FREE SHIPPING!!! Pope John XXII (1245-1334) Founder of the Order of Christ The order, dedicated to the founder of Christianity, was originally founded in Portugal in 1312 after the dissolution of the Knights Templar. It was confirmed by Pope John XXII by bull under the proviso that the right to appoint knights should in future lie not only with secular dignitaries, but also with the popes. For this reason, the order split over time. It became both the highest state decoration of honor in Portugal and the highest order of the Papal See. The official year of foundation of the clerical version is 1319. The single-class, rarely awarded award is still awarded today across nationalities for outstanding civil and military services. John XXII, the Frenchman whose real name was Jacques Duèse, provoked the last great conflict between church and state by not recognizing Louis IV as King of Germany. The breast star of the Order of Christ is silver and in the original has 56 brilliant rays of different lengths and widths that end in spherical points. A golden oak leaf wreath interwoven with a red ribbon frames the gold-bordered red Latin cross with the arms widened to form a cross. On top of this rests a white enameled cross. You will receive this order as a museum reproduction true to the original. GODE FASCINATION OF COLLECTING Item no. 320-114-2 Careful Packing and Shipping from JMEDALS -Lithuania Good luck!