Grand Ducal Tuscan Military Merit Order
The Grand Ducal Tuscan Military Merit Order was founded as a knightly order for loyalty and bravery on December 19, 1853 by Grand Duke Leopold II in three classes
- Knight 1st class
- Knight II class
- Knight III. class
After the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was dissolved in favor of the Kingdom of Italy in 1859, the order was awarded several times.
Order decoration
The medallion is a five-armed white-enamelled cross with a round medallion in the middle . The medallion is set on both sides by a blue enameled ring. An inscription on either side of the border in gold letters “Merite militare”.
The front shows the donor's initials and the back shows the year 1853.
The version in gold was for the I. and II., In silver for the III. Class. Between the arms of the cross, a laurel winds around the arms of the cross. There is a crown over the cross arm pointing upwards.
Ribbon
The ribbon is a red and black ribbon and the knights of the 1st class wore the medal around their necks , the others on the left side of the chest.
literature
- The book of orders of knights and decorations: history, description and illustrations of the insignia of all orders of knights, Verlag Carl Muquardt, Brussels / Leipzig 1848, p. 421.