Item number: M52

Year: AD 1814-1850

Material: Gold and Enamel

Size: Order 18.91 x 30.8 / Ribbon 12.65 x 26.59 mm

Weight: 4.46 g

Provenance: Dixons Medals 2022

The Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand (Real y Militar Orden de San Fernando) is Spain’s oldest military Order, with its origins dating back to the Peninsular War during the Napoleonic occupation of Spain (AD 1808- AD1814). On August 31, AD 1811, the Council of Cadiz issued the Order through Royal Decree No. 88 to boost morale and encourage resistance against the French occupation. Both individuals and groups were eligible for the decoration, regardless of their background. After the end of the Peninsular War in AD 1814, the restored Ferdinand VII re-established the order and introduced five grades.

In AD 1862, the medals for the lowest-ranking (first and second-class) were changed to a cross composed of four crossed swords. In AD 1920, the Royal Military Order underwent legal amendments, reducing the number of grades from five to three. In AD 1978, following the death of the dictator Franco and the enactment of the democratic constitution, the Order was temporarily abolished. It wasn’t until July 27, AD 2001, that, according to a royal decree, the “Regulations of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand” were approved, restoring the establishment of the Order.

This item is a miniature version of the Second Class Gold Cross of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand, which was in use from AD 1814 to AD 1920, after the restoration of Ferdinand VII. The Order aimed at awarding frontline military officers and soldiers who have demonstrated bravery. The miniature features a white enamel Maltese cross with eight gold balls decorating each of its endpoints. The cross is surrounded by a laurel wreath embellishment that is absent in the first-class.

On the upper arm of the cross, it is connected to the suspended laurel wreath, which links to the ribbon. The official ribbon color, a combination of red and orange, symbolizes the Spanish flag. However, in the case of this miniature, it features a red ribbon with an orange rosette, worn as a chest ribbon to display the Order on the left breast.

On the obverse side, Saint Ferdinand I stands tall against a golden background, wearing a crown on his head, holding a sword in his left hand and a globus cruciger in his right hand, draped in a red cloak with a white fur lining, and standing on a green ground. The blue circle surrounding the figure is inscribed with legend “Military Merit” (AL MERITO MILITAR). On the reverse side, a faint outline of the eastern and western hemispheres, representing both land and sea, is visible beneath the crown symbolizing royal authority. The blue circle surrounding this image is inscribed with legend “The King and the Country” (EL REY Y LA PATRIA).

The current version from AD 2001 underwent only minor adjustments and refinements in design. For instance, the sword and the globus cruciger in Saint Ferdinand I’s hands were switched, and the green ground beneath his feet was replaced by crossed red and blue flags. The legend on the obverse side was changed to “Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand” (REAL Y MILITAR ORDEN DE SAN FERNANDO).

物件編號: M52

年代: 公元 1814-1850 年

材質: 黃金, 琺瑯

尺寸: 勳章 18.91 x 30.8 / 綬帶 12.65 x 26.59 mm

重量: 4.46 g

來源: 迪生獎章 2022

聖斐迪南皇家軍事勳章(Real y Militar Orden de San Fernando) 是西班牙最為悠久的軍事勳章，歷史能追溯到拿破崙占領西班牙的半島戰爭期間(公元1808-1814)。公元1811年8月31日，抵抗法國佔領的加的斯議會為鼓勵士氣通過第88號法令頒發該勳章。個人或團體皆有授勳的資格，並且不問對象的出身背景。公元1814年，半島戰爭結束後，復辟的斐迪南七世重新頒布該勳章，設立五個等級。(見下圖)

公元1862年，先是最低的一等和二等勳章改為四把劍組合的十字架。公元1920年，皇家軍事勳章歷經修法，將等級從五個調整為三個。公元1978年，因應獨裁者佛郎哥逝世而頒布的民主化新憲法，勳章曾一度遭到廢止。直到公元2001年7月27日根據皇家法令，批准《聖斐迪南一世皇家和軍事勳章條例》恢復該勳章的設立。

此物件為斐迪南七世復辟後，自公元1814沿用至1920年的版本，迷你版的二等金質十字級聖斐迪南皇家軍事勳章，旨在鼓勵作出英勇表現的基層官兵。外觀為白色琺瑯的馬爾他十字，八個頂端各有一粒金球作為裝飾，十字架的周圍則有一等勳章沒有的月桂花環裝飾。在十字架的上臂，跟另一個設計為月桂花環的懸掛接連以此連結綬帶。官方的綬帶顏色是象徵西班牙國旗的紅橙組合，該迷你版則以搭配橘色花結的紅色綬帶，以胸綬形式將勳章配戴於左胸處。

勳章正面為聖斐迪南一世矗立於黃金背景，以頭戴王冠，左手持劍，右手握帶球十字架，身披白色貂皮內襯的紅披風，腳踏綠色大地的樣貌示人。周圍的藍色圓圈寫著「軍事功績」(AL MERITO MILITAR)。勳章背面，則是依稀可見陸地和海洋輪廓的東半球跟西半球，共同籠罩在代表王權的王冠下。周圍的藍色圓圈則寫著「國王與國家」(EL REY Y LA PATRIA)。

現行2001年版本，設計上僅有微幅調整和精進細節。如，手上的劍跟帶球十字架左右交換，腳踏的綠色土地被交叉的紅藍旗子取代。正面的銘文改成「聖斐迪南皇家軍事勳章」(REAL Y MILITAR ORDEN DE SAN FERNADO)。