RARE WW1 ROYAL ORDER OF CAMBODIA MEDAL PALAIS ROYAL PARIS KRETLY FRANCE COLONY

Offered is a French colonial WW1 era Royal Order of Cambodia, knight grade.

Eight-pointed silver star, each point comprising six faceted chiselled rays, on swivel crown suspension with enamel ‘jewels’; the face with an imposed oval translucent blue medallion bearing the silver gilt royal arms within a red enamel ring; the reverse showing manuafcture by Kretly, Palais Royal, Paris; on original ‘national’ ribbon for Cambodian recipients. The medal and crown measures 70mm high.

The Order was founded on 8 February 1864 by King Norodom I once the establishment of a French protectorate had enabled him to disengage from tutelage to Siam (Thailand) and was awarded for outstanding service, both military and civil. It was both a national order and also a French colonial order from 1896 to 1948, awarded to French officers who served in Cambodia with distinction. This example is on the ribbon for Cambodians. The order was suppressed in 1975.