Circular silver medal, pierced for ribbon suspension; the face with a large crescent below the inscription in Arabic letters ‘Relying on the Assistance of Almighty God, Abdül-Azîz Khan, Sovereign of the Ottoman Empire’; the reverse with a cannon facing left, the mountains of Montenegro beyond with a Turkish flag, inscribed below in Arabic letters ‘Karadag’ (Montenegro) and dated ‘1279’ (AD1863); age-toned and slight scratches, a small impact mark to the upper left of the reverse; on replaced correct ribbon. The medal was created for participants in the campaign in Montenegro in 1862. The mountainous land of Montenegro had never been completely subdued by the Ottomans, despite numerous attempts. Early in 1862, Montenegrin support for rebels in Herzegovina and attacks on Turkish border posts led to an ultimatum from the Governor, Omer Paša Latas. This was rejected by Nicholas I, the new ruler of Montenegro, and a punitive Turkish expedition was launched on 22 May 1862. The first Turkish attack ended in a Montenegrin victory near Novo Selo but after some months of bloody fighting, the numerical superiority of Turkish forces led to Montenegrin lines being broken. At this point, France and Russia intervened and a peace was agreed in September 1862. The Montenegrins had lost 3,500 men and the Turkish army more than 8,000 regular soldiers. For the moment, Montenegro’s plans for expansion were thwarted and the pre-war borders remained in place. A very rare early medal.
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