Circular silver medal with integral oval laurel wreath suspension with laterally-pierced spherical eyelet for ribbon suspension; the face with a detailed trophy of arms of captured Turkish cannon, standards, rifles, drums and shot circumscribed ‘?? ? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ????????’ (For the Heroic Victory gained over the Turks); the reverse inscribed ‘????????? 1 ??? 1858’ (Grahova?, 1 May 1858), a radiant Latin cross above, within a wreath of oak and laurel, circumscribed ‘??????? I ????? ???????????’ (Danilo I, Prince of Montenegro); on replaced correct trifold ribbon.
The medal was instituted in 1858 for acts of bravery at the Battle of Grahova? and awarded in 1859. For nearly 500 years, Ottoman Turkey had sought to control Montenegro but the mountainous terrain and the bravery of the Montenegrins ensured that they never quite succeeded. As Ottoman power declined in the 19th Century and national aspirations awoke in the Balkans, Turkey’s grip weakened. Grahova? was the crucial battle in which Montenegro effectively won its independence when a force of some 7,500 Montenegrins under Mirko Petrovi? Njegoš, brother of the ruling Prince Danilo, won a decisive victory over a numerically superior Turkish force and captured a significant quantity of arms – displayed proudly in detail on this medal. As a result, Montenegro’s independence was internationally recognised and its frontiers with Turkey defined, Montenegro gaining significant territory, including Grahova? itself.
An excellent example of a very rare medal.
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