The Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign (French: Médaille commémorative de la campagne d'Italie de 1859) was a French commemorative medal established by Napoleon III, following the 1859 French campaign in Italy during the Second Italian War of Independence.
Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign
Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign (obverse)
In spite of the lack of preparation of the French army, the soldiers, alongside their Piedmont and Sardinian allies were to illustrate themselves in several famous battles, including that of Magenta on June 4, which allowed Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II to enter triumphantly in Milan on 8 June. Then, on June 24, the Franco-Piedmontese forces took the village of Solferino after a terrible battle culminating in an armistice signed at Villafranca on July 12.[1]
To reward all participants and ensure the memory of this glorious military campaign, the Commemorative Medal of the Italian Campaign was created by Imperial Decree on August 11, 1859. Nearly 120,000 medals were awarded to reward all soldiers and sailors who participated in the Italian campaign of 1859.[1]
The Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign was awarded by the Emperor, on propositions of the ministers for war and for the navy, to all soldiers, sailors and other military and support personnel of the French forces who took part in the 1859 Italian Campaign.[2]
All recipients also received a certificate of award.[2]
A later imperial decree dated 24 October 1859 confirmed that all recipients were to adhere to the code of conduct as set by the Imperial decree of 18 March 1852 under the authority of the Grand chancellor of the Legion of honour.[3]
A revised list of all French naval units who participated in the campaign was submitted on 18 February 1860 resulting in a 22 March 1860 amendment to the disposition of the award to navy recipients.[1]
Award description
The Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign, a work of Albert Désiré Barre, was a 30 mm in diameter circular silver medal. Its obverse bore the left profile of Emperor Napoleon III crowned with a laurel wreath surrounded by the relief inscription "NAPOLEON III" "EMPEREUR" (English: "NAPOLEON III" "EMPEROR"). A 4 mm wide relief laurel wreath ran along the entire circumference of both the obverse and reverse of the medal.[2]
On the reverse, within the laurel wreath, the circular relief inscription CAMPAGNE D'ITALIE 1859 (English: ITALIAN CAMPAIGN 1859). At the centre, the relief inscription on six lines of the campaign's major battles MONTEBELLO, PALESTRO, TURBIGO, MAGENTA, MARIGNAN, SOLFERINO.[2]
The medal hung from a 36 mm wide silk moiré ribbon bearing six 4 mm wide red stripes and five 2 mm wide white stripes.[2] A variant bearing the imperial crown as an integral part of the suspension ring is called variant of the "100 guards" (French: Cent-Gardes).[1]
^ abcdef"Historical introduction to the 1859 Italian campaign" (in French). France phaléristique. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
^ abcde"Imperial Decree of Napoleon III of 11 August 1859" (in French). Gallica. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
^"Imperial Decree of Napoleon III of 24 October 1859" (in French). Gallica. Retrieved 2016-11-12.
External links
(in French)
January 06, 2023
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The Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign French Medaille commemorative de la campagne d Italie de 1859 was a French commemorative medal established by Napoleon III following the 1859 French campaign in Italy during the Second Italian War of Independence Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian CampaignCommemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign obverse TypeCampaign medalAwarded forCombat service in Italy in 1859Presented bythe French Second EmpireEligibilityFrench soldiersStatusNo longer awardedEstablished11 August 1859First awarded11 August 1859Last awarded1859Ribbon barPrecedenceNext higher Saint Helena MedalNext lower Commemorative medal of the 1860 China ExpeditionCommemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign crowned variant General Victor Fevrier a recipient of the Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign General Alexandre Montaudon a recipient of the Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign Early in 1815 there was a powerful popular movement in favour of national unification throughout the Italian peninsula This idea championed by the King of Sardinia Victor Emmanuel II was opposed by Pope Pius IX and the Austrian Empire who occupied the provinces of Lombardy and Veneto In Europe Italian unification was only supported by Emperor Napoleon III of the French Empire