Item number: M183

Year: AD 1902

Material: Silver

Size: 82.3 x 29.7 x 1.3mm

Weight: 21.45 g

Provenance: Private Collector, France, 2022

This medal is the China expedition commemorative medal, established in AD 1902, adorned with a “Chine” clasp. It was designed to honour the officers, sailors, and soldiers who served in China during the Boxer Rebellion from AD 1900 to AD 1901. Based on the recommendation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, this medal was also awarded to French civilians who participated in the defence of the Beijing legations.

The medal is housed in a leather-lined presentation case with blue velvet lining, and it is a circular silver piece. The obverse featuring a profile portrait of Marianne, the national emblem of the French Republic, wearing a helmet and a laurel wreath, surrounded by the inscription “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE”. Below the portrait, the name of the French sculptor, Georges Lemaire, who designed the medal, is inscribed in small letters.

The reverse shows crossed cannons, an anchor, and flags, also encircled by laurel and oak branches, with a Chinese pagoda in the distant background. Around the edges, the inscription “1900 CHINE 1901” marks the years and location of the Eight-Nation Alliance’s operations.

The suspension ring, connecting the medal to the ribbon, is fashioned into two Chinese dragons, with the ribbon itself alternating in yellow and green, and bearing a “1900 Chine 1901” clasp. The edge of the medal features a “cornucopia” mark, the hallmark of the Paris Mint, with the word “ARGENT” indicating that the object is made of silver.

The actions of the Eight-Nation Alliance were declared as part of the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion, an uprising against foreign powers and Christian missionaries, which triggered a series of violent incidents. France’s participation in this coalition aimed to rescue personnel besieged in the Beijing diplomatic quarter, protect French nationals engaged in missionary, commercial, and diplomatic activities in China, and safeguard France’s economic and political interests in China. As a member of the Eight-Nation Alliance, France deployed approximately 3,500 soldiers to China, including nearly 400 naval personnel and five warships, with the remainder being army personnel. Major General Henri Nicolas Frey was appointed as the commander of the French forces, leading the soldiers in this campaign. However, these soldiers, mostly from Vietnam, lacked sufficient experience and insight.

On September 7, AD 1901, the Qing court was compelled by the Treaty of Xin Chou to allow foreign troops to be stationed in the Beijing embassy district. The treaty, available in both Chinese and French versions, forced the Qing court to pay substantial indemnities to the participating countries. In AD 1925, France requested that these indemnities be used to restore a Sino-French bank.

物件編號: M183

年代: 公元 1902 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 82.3 x 29.7 x 1.3mm

重量: 21.45 g

來源: 法國私人收藏 2022

此枚獎章為法國於1902年設立的中國遠征紀念獎章，上方附有「Chine」銘牌。該獎章旨在表彰於1900至1901年間義和團運動期間在中國服役的軍官、水手及士兵。根據外交部長的推薦，這枚勳章同樣授予了參與保衛北京公使館的法國平民。

這枚獎章收納於藍絲絨內襯的皮質收納盒。外型為圓形銀質獎章，獎章的正面為法蘭西共和國的國家象徵「瑪麗安娜」的側面肖像，頭戴頭盔與月桂花環，左右兩側環繞有「 RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE (法蘭西共和國)」的法文字樣。獎章下方有小字刻有設計此獎章的法國雕塑家「 Georges Lemaire 」的名字。 

背面則為交叉的兩座大砲，船錨和旗幟，同樣被月桂和橡樹枝環繞，遠方背景為中國的寶塔建築，周圍刻有銘文「1900 CHINE 1901 」，代表八國聯軍的行動年份和地點 。 

獎章與綬帶相接的吊環則為兩條中國龍的外型，綬帶顏色為黃綠相間，且掛有「1900 Chine 1901」的銘牌。獎章的邊緣印有一個「豐裕之角」，是法國巴黎鑄幣廠的鑄造戳記，一旁刻有「ARGENT」的字樣，代表該物件為銀製品。 

八國聯軍的行動是為了鎮壓反對外國勢力和基督教傳教士的義和團運動，此運動引發了一系列暴力事件。法國參與此聯軍，目的在於解救北京外國使館區被圍困的人員，保護在中國從事傳教、商業和外交活動的法國公民，並維護法國在中國的經濟和政治利益。作為八國聯軍的一員，法國向中國派出約3,500名士兵，包括近400名海軍和五艘軍艦，其餘為陸軍。亨利·尼古拉斯·弗雷少將被指派為法國軍隊的指揮官，率領士兵參與此次戰役。然而，這些士兵大多來自越南，缺乏足夠的經驗和見識。 

公元1901年9月7日，清廷和列強簽訂《辛丑條約》被迫允許各國在北京使館區駐紮部隊，該合約分別有中文和法文兩種版本，清廷被迫向參戰國支付鉅額賠款，在公元1925年，法國要求將賠款用於一家中法銀行的恢復工作。