Officer (OM) (Oficial)
- 80px Medal (MedM) (Medalha)
- Honorary Member (MHM) (Membro Honorário){{cite book|title=Anuário Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas 1975-2007|date=June 2008|publisher=Chancelaria das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas|isbn=978-972-8971-40-3|pages=5–63|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/pdf/anuario1975_2007_3.pdf|access-date=2010-09-12|language=pt|format=Adobe Acrobat|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217211814/http://ordens.presidencia.pt/pdf/anuario1975_2007_3.pdf|archive-date=2009-12-17}} List of all appointments to the Order of Merit correct as at December 2007
Notable recipients of the Order of Merit
{{expand list|date=August 2017}}