Item number: M285

Year: AD 1801

Material: 18ct Gold

Size: 60.4 x 36.4 x 0.9 mm

Weight: 15.7 g

Provenance: Dixons Medals 2024

This is a gold Egypt Medal issued in AD 1801 by Sultan Selim III of the Ottoman Empire to express gratitude to the British forces for their assistance in expelling Napoleon’s invading troops from Egypt. The medal is available in two materials, gold and silver, and can be categorised into four classes based on its circumference: 54 mm, 48 mm, 43 mm, and 36 mm. This medal is of the gold variant in the 4th Class category.

The medal is housed in a brown storage case, which is not the original. The medal has a circular shape and features a small circular loop at the top that connects to a chain and a pin, which should be affixed to a yellow ribbon for wearing on the chest. However, the yellow ribbon for this medal has been lost.

The obverse of the medal is adorned with Islamic art-style decorations featuring butterflies and floral patterns, with a central motif symbolising the empire and Islamic faith: the crescent moon and star.

The reverse of the medal also has butterfly and floral decorations around the edge, with a square box at the bottom inscribed with the year of issue, “1801.” At the centre is a representation of Ottoman culture, designed with the name of Sultan Selim III, incorporating both his signature and the artistic emblem known as the Tughra, unique to the Sultan.

In AD 1798, facing a blockade from various European nations, Napoleon sought to break through the British naval blockade by advancing on Egypt, then an important province of the Ottoman Empire in the Near East. Napoleon’s plan was to control Egypt to choke off the vital maritime route between mainland Britain and its most significant colony, India.

In July AD 1798, he landed in Alexandria and marched towards Cairo. However, the French fleet was soon defeated by the British Royal Navy, commanded by Nelson, at the mouth of the Nile, cutting off the French army’s supply lines and retreat route. To avoid a stalemate, Napoleon decided to launch an offensive northward into Syria, intending to compel the Ottomans to negotiate. However, his ambitions ultimately fell short, as he returned to France in August AD 1799, accompanied by a few loyal followers. The French expeditionary force left in Egypt did not officially surrender to the British, who had captured Cairo, until June AD 1801.

物件編號: M285

年代: 公元 1801 年

材質: 18ct 金

尺寸: 60.4 x 36.4 x 0.9 mm

重量: 15.7 g

來源: 迪生獎章 2024

這是一枚公元1801年，時任鄂圖曼土耳其帝國蘇丹的塞利姆三世，感謝英軍協助其驅逐入侵埃及的拿破崙軍隊所發行的金質埃及獎章。獎章按材質分為金銀兩種，並且能按圓周再分出54、48、43和36 mm四種等級，這枚獎章為金質四等。

獎章被安置在一個褐色收納盒，該盒子不是原版品。獎章形制為圓形，上緣有一個小圓環跟鍊飾和別針相連，別針應該要附著在黃色的綬帶，並且配戴於胸前。然而這枚獎章的黃色綬帶已經遺失。

獎章正面的外圍以伊斯蘭藝術風格的蝴蝶和花草紋飾為裝飾，中央為象徵帝國和伊斯蘭信仰的星月圖騰。獎章背面外圍亦以蝴蝶和花草為飾，下方多了一個方框鐫刻發行年份「1801」。正中央則是鄂圖曼文化的代表，以蘇丹塞利姆三世的名字為設計，兼具簽名和藝術專屬於蘇丹本人的花押。

公元1798年，遭到歐洲各國圍堵的拿破崙為突破主力英國的封鎖，決定改以進軍英國在近東最為重要的據點，彼時仍作為鄂圖曼土耳其帝國行省的埃及。拿破崙的計畫是控制埃及，便能箝制英國本土和其最為重要的殖民地印度之間的航線。公元1798年7月，拿破崙率兵登陸亞歷山大港並且朝開羅進軍。然而不久法國艦隊在尼羅河口敗於納爾遜指揮的英國皇家海軍，法軍的補給和退路遭到切斷。拿破崙為避免坐以待斃，決定朝北方的敘利亞方向進攻，意圖迫使鄂圖曼土耳其和談。然而拿破崙的意圖無疾而終，他本人於公元1799年8月在少數親信陪同下回到法國。滯留在埃及的法國東方遠征軍則直到公元1801年6月，正式向攻克開羅的英軍投降。