Military Order of the Tower and Sword

This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. Please help improve it to make it understandable to non-experts, without removing the technical details. (April 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of Valour, Loyalty and Merit Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada, do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito
Badge, collar and star of the order
Awarded by Portuguese Republic
Type	Order
Established	1459; 565 years ago (1459)
Motto	VALOR, LEALDADE E MÉRITO
Eligibility	Portuguese and foreigners; military and civilian
Awarded for	Awarded for exceptional and outstanding merits in the highest offices in Parliament, Government, courts of justice or in the presidency of the Republic or in the command of troops in campaign; for military or civic deeds of heroism and to reward outstanding acts of abnegation and sacrifice for Portugal or mankind
Status	Currently constituted
Grand Master	President of the Portuguese Republic
Chancellor	Jaime Gama
Grades	Grand Collar Grand Cross Grand Officer Commander Officer Knight
Precedence
Next (higher)	Sash of the Two Orders
Next (lower)	Order of Christ
Ribbon bar of the Order of the Tower and Sword

The Ancient and Most Noble Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of the Valour, Loyalty and Merit (Portuguese: Antiga e Muito Nobre Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada, do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito), before 1910 Royal Military Order of the Tower and Sword (Real Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada), is a Portuguese order of knighthood and the pinnacle of the Portuguese honours system. It was created by King Afonso V in 1459. The order may be bestowed on people or on Portuguese municipalities.