CAVALEIROS DA CASA REAL PORTUGUESA
Knights of the Portuguese Royal House
Hereditary and Non Hereditary Knights and Dames of the Portuguese Royal House come under the jurisdiction of the Royal Honor Guard and are the only ranks of chivalry allowed in the Organization. Mostly are Non hereditary Knights and Dames but there are also hereditary ones. With non hereditary Knighthoods this is now granted by HRH to people who cannot join the other Orders because they are either non Christian or have some form of Canonical impediment so as not to be able to join the Portuguese Orders that are today Canonically Erected as Catholic Associations of the Faithful. The Portuguese Dynastic Orders should no longer be attributed on an Honorary basis to non-Christians or Christians who are not in communion with the Catholic Church. The creation of Hereditary Knights were always the prerogatives of the Kings of Iberia and also the Dukes of Bragança since before they became Kings of Portugal in 1640. In the past, according to Dr. Peter Bander Van Duren’s assessment, these hereditary Knighthoods were automatically bestowed on all those who received Knight Commander and higher ranks in the Order of Our Lady of Conception of Vila Viçosa even if they were “honorary” but, as of the recent restructuring and most recent Canonical Erection of the Order of N.S.C. V.V. in May of 2013 as a Diocesan Association of the Faithful in the Archdiocese of Lisbon, it is now an honor strictly reserved for HRH to bestow upon those in proven, continued, dedicated service who have already been awarded the highest ranks in the Order of SMA and cannot become members of the other Orders because they are not Portuguese and Roman Catholic. No one can solicit membership or apply. Honorary Knights can be proposed by the local Ordinaries (Bishops) or Judges of the RISMA Federation. Catholics who are already Knights or Dames in one of the three Dynastic Orders cannot be made “Honorary” Knights and Dames of the Portuguese Royal House since in truth they are already Knights or Dames of the Portuguese Royal House. Even so, Knights or Dames of the Dynastic Orders cannot wear this insignia.
APAM 