Gilt bronze cross barbée, the blackened arms hatched, with laterally pierced loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central medallion bearing the crowned cipher of King Ferdinand; the reverse with a central circular medallion bearing the dates ‘1916’ and ‘1918’; on grubby possibly original ribbon shortened at the back and with bronze hatched ‘ARDEAL’ bar (the medal is mounted with the reverse outwards). The medal was instituted by Royal Decree on 8 July 1918 to be awarded to military and civilians for conspicuous service during the war of 1916-1918. Despite alliances with Germany and Austria-Hungary and a Royal House of German origin, Romania entered World War I on the side of the Triple Entente of Britain, Russia and France, swayed by the promise of Transylvania. German and Austro-Hungarian forces made rapid advances and the Romanian Army suffered devastating defeat. However, the War brought revolution in Russia, defeat for Germany and disintegration for Austria-Hungary and Romania gained not only Transylvania but also Bessarabia and Bukovina. The ‘Ardeal’ bar was awarded for participation in the offensive across the Carpathian Mountains into Transylvania between 28 August and 8 October 1916. ‘Ardeal’ is the Romanian word for Transylvania, Hungarian territory during World War I but occupied by Romanian forces in 1918, its Romanian majority declaring union with Romania on 1 December 1918, subsequently recognised by the Treaty of Trianon in 1920. The medal, particularly with original bars, is increasingly hard to find.
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