[Portugal] The Coronation

[Bruno]

A few months have passed by since the implementation of the Monarchy. Must has been done in order to accommodate the new rule of law and institutions surrounding the new change of paradigm. His majesty the King, Duarte II, have been the non official king by right of lineage, however in order to be considered the de jure and de facto monarch, he need to be considered so by the Council of Lords and then after be crowned King. These two celebration would being to be prepared after the dust as settled, the Council of Lord would be easily done, all the lord holding titles of the country, mostly Dukes and Counts would gather on the Royal Palace of Queluz, alongside government officials and the Prime Minister. The Ceremony would being with the reading of his Majesty duties as King, after that the signing of the Book of Great Duties, which is inlaid in gold in the covers with a single emerald on the middle, above an embroidered portuguese shield. After the King had signed, all others would sign, firstly would be the Prime Minister and his government officials representing the people, signifying that it was them, the people, who would hold the King to its duties to the country and to whom the King would answer to, and not the dukes or counts that would sign after. From this point onwards, Duarte II would be officially the King of the United Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves. However the coronation would come after in a few days.​

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After the ceremony of the Book of Great Duties, a grand meal would be served in the Palaces beautiful and renown gardens, filled to the brim with security, it was not just Government officials or Lords that were invited, a few invitation would have been sent to other institutions across the country, along side people disconnected with Royalty and the Government. All around it would be around 300 guests, where some would sleep and eat on the palace.​

 

[Bruno]

All preparations were done, months of work would come to fruition on this great day, the coronation day. Guests, from all over the country would gather in Lisbon for the royal procession, the acclamation and then finally the coronation. The security would be immense, tripling the guests, all around Lisbon, where the royal procession would pass, roads, streets, nooks and crannies would be blocked and heavily secured, the local authorities would be heavily armed and doing constant patrols around their areas, disguised police acting as civilians amongst the crowds, police dogs to sniff out troubles, snipers on various roofs, buildings (be it residential or offices) on the streets the procession would pass would be emptied of civilians and filled with police units. Maximum security was in place. And as such, the royal procession would start.

First, the sovereign would leave his quarters, accompanied by the Great Titles of his Court, officers of the Royal Household and Bishops, from the Ajuda Palace, his now official residence, to the Jerónimos Monastery where the acclamation ceremony was to take place., which was in the Jerónimos Monastery.

Such an escort would be opened by the Gatekeepers, officers of the Royal Household. They would be responsible for opening and closing the palace doors, a very symbolic function. The porters carried two insignias that distinguished them. Firstly, the Porteiros de Cana (reed porters), for carrying rustic wind instruments, called Cana. Next would be the mace bearers, responsible for carrying a stick on their shoulders to signal the arrival of the guests, the mace.

After the porters arrived at the place where the monarch was acclaimed, came the officers of the Royal House in charge of the Armoury, i.e. they were responsible for the distribution and regulation of the arms and coats of arms of the nobility. These were distributed hierarchically on three levels. First came the three Kings of Arms (representing the three most important domains of the Portuguese United Kingdom: Portugal, Algarve and Islands). Then came the three Heralds (representing the most important cities of the Kingdom: Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra). Lastly came the three Passavantes (representing the most important towns: Sintra, Braga and Santarem). All had to wear coats of arms. This was a cloak over their robes, which differentiated them by the position where the royal coat of arms was embroidered. The Kings of Arms had it embroidered on the chest with the crown, the Heralds had it on the right side without the crown and the Passavants had it on the left side without the crown.

After these major figures of the Portuguese Monarchy had passed, the members of the nobility would pass, the Great Title Holders of the Court (Marquises, Counts, Viscounts and Barons) and the Ecclesiastics (Bishops). All would come "uncovered" (hat or biretta disused) and forming two wings, the secular and the religious. In the middle of these should come the officers of the Royal House carrying their insignia. Immediately following this formation should proceed the Bailiff, who should carry a white stick (his insignia). This was an officer of justice, responsible for the application of the law to members of the Nobility and noblemen.

The Capelão Mor Bishop (responsible for the royal chapel) should accompany the Meirinho Mor. After these would continue the procession, the Alferes Mor, who carried the Royal Flag rolled up. At the end of the procession was the Captain of the Royal Guard (responsible for the King's personal guard).

At the end of the passage of the most influential figures at a national level, the members of the Royal Family would pass and lastly, in a golden carriage pulled by the most elegant of horses, the central figure: the monarch. He would be richly dressed in the royal mantle. Next to the monarch would be the heir to the throne. Very close to the King, on his left, would be the Head Butler of the Royal Household. Also to his side, but further away, would be the Prime Minister. On the same left side should be positioned, in a wing and further apart, the Meirinho Mor and the Marquises and finally the Grandes da Corte and other officials of the Royal House. To his right should be the religious body. Beautiful Baroque music would be heard all through the walk.

After a long 20 to 30 min walk through the street leading to the Jeronimos Monastery they would arrive. the Sovereign would exit the carriage, and alone he would enter the monastery, the music blowing out from the monastery.

The guests would already be inside and rose up to the entrance of the sovereign.

Before the sovereign sits on the royal throne he is given the sceptre in his right hand, the royal crown on his left.

After all the guests have been seated the acclamation of the monarch officially begins. At this moment the Prime Minister should tell the King of Arms to pronounce the practice to the King. The King at Arms would say the following:

"Listen, listen, listen, attention!"

Having said this the Chief Repostor places before the monarch a shallow chair with a cushion and another to place the king's so that he would kneel. On the shallow chair (small table) the Bishop Major Chaplain would place the open missal and the silver crucifix. The high prelate was to kneel by the throne together with two other Bishops who would be witnesses of the oath that the King was to take. The monarch would then on his knees place the sceptre in his left hand and the missal and cross in his right hand and repeat the words that the Bishop Major Chaplain would proclaim.

"I swear and promise with the grace of God to govern you, and rule you well, and rightly, and rightly administer justice to you, as much as human weakness allows; and to keep you your good customs, privileges, graces, bounties, liberty, and honesty, which by my predecessor Kings have been given, bestowed, and confirmed to you."

This oath having been said, Bishop Major Chaplain read aloud the Oath, Black and Homage which the guests were to say to the monarch:

"I swear to the Holy Gospels touched bodily with my hand, that I receive for our King, and true lord, and natural, the most high, and most mighty, the most faithful king. Our lord, and I pay him homage and homage according to the forum of these kingdoms."

Once the guests have taken the oath, the Master Ensign unfurls the Royal Flag and the King of Arms tells them aloud to kiss the sovereign's hand. Having done this the Bishop Major Chaplain tells the guests that the monarch accepts the oaths taken to him and thus says:

"The King, our lord, accepts the oaths, prayers and honours that the Greats, Secular Titles, Ecclesiastics, and more persons of nobility who are present, have now paid him."

Having declared the acceptance, the Bishop Major Chaplain crowns the King with the Royal Crown, adorned since John the IV alongside the Royal mantle and septre, the Ensign-in-Chief carrying the unfurled flag declares the formula for the acclamation of the monarch.

"Royal, royal, royal by the very high, very powerful, Lord. Our lord and by the grace of God, I crown you King Duarte II, the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Sprit".

That done the King and his Royal Family behind him would proceed to the waiting crowd inside the Monastery while the King at Arms would say:

"Listen, listen, listen, and be attentive."

And the Ensign Major would then say:

"Royal, royal, royal, by the very high, very mighty, the lord. Our lord."

Finally the royal entourage headed with the population towards the Royal Palace,where after inside from the main balcony they would wave at the people, the King in the middle wearing his crown and mantle would wave to them.