who on 28 January 1859 based on the clauses of the Treaty of Turin decided to bring aid and support from France Piedmont being invaded by 100 000 Austrian soldiers on April 26 1859 France declared war on the Austrian Empire on May 3 1859 1 In spite of the lack of preparation of the French army the soldiers alongside their Piedmont and Sardinian allies were to illustrate themselves in several famous battles including that of Magenta on June 4 which allowed Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II to enter triumphantly in Milan on 8 June Then on June 24 the Franco Piedmontese forces took the village of Solferino after a terrible battle culminating in an armistice signed at Villafranca on July 12 1 The French forces composed of an army of 120 000 men were commanded by the Emperor and placed under the orders of Marshals Achille Baraguey d Hilliers and Francois Certain de Canrobert Generals Patrice de Mac Mahon Adolphe Niel and Auguste Regnaud de Saint Jean d Angely During the three month campaign French losses amounted to 8 000 dead and 40 000 wounded 1 To reward all participants and ensure the memory of this glorious military campaign the Commemorative Medal of the Italian Campaign was created by Imperial Decree on August 11 1859 Nearly 120 000 medals were awarded to reward all soldiers and sailors who participated in the Italian campaign of 1859 1 Contents 1 Award statute 2 Award description 3 Notable recipients partial list 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksAward statute EditThe Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign was awarded by the Emperor on propositions of the ministers for war and for the navy to all soldiers sailors and other military and support personnel of the French forces who took part in the 1859 Italian Campaign 2 All recipients also received a certificate of award 2 A later imperial decree dated 24 October 1859 confirmed that all recipients were to adhere to the code of conduct as set by the Imperial decree of 18 March 1852 under the authority of the Grand chancellor of the Legion of honour 3 A revised list of all French naval units who participated in the campaign was submitted on 18 February 1860 resulting in a 22 March 1860 amendment to the disposition of the award to navy recipients 1 Award description EditThe Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign a work of Albert Desire Barre was a 30 mm in diameter circular silver medal Its obverse bore the left profile of Emperor Napoleon III crowned with a laurel wreath surrounded by the relief inscription NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR English NAPOLEON III EMPEROR A 4 mm wide relief laurel wreath ran along the entire circumference of both the obverse and reverse of the medal 2 On the reverse within the laurel wreath the circular relief inscription CAMPAGNE D ITALIE 1859 English ITALIAN CAMPAIGN 1859 At the centre the relief inscription on six lines of the campaign s major battles MONTEBELLO PALESTRO TURBIGO MAGENTA MARIGNAN SOLFERINO 2 The medal hung from a 36 mm wide silk moire ribbon bearing six 4 mm wide red stripes and five 2 mm wide white stripes 2 A variant bearing the imperial crown as an integral part of the suspension ring is called variant of the 100 guards French Cent Gardes 1 Notable recipients partial list EditPhilip Kearny first American to receive the Legion of Honour General Giacomo Medici General Pierre Louis Charles de Failly General Francois Achille Bazaine Enrico Cosenz General Jean Baptiste Alexandre Montaudon General Enrico Morozzo Della Rocca Major Pierre Frederic Pechin Colonel Luigi Pelloux Colonel Francois Henri Guiot de La Rochere General Emile Herbillon Colonel Pierre Emile Arnaud Edouard de Colbert Chabannais General Elie Frederic Forey Doctor Frederic Audemard d Alancon General Teodoro Lechi Lieutenant Vitalis Pacha Colonel Alfred Frederic Philippe Auguste Napoleon Ameil General Giuseppe Dezza General Adolphe Niel General Jean Cesar Graziani General Gustave Olivier Lannes de Montebello General Justin Clinchant Felice Napoleone Canevaro General Armand Alexandre de CastagnySee also EditFirst Italian War of Independence Third Italian War of Independence 1943 1944 Italian campaign medal French campaign medal for the Italian campaign World War II France portal War portalReferences Edit a b c d e f Historical introduction to the 1859 Italian campaign in French France phaleristique Retrieved 2016 11 12 a b c d e Imperial Decree of Napoleon III of 11 August 1859 in French Gallica Retrieved 2016 11 12 Imperial Decree of Napoleon III of 24 October 1859 in French Gallica Retrieved 2016 11 12 External links EditMuseum of the Legion of Honour in French Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign amp oldid 1060628225, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
