Médaillon des deux épées
The two-sword medallion , ( fr. Médaillon des deux épées ), better known in France as the veteran's medal ( médaillon de vétérance ), was an award for long-serving non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the French army. Officers were excluded from the award; the Ordre royal et militaire de Saint-Louis was intended for them. King Louis XV created the award by decree of April 16, 1771. The provisions were extended on May 26, 1771 over the royal household troops, on December 26, 1774 also over the navy.
Award practice
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The award took place after 24, 48 and 72 years of service. The veteran renewed his oath on the sovereign in front of the assembled troops and also swore never to enter foreign service. The soldier received an official certificate for the award. The honorary pay included was 5 sols a day for a sergeant, and 4 sols for a commoner. This meant a noticeable improvement in income: at the end of the 18th century, a sergent received 11 sous a day from the line infantry (fusiliers) , a caporal 7 1/2 sols and a commoner around 5 1/2 sols.
The award of the two swords medallion was part of a campaign with which the French crown tried to keep experienced soldiers with the troops after their eight years of service. Since October 1771, soldiers received a salary increase of 1 sol daily for their first extension of service ( surrender ), 2 sols daily for the second extension (after 16 years) and 4 sols daily for the third extension (after 24 years). The surrender wore 1 to 2 white linen chevrons on the left sleeve, on the third surrender they received the two-sword medallion.
The triple award of the two-sword medallion happened only once, in 1787, to the then 89-year-old veteran Jean Thurel (also Th e urel); Thurel was also made a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1804.
In revolutionary France , officers had been allowed to be awarded since 1792. The official rental practice probably ended in 1795.
Order decoration
The order decoration was initially an embroidered cloth badge that was sewn onto the left chest of the uniform; later a metal badge was used. The award was in the shape of a red oval, framed by a golden laurel wreath. The central shield was adorned with two crossed gold swords with blades pointing upwards; a golden bow in the shape of a horizontal 8 surrounded the intersection of the blades. In the navy there was also a standing clear gold anchor.
During the revolution, a brass plaque attached to a red chest band replaced the old way of wearing it. With two awards, both medallions were soldered side by side and worn on the same chest band.
literature
- Ferdinand von Biedenfeld: History and constitution of all spiritual and secular and extinct and flourishing knight orders. Volume 1, Voigt, Weimar 1841, p. 405.
Web links
- History of the Médaillon des deux épées (French)
- Production variants of the Médaillon des deux épées (French)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Mercure de France, October 1771, Vol. 2, p. 191