Crimean War medals
Encyclopedia
The Turkish Crimean War medal is a campaign medal
issued by Sultan Abdülmecid I
of the Ottoman Empire
to allied military personnel involved in the Crimean War
of 1854-56. There are three different issues of this medal for those issued to British
, French
or Sardinian
personnel.
with the Muslim calendar year
of 1271 on all versions. The reverse depicts a cannon with four flags to its rear. The flag to the fore on the second from the left depicts the country to which the medal was intended. The inscription in the exergue reads ‘La Crimee 1855’ for French issue, ‘La Crimea 1855’ for Sardinia
n issue and ‘Crimea
1855’ for British issue. The ribbon is attached through a steel ring which is attached to the medal by a smaller silver ring, however many medals are found with privately attached scroll type suspenders.
Campaign medal
A campaign medal is a military decoration which is awarded to a member of the military who serves in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theater...
issued by Sultan Abdülmecid I
Abdülmecid I
Sultan Abdülmecid I, Abdul Mejid I, Abd-ul-Mejid I or Abd Al-Majid I Ghazi was the 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and succeeded his father Mahmud II on July 2, 1839. His reign was notable for the rise of nationalist movements within the empire's territories...
of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
to allied military personnel involved in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
of 1854-56. There are three different issues of this medal for those issued to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
or Sardinian
Sardinian
Sardinian can refer to:* Sardinia* Sardinian people* Sardinian language* Sardinian...
personnel.
Design
The obverse shows the Ottoman Sultan’s tughraTughra
A tughra is a calligraphic monogram, seal or signature of an Ottoman sultan that was affixed to all official documents and correspondence. It was also carved on his seal and stamped on the coins minted during his reign...
with the Muslim calendar year
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
of 1271 on all versions. The reverse depicts a cannon with four flags to its rear. The flag to the fore on the second from the left depicts the country to which the medal was intended. The inscription in the exergue reads ‘La Crimee 1855’ for French issue, ‘La Crimea 1855’ for Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
n issue and ‘Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
1855’ for British issue. The ribbon is attached through a steel ring which is attached to the medal by a smaller silver ring, however many medals are found with privately attached scroll type suspenders.
Ribbon
The original ribbon issued with this medal measured only .50” wide but was replaced by one of 1.25” when awarded to British personnel. The ribbon itself is watered and of dark crimson with green edges.Naming
This medal was issued unnamed but examples are found with privately engraved naming of varying styles.See also
- British Crimean War Medal
- Turkish Order of the MedjidieMedjidieMedjidie or Mejidie is the name of a military and knightly order of the Ottoman Empire. The Order was instituted in 1851 by Sultan Abdülmecid I.-Order of the Medjidie:...
- Baltic MedalBaltic MedalThe Baltic Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1856, for issue to officers and men of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Sappers and Miners who served in Baltic Sea operations against Russia in the Baltic theatre of the Crimean War...
- Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
- Médaille militaireMédaille militaireThe Médaille militaire is a decoration of the French Republic which was first instituted in 1852.-History:The creator of the médaille was the emperor Napoléon III, who may have taken his inspiration in a medal issued by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland...