The article addresses the association between the religious and political spheres through qualitative and quantitative analyzes of the performance of decorated priests in the orders of Christ and Cruzeiro during the Brazilian First Reign. The orders were granted to those who offered relevant services to the State and were mobilized by the first emperor at the time of construction of the unity of the Brazilian territory and, with it, of his own political legitimacy. The association between Church and State was formalized through the Padroado, but it was also necessary to co-opt priests, using the desire for distinction present in society. The aim was to extol d. Pedro through the authority of the word that emanated from a member of the clergy in a deep religious society. Thus, many priests did not hesitate the task of legitimizing the role of the emperor in the new constitutional system using the pulpit or the printed word, which is why they were properly decorated and entered the nobility.