Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand
(Miniature), Second Class Gold Cross Grade
二等金質十字級聖斐迪南皇家軍事勳章
(迷你版)
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.
The regulations from AD 1814 to 1920 | |||
Grades of Order | Way of Wearing | Type of Order | Eligibility for conferral of the honor |
Fifth Grand Cross | Order with grand cordon | Star with laurel embellishment | Commander in chief |
Fourth Cross | Order with ribbon | Star with laurel embellishment Order with laurel embellishment | Heroic services of generals and brigadiers |
Third Cross | Order with ribbon | Small Star without laurel embellishment | Distinguished services of generals and brigadiers |
Second Cross | Order with ribbon | Order with laurel embellishment (Gold/Silver) | Heroic services of chiefs, officers and troops |
First Cross | Order with ribbon | Order without laurel embellishment (Gold/Silver) | Distinguished services of chiefs, officers and troops |
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1814至1920年的規範 | |||
勳章的等級 | 配戴方式 | 勳章形式 | 授勳資格 |
五等大十字級 | 大綬 | 帶月桂的星章 | 總司令 |
四等十字級 | 胸綬 | 帶月桂的星章 / 帶月桂的勳章 | 英勇表現的將軍和准將 |
三等十字級 | 胸綬 | 無月桂的小星章 | 傑出表現的將軍和准將 |
二等十字級 | 胸綬 | 帶月桂的勳章(金/銀) | 英勇表現的基層指揮、軍官和士兵 |
一等十字級 | 胸綬 | 不帶月桂的勳章(金/銀) | 傑出表現的基層指揮、軍官和士兵 |