July 4 is the feast of St Elizabeth of Portugal, the Queen of King Denis and who died in 1336, and about whom there is a biography here under her paternal name of Elizabeth of Aragon. Known as isabel in Iberia she was a Franciscan tertiary who was famed as a peacemaker and canonised in the seventeenth century, She has been seen as an exemplar of Queenly and maternal virtues.
The Order of St Isabel (or Elizabeth) was founded by King John VI in 1801 as an award for Ladies and there is an article about it at Order of Saint Isabel.
This was re-established in 1986 by Dom Duarte III with his consort as Grand Mistress of the Order.
The Sash and Badge of the Order of St Isabel
Image:Wikipedia
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