Item number: M209

Year: AD 1901

Material: Silver

Size: 56.1 x 27.7 x 2.0 mm

Weight: 14.1 g

Provenance: Liverpool Medals 2022

This is a medal issued by the Russian government on May 6, AD 1901, in accordance with Decree No. 140, known as the “Medal for the China Campaign 1900-1901.” It was awarded to Russian officers and soldiers who participated in the actions of the Eight-Nation Alliance and came in two grades: silver and bronze. The medals were primarily produced by the Saint Petersburg Mint, although some were privately commissioned by officers and soldiers from civilian workshops.

This silver medal was awarded to individuals who participated in the battles of Tianjin, Beijing, Dagu, and Blagoveshchensk. Recipients included military personnel, volunteers, military chaplains, and medical officers. The medal is worn with a chest ribbon and has a circular design. The ribbon features light blue and alternating red and black stripes.

The obverse of the medal features the monogram “H” for Tsar Nicholas II, topped with the Tsar’s crown and with the Roman numeral “II” below. The reverse of the medal prominently displays the years “1900-1901” in the centre, indicating the period of the military campaign. Below this, there are crossed swords and an anchor, symbolising the army and navy. Surrounding the central design is the Cyrillic inscription “за походъ въ китай,” which translates directly to “For the Campaign in China.”

In AD 1900, the Russian military was the second-largest force in the Eight-Nation Alliance, mobilising approximately 4,800 troops. In addition to joint operations with the Alliance in Tianjin, Dagu, and Beijing, Russia, long coveting Manchuria, launched its own separate military actions. Starting in July AD 1900, under the pretext of “protecting the railway,” Russia deployed a large force of 15,000 troops to invade Manchuria. During this invasion, the Russian forces perpetrated massacres against the Chinese population in regions such as the Sixty-Four Villages East of the River and Blagoveshchensk.

After the conclusion of the Allied operations in Beijing, the Russian troops stationed in Manchuria were reluctant to withdraw, with intentions of annexing the region to create a new “Yellow Russia.” After several negotiations with the Qing government, Russia was granted the right to station troops along the railway lines and obtained related economic privileges, thus abandoning their immediate plans to annex Manchuria. However, Russia’s ambitions in Manchuria clashed with those of Japan, a rising power seeking to expand from Korea into China. This conflict of interests ultimately led to the Russo-Japanese War in AD 1904, a struggle for dominance over Manchuria that sounded the death knell for the Russian Empire.

物件編號: M209

年代: 公元 1901 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 56.1 x 27.7 x 2.0 mm

重量: 14.1 g

來源: 利物浦獎章 2022

這是一枚公元1901年5月6日，俄國政府按照〈第140號命令〉頒布的「中國行動獎章 1900-1901」，以犒賞參與八國聯軍行動的俄國官兵，分為銀質和銅質兩種等級。獎章主要由聖彼得堡造幣廠負責生產，部分則是官兵私下委託民間工坊打造。

該銀質獎章頒予對象為參與天津、北京、大沽口、海蘭泡等戰事的官兵、志願者和軍職神父、醫官。獎章以胸綬配戴且外觀為圓形，綬帶配色為淺藍色和紅黑相間的色條。

獎章正面是時任俄國統治者：沙皇尼古拉二世的名字花押體「H」，上方是一頂沙皇皇冠，下方則是代表二世的「II」羅馬數字。獎章背面在正中央標示軍事行動的年份「1900-1901」，下方是象徵陸/海軍的交叉刀槍和船錨。周圍環繞的西里爾銘文「за походъ въ китай」直譯為中文是「中國行動」意思。

公元1900年，俄軍是八國聯軍行動中動員兵力僅次日本，總計為4800人左右。跟聯軍在天津、大沽口和北京的共同行動外，早已對滿州垂涎已久的俄國也發起單獨的軍事行動。公元1900年7月起，俄國早已利用「保護鐵路」為藉口，調動15000人的大部隊侵占滿州，過程中還在江東六十四屯和海蘭泡發起針對華人的大屠殺。

北京的聯軍行動告一段落後，盤據於滿州的俄軍仍不願撤兵，甚至有意併吞使其成為「黃羅斯」新領土。歷經和清廷的多次談判後，俄國獲得沿著鐵路線駐軍和相關經濟特權，方才打消直接吞併滿州的野心。然而俄國對於滿州的企圖，跟有意從朝鮮向中國擴張的新興勢力日本產生衝突。最終演變為公元1904年，雙方為競爭滿州的主導權引發的日俄戰爭，成為敲響俄羅斯帝國的喪鐘。