History

The Imperial Order of Pedro I (Imperial Ordem de Pedro Primeiro) was established by Emperor Pedro I of Brazil on April 16, 1826. It was founded in commemoration of Brazil’s recent independence from Portugal, and the creation of the new Brazilian empire.

It was awarded to Brazilian and foreign citizens for exceptional civil or military merit. It was mainly awarded to foreigners, with only one decorated Brazilian, Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias.

The Order was regulated by decree on October 19, 1842, where the design of the insignia was established and the grades were approved.

The grades of the Order were Grand Cross, Commander, and Knight. The Grand Cross was limited to twelve bestoments, the Commander was limited to fifty, the Knight to one hundred.

Finally, the Order was abolished on June 6, 1890, by the provisional government of Manoel Deodoro da Fonseca.

It is considered by many numismatists as the rarest award of the Brazilian imperial orders.