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Gilt bronze cross barbée, the arms hatched, with laterally pierced loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a central circular medallion bearing the crowned cipher of King Ferdinand; the reverse with a central circular medallion bearing the dates ‘1916’ and ‘1918’; on original ribbon with bronze ‘OITUZ’, ‘CARPATI’ (Carpathians) and ‘ARDEAL’ (Transylvania) bars. 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 ‘Oituz’ bar was awarded to those who took part in the Second Battle of Oituz between 8 and 20 August 1917; the ‘Carpati’ bar for participation in the battles in the Carpathian Mountains (Muntii Carpaţi), scene of some of the bitterest fighting and most difficult conditions of the war, between mid-October and mid-November 1916; 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 is becoming harder to find and is now rarely found with three original bars.
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