A historic spiritual alliance between two Orders of Saint James

 

The imperial House of Orleans-Braganza, serving as the rightful successors to the throne of the Empire of Brazil, and the oldest branch of the Portuguese Royal Family, has formalized a profound reunion with the princely House of Bentheim. Through their role exercising the Grand Mastership and Perpetual Administration over the Imperial Military Order of Saint James of the Sword in Brazil, the Brazilian imperial family brings immense historical weight to this new agreement. Their Brazilian order was established by Apostolic Privilege granted by the Bull Praeclara Portugalliae Algarbiorunque Regum of Pope Leo XII on 15 May 1827. The defining document was signed and sealed on 1 October 2026 by H.I.R.H. Dom Pedro Bourbon de Orleans e Bragança and H.S.H. Georg-Viktor Prince zu Bentheim und Steinfurt.

The shared history of two noble lineages

Partnering in this historic accord is the princely House of Bentheim, who act as the legal successors to the Counts of Holland and exercise sovereign governance over the Most Noble Equestrian Order of Saint James, instituted in 1290 by Count Floris V of Holland. The deep connection between these two noble lineages goes all the way back to the Fifth Crusade. Between 30 July 1217 and 18 October 1217, Count Willem I of Holland fought in a unified Christian brotherhood alongside the knights of the Iberian Order of Santiago at the siege of Alcácer do Sal. This early collaboration with the Iberian knights, led by Martim Pais Barregão, directly inspired the creation of the Dutch order and laid the groundwork for today's modern treaty.

Forging a modern spiritual and charitable communion

Through this concordat, both august houses mutually and formally recognize the historical origins, nobiliary rights, and legitimate fons honorum of each other's respective Orders of Saint James. Beyond mutual recognition, they have committed to a permanent spiritual communion, encouraging their chaplains, knights, and dames to remember one another in their prayers. This spiritual connection will be especially honoured on 25 July, which marks the Feast of Saint James the Greater. To honour the spirit of their historical ancestors, the two houses will also engage in joint endeavours spanning historical research, cultural exchanges, and shared charitable initiatives. These united efforts aim to reflect the virtues of Christian knighthood by focusing on the protection of the vulnerable, inspired directly by their shared origins of protecting pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.

Heraldic certifications by the King of Arms of the Grand Ducal House of Medici

On 22 July 2025, Grand Duke Ottaviano de’ Medici di Toscana di Ottajano officially invested Don Francisco Acedo Fernández, Count Galeano Doria, with the dignity of King of Arms of the Grand Ducal House of Medici of Tuscany. This appointment revitalized a highly specialized historic office, placing the King of Arms at the center of the Royal House's heraldic, genealogical, and nobiliary preservation. Serving on the Privy Council of the Crown, the King of Arms acts as the definitive authority for designing, regulating, and authenticating personal, corporate, and municipal coats of arms, ensuring they respect the rigid standards of Tuscan tradition.

The role of the King of Arms

Operating as the premier heraldic officer, the King of Arms does far more than design crests. The role demands rigorous historical verification, the preparation of technical expert opinions, and close collaboration with the Grand Ducal Deputation on Nobility and Citizenship. By applying impartial genealogical scholarship, the office verifies every candidate for the Medicean Cittadinario.

The King of Arms also directs the Heraldic and Genealogical Archive of the Minutario. This official archive preserves all original records and certifications, guaranteeing their permanent authenticity and traceability for historians and descendant families alike.

Types of Medicean certifications

The office issues three primary types of official documents, grounded deeply in the historic Tuscan Nobiliary Law of 31 July 1750 and promulgated under the Grand Duke's sovereign authority (Fons Honorum):

• Certifications of arms: These public instruments grant new arms, recognize historic ones, or confirm arms issued by other Sovereign States. To maintain visual unity and elegance across the historic Golden Books of Tuscany, all heraldic artwork is meticulously hand-drawn by Don Nikolai López Pomar, the official Heraldic Artist. Registration of a family coat of arms is mandatory for anyone seeking entry into the Golden Books or the Sacred and Military Distinguished Religion of Saint Stephen, Pope and Martyr.

• Genealogical certifications: These documents reconstruct family lines, establish kinship, and prove genealogical legitimacy. Built upon thorough investigations of parish registers, civil archives, and notarial records, they serve as the vital evidentiary foundation for all further nobiliary recognition.

