Memorial for the Bavarian Aid Corps (Greece)
The Greek memorial for the Bavarian Aid Corps is a medal of honor donated by King Otto I of Greece in 1833 for the members of the Royal Bavarian Auxiliary Corps sent to take over the government .
Historical background
After the long struggle for freedom against the Ottoman Empire , Greece gained independence from Turkish sovereignty in 1830 and was declared an independent kingdom . King Ludwig I of Bavaria was one of the most zealous moral and financial supporters of the Greek struggle for freedom. Therefore, in 1832, his 16-year-old son Otto was granted the Greek royal dignity , which his father assumed for him.
Great Britain , France and Russia , the guarantors of Greek independence, stipulated that the new king had to bring his own military force of at least 3500 men, for which volunteers were hurriedly recruited in Bavaria who came from all over the German-speaking area. Because of the insecure state of the country, the unanimously elected King Otto on August 8, 1832, was urged to take over government as soon as possible. In December of that year he set out and on February 6, 1833, aboard a British ship, reached the then Greek capital of Nauplia .
Since the required “Greek” royal army could not be recruited in the desired strength in such a short time, the father, King Ludwig I of Bavaria, set up his own auxiliary corps made up of regular Bavarian troops . It was supposed to be a replacement for Otto's own armed forces and, after their full deployment and arrival in Greece, return to Bavaria. The auxiliary corps broke up in November 1832 and comprised the strength required by the guarantee powers. These were the first battalions of the 6th and 10th , as well as the second battalions of the 11th and 12th Bavarian Infantry Regiments , as well as one squadron each of the 3rd and 4th Chevaulegers Regiment , supported by the 9. Company of the 1st Bavarian Artillery Regiment . Most of the auxiliary corps returned home in 1834 and 1835, respectively. A small part of the soldiers transferred to Greek services , especially since King Otto's own, recruited volunteer army had been set up. The ruler had to go into exile in 1862, which ended the rule of Bavaria in Greece.
The memorial
On December 4, 1833 (according to the Greek-Julian calendar , November 24), King Otto I of Greece donated “for the royal Bavarian auxiliary corps” which accompanied him to Greece, “in recognition of his good service in this country “ A one-step memorial in the form of a cross. It should include all "military individuals" belonging to the auxiliary corps , as well as all "medical, administrative and judicial officers without distinction of degree" who were added to the entourage from Bavaria , the field chaplains, as well as the king's adjutants and the Bavarian ones placed at his personal disposal Officers are awarded.
On February 4, 1834, King Ludwig I granted the Bavarians with the foreign memorial the general wearing permit.
By decree of King Otto of June 26, 1837, the circle of those entitled to wear was extended to those Bavarians who had not belonged to the auxiliary corps, but were voluntarily in Greek military service and "have faithfully fulfilled their obligations" . The addition apparently served to be able to decorate newly arrived volunteers even after the relief corps had withdrawn. In contrast to the original inscription " DEN KÖNIGLICH-BAYERISCHEN HILFSTRUPPEN " on the reverse, these later crosses now had the different inscription " DEN FREIWILLIGEN AUS BAYERN ".
Appearance
It is a cast iron, straight-arm paw cross with raised edges; bronze pieces (often painted black and green in addition to the writing and the edges) also appear in some cases. A wide wreath of leaves runs through the open corners of the cross arms, oak leaves on the right, laurel on the left. On the front is distributed over the cross arms, the raised Greek inscription: " OTTO KING OF GREECE "; on the back the identical, Greek lettering: " DEN KÖNIGLICH-BAVERISCHE AIDSTRUPPEN ".
The later crosses, according to the foundation extension of 1837, were identical, but with the inscription changed on the reverse: " DEN FREIWILLIGEN FROM BAYERN ".
The height and width of the cross (without handle) are 33 mm.
Carrying method
The cross should be worn on a light blue ribbon on the left side of the chest. As a foreign award, it was usually on the far left of the medal clasp.
Cross of honor for the fight for freedom
The Greek cross of honor for the struggle for freedom , donated in 1834, is to be distinguished from the memorial , with which everyone, Greeks and foreigners, could be awarded, provided they had participated in the fighting at that time to pacify Greece. In contrast to the memorial, it is a combatant award, which requires active participation in battles and has no direct reference to Bavaria. The appearance of the honor cross is similar to that of the memorial, but it has a complete laurel wreath (instead of half an oak) and on the reverse the different Greek inscription " THE HEROIC FIGHTERS OF THE FATHERLAND ". These crosses are available in silver for officers, in bronze for NCOs and in cast iron for common soldiers. They were worn on a light blue ribbon with white side stripes and blue edges.
literature
- Joseph von Niedermayr: About rewards in the state with an overview of the orders of merit, decorations and medals of the states of Europe and their statutes , Munich, 1836, pages 158 and 140; Scans from the source
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Fränkischer Merkur , Bamberg, No. 219, of August 7, 1837; Scan from the source
- ↑ Bayerische Nationalzeitung , Munich, No. 123, August 8, 1837; Scan from the source