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The Prester John Institute – Royal and Imperial Council of Foreign Nobility was originally established in 2003, on the occasion of the visit to Portugal of H.I.H. Prince Ermias Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia.

The Association of Nobility was formally registered and recognized by the Portuguese Government (EU) as a Cultural and Charitable Organization in 2006, with H.M. The King of Rwanda, Kigeli V, having been elected the Regent (President) of the Board of both bodies.

The Institute is a self-regulating body, organized and derived from the founding Imperial and Royal Houses and their respective Honour Systems, ancestral rules and regulations.

Since the Institute also serves as a fundraising body, it has an EU approved tax-deductible nature, for the collect of tri-annual Registration Fees, Chivalric Passage Fees and dues paid by members of Royal Orders to the respective Dynastic Houses.

The Prester John Institute thus seeks to enjoy the honour and privilege of having additional Royal families list their Honours and extend their Patronage to the Prester John Institute Charity Fund.

Other objectives of the Prester John Institute are non-political and focus on historical, social and cultural aspects of the various member Families and to be the lead joint Forum, to support not only their humanitarian and cultural initiatives with fundraisers, but also provide a mechanism for the regulation, registration, recognition, confirmation and a permanent archival register of the various Dynastic Histories, Rights, Fons Honorum, Honor Systems, Titles, Orders, Grants and Arms, as derived from their Royal Privileges and Prerogatives.

To further ensure the authenticity of membership, Nobility or inclusion in Royal Orders, the Prester John Institute will issue, corresponding certificates on behalf of the affiliated Dynastic Houses.

In the past, because of the lack of such a legal Forum as the Prester John Institute, it was common for persons in the Chivalric and Heraldic World, to deceive many Heads of Dynastic Houses, by using foreign Titles of Nobility in connection with the names of lands of a Country of a different System than that of the Grantor.

This was done with the apparent sole purpose of later using Grants of Recognition of Arms as alleged proof of “Recognition of Nobility, Titles and Arms” by the Heads of the Dynastic Royal Houses or Heads of State of another Royal Forum and with this, fraudulently gain admission, membership and registration in the national associations of Nobility of a different House.

Charity Fund

The Institute’s Charity Fund has the High Patronage of the Royal House of Portugal since 2003, in memory of the ancient relations that still exist between the Portuguese Crown and the Royal Houses of the Countries of Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Pacific and the Far East.

Council of Foreign Nobility

The Council of Foreign Nobility is part of the Prester John Institute, with its prime objective being the union of the former uncharted world of medieval times (Africa, Asia, North America, South America, the Balkans, the Pacific, Polynesia, etc.) in what was believed to comprise the mythical Kingdom of Prester John and also other Royal and Noble Families of these lands or of Europe, who maintained relations, Protectorates and interests in those parts of the World and that still believe in and support humanitarian objectives, seeking to forge unity, especially between regnant and non-regnant Imperial and Royal families having friendly relations with the Kingdom of Portugal.

Patrons

From its very establishment, the Institute and its Charity Fund has also enjoyed the High Patronage of various Prelates and Heads of Royal Families, including the Imperial House of Ethiopia, the Royal House of Rwanda, the Royal House of Georgia, the Imperial House of Vietnam, the Royal House of Egypt, the Royal House of Montenegro, the Royal House of Tibet and the Imperial House of Russia, amongst others.

Member Houses

Members are admitted as effective or honorary, although only effective members may vote at the Institute’s General Assembly.

Another praiseworthy contribution of the Institute’s Royal and Imperial Council of Foreign Nobility, is its publication of the 2006 – 2009 Anuarium of Nobility and Roster of Members of the Orders of the Imperial and Royal Houses represented.

This, at long last, constitutes the proper Forum for the registration, recognition, regulation and use of Grants bestowed by those foreign Dynastic Heads, (reigning or non-reigning), with legitimate Fons Honorum from the traditional lands of Prester John.

Documents

The Institute publishes, every three years, an official Anuarium of Nobility and Roster of Members of the Orders of the Imperial and Royal Houses affiliated.

It is therefore pleasing to know that the confusion that existed in the past and that stemmed from a lack of a proper Forum to regulate the use of foreign Titles and Honours, will now hopefully come to an end, with the Registration and Publication of the Anuarium an Anuario of the Prester John Institute.

Said publication will also, undoubtedly be, a precious reference for consultation by other Royal Chancelleries and Associations of Nobility and Chivalry in the international combat against fraud.

The Institute’s Council is proud to say that as an organ of consultation, it is currently collaborating with various Royal Houses in the Pacific, North and South America and the Balkans, to better organize and lit their respective Honour Systems and Chivalric Order Rosters in anticipation of the publication of Volume III.

Given the overwhelming demand for the first edition of the Anuarium Volume I (2003 – 2006), dedicated to the Imperial House of Ethiopia and the visit to Portugal of H.I.H. Prince Ermias Selassie, in 2003, the said edition is currently out of print, but will be reedited before Christmas of 2009.

