Military Order of Saint James of the Sword

Once upon a time, there was a special group called the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword. They weren't just knights who fought battles; they were also super interested in science, books, and art! Think of them like superheroes who were also really smart students. They were founded a super long time ago, even before your grandparents' grandparents were born!

This order started as a way for brave knights to protect people. But over time, they decided that learning was just as important as fighting! So, they started giving awards to people who were amazing at science, writing stories, or making beautiful art. It was like getting a gold star for being super clever and creative!

The Military Order of Saint James of the Sword helped make Portugal a place where people loved to learn and create. By giving awards, they encouraged everyone to try their best in school and in their hobbies. This made sure that important discoveries and beautiful art were shared with everyone, making the world a more interesting place!

This order is really, really old! It was created in the year 1175. That's so long ago that castles were common and knights wore shiny armor. Even though they were originally knights, they became more about celebrating smart people and artists. They were secularized, which means they stopped being a military group and became more about honoring achievements.