Order of the Colonial Empire

The Order of the Colonial Empire (Portuguese: Ordem do Império Colonial) was a Portuguese Order (decoration), established on 13 April 1932 as a colonial order of knighthood, to reward services by soldiers and civilians in the Portuguese colonies in Asia and Africa.

The Order consisted of five grades:

Grand Cross, which wore the badge on a sash on the right shoulder and the star on the left chest;

Grand Officer, which wore the badge on a necklet and the star on the left chest;

Commander, which wore the badge on a necklet and the star on the left chest;

Officer, which wore the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;

Knight, which wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

The Commander grade was dropped sometime during the 1960s, and the Order was discontinued upon the Carnation Revolution in 1974.