The current issue dedicated to the Royal House of Rwanda and has an in-depth study that will provide new and revealing references and facts on the history of this ancient monarchy, its traditions and Honours System. Much of this new information was provided by the very Head of the Dynasty, King Kigeli V, who for the first time was willing to share such precious information in this the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Coronation.

God Willing, the forthcoming Anuarium Volume III (2009 – 2012) will be dedicated to the Imperial Houses of Vietname and of Georgia, whose Dynastic Royal Heads and Prester John Institute Charity Fund Patrons, H.I.H. Crown Prince Bao Long and H.R.H. Prince George Bagration, recently passed away.

C.I.A.N.

On March 28th, 2009, the Prester John Institute was formally recognized and admitted as a Member of CIAN—International Confederation of Nobility Associations.

The Portuguese Royal Association of Honour Guard of the Castles, Pantheons and National Monuments (under the patronage of the Royal House of Portugal), did celebrate, last January 20th, in Rome, a basic Collaboration Protocol with the similar Italian Institute for the Honour Guard of the Royal Tombs of the Pantheon (under the Patronage of the Royal House of Savoy), for the sole purpose of establishing cooperation initiatives and legal reciprocal representation in each corresponding country in order to assist one another in the event of the translation of a long deceased Royal person from one of the countries to the other and also, to perpetually honour the memory of the deceased Royals of the various dynasties, providing a ceremonial Honour Guard of volunteers at their tombs. With this end goal said Protocol was signed by Rev. J. Guilbert Mariani, Antonio Agostinho, and Carlos Evaristo, in representation of the Portuguese Association, and by Ugo Maria d’Atri, Rev. Luigi Abid Sid, and Roberto Favero, in representation of the Italian Institute which falls under the Ministry of Defence by Presidential Decree.

]]> http://regina-mundi.com/?feed=rss2&p=126 0 http://regina-mundi.com/?p=121 http://regina-mundi.com/?p=121#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:29:01 +0000 RMundi http://regina-mundi.com/?p=121 The Royal Confraternity of the Holy Constable traces its origins to a charitable organization founded by  São Frei Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira himself, in the year 1422, shortly after having Professed in Carmel as a Lay Carmelite “Donatus” Brother and having dedicated himself almost exclusively to the poor and homeless of the City of Lisbon. This Confraternity, originally known as “Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel”, but popularly known as the “Confraternity of the Holy Constable”, “Confraternity of the Poor” or “Confraternity of the Cauldron” (in  remembrance of the iron cauldron used by the Saint to prepare food for his military troops and later for the poor) , sought to alleviate the hunger and suffering of the poor through the collection of funds from the founding Confreres (members)including King John I and part of the Nobility of the Court. The Carmelite work of the Confraternity of Friar Nuno that sought to develop in its Lay Confreres, a spirit of Christian Fraternal Charity of devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament, to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Charitable works in the service of the poor, was exemplar in Europe and over time the Delegations that spread throughout Portugal, Spain, France and Italy, transformed into the Carmelite Third Order, that eventually forgot its origin and Founder. In 1895 and again in 1918, some members of the Third Order, conscious of the fundamental role that Frá Nuno had in the Foundation of the Carmelite Laity, tried to give the original spirit of the Confraternity to another “Apostolate of the Cauldron” which lasted until the middle of the 20th Century. In 1946, the former American Carmelite Donatus and Co- founder  of the “Blue Army”, John Mathias Haffert, upon publishing the biography of the Holy Constable The Peacemaker that went to War, also organized a similar Apostolate that published a monthly magazine entitled Scapular, a publication which ran for various decades.

In 1985, following the 600th Anniversary of the Victory of Aljubarrota, the then President of the “Blue Army”, Missionary Bishop Constantino Luna, with the help of the great Consolata Missionary and Fatima Author, Father John Demarchi and American Blessed Nuno Devotee, Timothy Richard Heinan, recreated the Apostolate of support for the poor with the same spirituality of the original founded by the Holy Constable and which was named “The Count Nuno Society”, headquartered at Casa Alta in Ourém Castle. Shortly after, this organization was recognized by the American Government as a non profit charitable organization (501 C3) dedicated to the raising of funds for the poor and orphaned present with activity in Portugal and also in many Third World Countries.
The same organization was later Canonically Erected in the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, (USA) under the name “Blessed Nuno Society” having later obtained other Canonical recognitions in other Dioceses in various Latin American Countries such as México, Guatemala, Cuba and
Columbia.

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Then the County passed to João Fernandes Andeiro (a Galician noble, lover of the Queen) but, when King John I of Portugal took the power, his Constable, Nuno Álvares Pereira, inherited it.

As the Constable daughter married the 1st Duke of Braganza, Count of Ourém became a subsidiary title of the House of Braganza. In 1483, Fernando II 3rd. Duke of Bragança, is condemned for treason by order of king John II of Portugal. The House of Braganza estates were confiscated and the County of Ourém was granted to Pedro de Menezes, 1st Marquis of Vila Real, a great-great-grandson of João Afonso Telo de Menezes, 1st Count of Ourém.

When king Manuel I inherited the Portuguese throne, he restored the Braganzas with all their previous honours and, from then on, the County of Ourém was included in the Braganzas’ assets.

1.João Afonso Telo de Menezes (1310-1381), also 4th Count of Barcelos;

2.João Fernandes Andeiro (1320-1383);

3.Nuno Álvares Pereira (1360-1431), also 7th Count of Barcelos, 2nd Count of Arraiolos and 2nd Constable of Portugal;

4.Afonso of Braganza (1400-1460), also 1st Marquis of Valença;

5.Fernando I, Duke of Braganza (1403-1478);

6.Fernando II, Duke of Braganza (1430-1483);

7.Pedro de Menezes, 1st Marquis of Vila Real (1425-1499);

8.Jaime, Duke of Braganza (1479-1532).

Nuno started a military career very early. He was in the army when he was only 13, in 1373, and helped stopping a Castilian invasion.
However, according to his own words, his first military campaigns were no more than skirmishes on the borders of Portugal. He was an impetuous and brave young man who soon showed himself to be an excellent leader.

Later on, when king Fernando I of Portugal died in 1383, with no heir besides Beatrice married to king John I of Castile, the Portuguese independence was again very fragile. Nuno was one of the first nobles to support the claim of king Fernando’s brother John, Master of Aviz to the throne. True that John was a natural son of Peter I of Portugal, but, like many others, it was a better option than the loss of independence. After his first victory over the Castilians, in the Battle of Atoleiros (April 1384), João of Aviz named Nuno Álvares Pereira Protector and 2nd Constable of Portugal (Condestável do Reino), in practice supreme commander of Portugal’s armies and 3rd Count of Ourém. He was only 23 years old.

The Battle of Aljubarrota

In April 1385, João of Aviz was recognized and accepted as king by the kingdom assembly (the Cortes) as John I. This strong Portuguese position for independence triggered an invasion of the country by Juan I of Castile, willing to defend his wife’s rights to the throne. Nuno Álvares Pereira engaged in a pursuit against the cities loyal to the Castilians, namely in the North of the country. In August, he was the mastermind of the Portuguese victory in the Battle of Aljubarrota, after which the threat of annexation was over. After the 1383-1385 Crisis, Álvares Pereira received from John I the titles of 2nd Count of Arraiolos and 7th Count of Barcelos, which along with the previous one were the only three Countdoms existing at the time and which had been taken from Noblemen who took part for Castile. He was also made the 38th Mordomo-Mór (Major Majordomo) of the Realm. Not wanting to give the enemy room to maneuver, John I and his supreme general took the offensive and raided several Castilian towns, defeating once again a much larger Castilian army at the Battle of Valverde. He continued to watch out for Juan I of Castile, until his death in 1390. The final peace and the recognition from Castile came only later on October 30, 1411, with the signature of the Treaty of Ayllón.

Nuno Álvares Pereira sired only one daughter by his marriage to Leonor de Alvim, Beatriz Pereira de Alvim, who was to become the wife of Afonso, Count of Barcelos (natural son of John I of Portugal) and first Duke of Braganza. Therefore, Nuno Álvares Pereira was, through the female line, the ancestor of the House of Braganza which became the Portuguese Royal House in the 17th century, ruling the Kingdom of Portugal (1640–1910), the Kingdom of
Brazil (1815–1822) and the Empire of Brazil (1822–1889).

After the death of his wife, he became a Carmelite (he joined the Order in 1423) at the Carmo Convent (Lisbon) which he had founded in
fulfillment of a vow, and took the name of Friar Nuno of Saint Mary (in Portuguese: Irmão Nuno de Santa Maria). There he lived until his death on
Easter Sunday of 1431. He was noted for his prayer, his practice of penance and his filial devotion to the Mother of God. During the last year of his life, King John I went to visit and embrace him for the last time. He wept, for he considered Nuno Álvares Pereira his closest friend, the one who had put him on the throne and saved his country’s independence.

Nuno Álvares Pereira’s tomb was lost in the famous 1755 Lisbon earthquake. His epitaph read:

“Here lies that famous Nuno, the Constable, founder of
the House of Bragança, excellent general, blessed monk, who during his life on
earth so ardently desired the Kingdom of Heaven that after his death, he
merited the eternal company of the Saints. His worldly honors were countless,
but he turned his back on them. He was a great Prince, but he made himself a
humble monk. He founded, built and endowed this church in which his body
rests.”

Nuno was beatified on January 23, 1918, by Pope Benedict XV. He had been on the point of being canonized by decree in 1940 by Pope Pius XII. According to a recent statement by the Postulator General of the Carmelite Order, his canonization was postponed for diplomatic reasons (the Portuguese government itself raised some difficulties[citation needed]), and thus did not initially take place.

On July 3, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI signed two decrees in Rome, promulgating the heroic virtues of Nuno and the authenticity of a miracle that had already been previously confirmed as such by medical and theological Commissions. By this act, the Pope formally canonized Saint Friar Nuno de Santa Maria Álvares Pereira. The public celebration of his canonization took place on April 26, 2009 in Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican City. Saint Nuno’s Feast Day is celebrated on April 1 except in Portugal where it is celebrated on November 6. A petition has been submitted to change the date universally to November 6.