• Nobiliary certifications: These formally attest to a family's noble status, territorial designations, and historic patriciates. They also manage the recognition of foreign titles as official Tuscan titles.

The Minutario and permanent preservation

Once a certification is uniquely numbered, signed, and sealed by the King of Arms, it is legalized in the Kingdom of Spain and deposited in the Minutario. Following a Grand Ducal Decree on 24 May 2025, and official recognition by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior on 25 September 2025, this master archive is securely maintained in Spain under the Lieutenancy of the Grand Ducal House of Medici. It acts as an enduring public record, ensuring that families can trace and verify these honors centuries into the future.

Because these grants are issued under established doctrines of International Law and legitimate dynastic practice, they require no validation from outside state authorities. Anyone looking to apply for a new coat of arms, confirm a historic lineage, or view the elegant documentary models of these grants can access the official portal at www.reydearmas.com.

The ancient Inca computer the Spanish destroyed

Quipus, or talking knots, were record-keeping devices for ancient Andean civilizations. Image: Quipo in the Museo Machu Picchu, Casa Concha, Cusco.jpg " by Pi3.124, used under CC BY-SA 4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original.

Have you ever wondered how the massive Inca empire functioned without a traditional written alphabet? They used an incredibly advanced piece of tech to manage their society, but it was tragically wiped out by invaders.

What exactly is a quipu?

Instead of ink and paper, ancient Andean cultures used a unique system called quipus (or talking knots). Dating all the way back to 2600 BCE—a staggering 4,000 years before the Incas even showed up—these intricately knotted strings of cotton or camelid fibers were essentially early computers. Documentary filmmaker and author Kim MacQuarrie points out that they were highly portable, sophisticated counting machines that stored data and communicated vital information across the empire.

The keepers of the knots

The Incas managed a sprawling civilization stretching up to 3,000 miles by sending out specialized accountants known as quipucamayocs. These dedicated keepers of the quipu would record census data, resources, tax information, and even calendar details using a complex decimal system. By reading single knots for tens and hundreds, long knots for numbers two through nine, and figure-eight knots for the number one, they could tabulate massive amounts of data and bring it all back to Cusco. It was the ultimate universal method of communication for a region with many different spoken languages and topographies.

How the Spanish destroyed an ancient wonder

This brilliant "operating system" worked flawlessly for thousands of years. Then came the Spanish conquest between 1532 and 1572. When the Spaniards arrived, they didn't just introduce their own spoken and written language; they systematically dismantled the Inca way of life. By imposing their own systems and ignoring the indigenous knowledge base, the Spanish eradicated the quipu tradition.

Because of their ruthless conquest, much of the knowledge of how to read and fully utilize these amazing devices is permanently lost. Some historians even believe the knots contained musical notes or storytelling cues, but we may never fully know. The Spaniards didn't just conquer land; they wiped out an ancient supercomputer and effectively destroyed the intellectual heart of the Inca civilization.

It is devastating to think about the lost knowledge. Let's not forget the incredible brilliance of the ancient Andean people, even as we mourn the history that was stolen from them.

(Inspired by the historical records and insights shared by Peru for Less on 30 November 2020)

How the Medici dynasty survives and thrives today

Prince Ottaviano de’ Medici di Toscana di Ottajano, grand duke of Toscany and Grandmaster of the Order of Saint Stephen Pope and Martyr, born in 1957, is a modern Italian nobleman and a prominent member of the Ottajano branch of the historic House of Medici. This lineage traces its roots to Ottaviano de’ Medici and Francesca Salviati, who were the parents of Pope Leo XI. Demonstrating a commitment to his family’s enduring legacy, Prince Ottaviano serves as the president of the Associazione Internationale Medicae (International Medici Association). He is also recognized as one of the founders of “Save Florence”, an initiative dedicated to preserving the rich cultural heritage of the city of Florence. He further contributed to documenting his family’s history by publishing Storia della mia dinastia in 2001. Prince Ottaviano has three children: Cosimo Maria (born 1991), Guglielmo (born 1992), and Lorenzo (born 2009). More recently, in March 2025, he was involved in the inauguration of the Medici Museum in Livorno.

