Nickel silver (maillechort) cross pattée with concave ends to the arms on laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with a circular central medallion bearing the Papal arms circumscribed ‘FIDEI ET VIRTUTI’ (Loyal and meritorious), the upper, left, right and lower arms inscribed ‘PP’, ‘PIUS’, ‘IX’, ‘1867’ respectively; the reverse with a circular central medallion bearing a Latin cross within a laurel wreath, inscribed above ‘HINC VICTORIA’ (Hence victory); on replaced correct ribbon.
The Cross was created by Pope Pius IX on 14 November 1867 to commemorate the Battle of Mentana on 3 November 1867 in which a combined force of 3000 Pontifical troops and a Corps of 2,000 French defeated an attempt by Garibaldi to take Rome.
The Imperial French government authorised the wearing of the cross with uniform on 3 March 1868.
This very good example came from a south German collection formed in the 19th Century.
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