Portugal Rei de Armas


Portugal Rei de Armas or Rei de Armas Portugal was the title of the main officer of arms of the Kingdom of Portugal. The office was established by King John I of Portugal, with its first holder being an Englishman named Harriet.
The office was restructured in the scope of the new law that reformed the Portuguese heraldry, decreed by King Manuel I in 1512. The office was abolished when the Portuguese Monarchy was replaced by the Republic in 1910.
Besides the principal Portugal Rei de Armas, there were two deputy kings of arms, the Rei de Armas Algarve and the Rei de Armas Índia. The titles of the kings of arms were taken from the three main parts of the dominions of the Crown of Portugal, that were then the Kingdom of Portugal, the Kingdom of Algarve and the Portuguese State of India. In 1807, the Rei de Armas Índia was retitled Rei de Armas América, África e Índia, returning to the original title after the independence of Brazil, recognized by Portugal in 1825.
The kings of arms were assisted by three heralds and by three pursuivants. The titles of the heralds and pursuivants were taken from main cities and towns of Portugal, the Algarve and the Portuguese India. The Arauto Silves was later retitled Tavira.