Description

For sale is an original Napoleonic War Kingdom of Prussia 1813-1814 campaign cross, consisting of a circular bronze medal with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a cross pattée with curved arm ends and with rays between the arms, the dates ‘1813 / 1814’ centrally within a wreath of laurel and oak; the reverse with the crowned cipher of Friedrich Wilhelm III above the inscription ‘Preußens tapfern kriegern’ (Prussia’s brave warriors) circumscribed ‘Gott war mit uns, Ihn sey die Ehre’ (God was with us To Him the Glory); the edge inscribed ‘AUS EROBERTEM GESCHUTZ’ (from captured cannon); on replaced Konigsgratz 1866 ribbon.

The medal was instituted by King Friedrich Wilhelm III at Frankfurt-am-Main on 24 December 1813 and amended on 3 October 1815 to be awarded to ‘all warriors who without exception, whether in the field or before a fortress, truly fought and uncompromisingly did their duty throughout this current conflict’ (‘jeden Krieger ohne Ausnahme, der im Felde oder vor einer Festung wirklich mitgefochten und der während der Dauer des jetzigen Krieges seinen Pflichten treugeblieben ist’). The medal exists with the dates ‘1813, ‘1814’, 1813/1814’ and ‘1815’ and with square and rounded ends to the cross. Prussia was a key member of the coalition that fought Napoleonic France and its allies, culminating with victory at Waterloo on 18 June 1815.