When you walk the streets of Florence, the Medici presence feels etched into the very stone of the city. Their name conjures images of immense wealth, Renaissance masterpieces, and a profound cultural awakening that changed Europe forever. But it is a common misconception that this story ended in the 18th century. The true running thread of the Medici narrative is not one of eventual decline, but of remarkable survival. Today, that unbroken lineage is actively represented by Prince Ottaviano de’ Medici di Toscana di Ottajano, born in 1957, proving that while empires and borders shift, a deeply rooted dynasty endures.

The bankers who shaped a continent

To understand the weight of Prince Ottaviano's modern role, we have to look at the foundation his ancestors built. Rising from agricultural origins, the Medici transformed financial capital into unparalleled political dominance following the establishment of the Medici Bank in 1397. They were the ultimate architects of the Renaissance, producing four Popes and two queens of France.

Their grip on Florence was formalized into sovereign royalty when Pope Pius V issued a decree on 27 August 1569, elevating Cosimo I to the title of Grand Duke of Tuscany. This established a hereditary monarchy that would shape Italian politics and culture for centuries.

Evolution and endurance over extinction

History books often dwell on the narrative that the dynasty "died out" when Gian Gastone, the last Medici Grand Duke of the main line, passed away on 9 July 1737. But framing this as an extinction ignores the family's incredible foresight and resilience. The Medici did not die; they evolved and branched out.

While Gian Gastone's sister, Anna Maria Luisa, masterfully secured the family's cultural immortality through a Family Pact—legally binding the new rulers to keep the vast Medici art collections in Florence forever—the actual bloodline and dynastic rights were already thriving elsewhere. Decades prior, collateral branches like the Princes of Ottajano (founded by Bernardetto de' Medici) had established themselves in southern Italy. They preserved the family's genetic continuity and legal claims, ensuring the Medici flame was kept safely alight outside the immediate political crosshairs of Florence.

A stolen throne and an undeniable claim

When the main grand ducal line concluded in 1737, the survival of the dynasty faced a massive geopolitical test. According to an imperial decree issued by Emperor Charles V back in 1530, the headship of Florence was granted to the Medici "in perpetuity," explicitly stating that the title should pass to the nearest male relative if the ruling line failed.

Under the strict rules of male primogeniture, the rightful Grand Duke of Tuscany was Giuseppe de’ Medici Ottajano (1). However, 18th-century European Great Powers used Tuscany as a bargaining chip to settle their own conflicts, handing the Grand Duchy to Francis Stephen of Lorraine via international treaty. The legitimate dynastic rights of the Medici Princes of Ottajano were ignored by the Habsburgs, but the Medici never relinquished their historical claim. The lineage simply outlasted the political theft.

The living legacy of Prince Ottaviano

This brings us to the present day. The historical continuity of this legendary family is fiercely maintained by Prince Ottaviano de’ Medici di Toscana di Ottajano. As the direct male descendant of the Ottajano branch, he is the living embodiment of a heritage that refused to fade into obscurity.

Far from being a mere historical figurehead, Prince Ottaviano actively champions the family's legacy. He serves as the president of the International Medici Association and is a founding force behind "Save Florence," an initiative passionately dedicated to protecting the city's rich cultural heritage from modern pressures. His commitment to the truth of his ancestry was further cemented by his 2001 book, Storia della mia dinastia, and his recent involvement in the inauguration of the Medici Museum in Livorno in March 2025.

Furthermore, Prince Ottaviano legitimately asserts his position as the Grand Master of the Sacred Military Order of Saint Stephen Pope and Martyr. Founded on 1 February 1562 to defend the Mediterranean, and famous for its role in the Battle of Lepanto on 7 October 1571, the Order’s leadership was explicitly tied to the Medici bloodline by Papal authority—a bond that international treaties cannot simply erase.

The Habsburgs may have temporarily governed Tuscany, but they were always viewed as external diplomats. The Medici are the soul of the region. Through the tireless work and enduring lineage of Prince Ottaviano, the dynasty demonstrates that true nobility is not just about holding a throne—it is about surviving the centuries to protect and honor a legacy that shaped the world.

Website: www.de-medici.com

(1) The lineage of the original ruling line, beginning with Duke Alessandro who was assassinated in 1537, was already complicated by illegitimacy; Alessandro was born to unmarried parents, likely Giulio de’ Medici, nephew of Lorenzo the Magnificent.