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Miniature blue enamel gilt-edged cross flory with laterally-pierced cylinder for ribbon suspension (the ring now absent); the face with the crowned cipher of King Ferdinand centrally; the reverse dated ‘1916’ centrally; width 17.63mm (0.69 inch); sewn to a short length of correct ribbon. The Order was instituted on 26 September 1916 as Romania’s highest award for bravery. During the whole of World War I just 364 awards of the three classes of the order were made in total. The Order continued to be awarded very sparingly until abolished in 1947. Michael the Brave (1558-1601) was Prince of Wallachia (1593-1601), of Transylvania (1599-1600), and of Moldavia (1600). He thus united for the first time the three principalities largely inhabited by Romanians and acted as a symbol of national aspiration through Romania’s centuries of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian occupation. A rare period miniature.
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