ARAB MEDALS -- Morocco

[Dave Danner]

Order of Ouissam Alaouite

A new addition. I once owned a Grand Cross set of this order, which ranks among the many "I wish I hadn't had to sell that" sales I've had over the years.

Edited February 6, 2007 by Ed_Haynes

[Ed_Haynes]

I hope Dave doesn't mind if his lovely and inspirational post gets hijacked as the springboard for a more general Morocco thread.

First, some general information from my notes on the

Wissam Alaouit Cherifien / Order of the Sharifian Alawaid Dynasty

Awarded for civilian or military merit. The lowest classes had to be conferred first and awards of higher classes were by gradual promotion. Under normal circumstances, Moroccans must have served the State (or French protectorate) five years before they could be nominated.

A lesser diploma of honor, the Dahir de Satisfaction, was affiliated to the order as a junior class, but subordinate to the order.

The order was freely bestowed to French military troops with at least three years of service in Morocco, to other foreigners with five years of service; promotion could be achieved only after three years in a lower class. It was also awarded freely to senior allied officers during WWII.

After 19?? (the second badge), limits were imposed on the maximum numbers of holders of each class, and holders could not be elevated until openings appeared.

Established: By Sultan Yusuf, 2 Sapher 1331 (11 January 1913), to replace the Nishan Hafidien. Essentially absorbed later as a French colonial order.

Obverse: A white-enameled ball-pointed five-pointed star with green-enameled wreaths in the angles. The first badge had the text of the shahadat in the points of the star; the star is plain for the second badge. In the red enameled center is the Arabic inscription: His Majesty Youssef?. Suspended by a gold wreath.

Reverse: Gold, the red-enameled monogram of the ruler, the red Cherefien umbrella.

Ribbon: First ribbon: orange. Second ribbon: Pale orange moir? with thin white edge stripes.

It is a five-class (French style) order plus the affiliated medal.

[Ed_Haynes]

Wissam al-Arch / Ordre de Tr?ne / Order of the Throne

Awarded for civil and military merit.

There is a statutory limitation on the number of recipients allowed in each class and membership in a lower class is a requirement for appointment to the next higher class.

Established: By King Hasan II 16 May 1963. Revised 7 June 1965, 14 December 1966, and 19 April 1967.

Obverse: A silver-gilt rayed pentagon (point downwards). On this, a gilt wavy five-pointed star and, on that, a five-pointed green-enameled Moroccan star with the gilt Moroccan coat of arms in the center. Between the points of this last star, the Arabic legend ?Al-Arch? or ?The Throne?.

Ribbon: Red with narrow green edge stripes.

• exceptional class ? a sash (worn over the ??? shoulder), sash badge, and breast star (with gilt rays, worn on the left breast)
• first class ? a breast star (with silver rays, worn on the left breast)
• second class ? a neck badge
• third class ? a breast badge in gilt
• fourth class ? a breast badge in silver (shown below)

[Ed_Haynes]

Wissam al-Mehdawi / Order of Mehdi

Although created by the Moroccan rulers of Tetuan, this became an essentially Spanish colonial award, bestowed to reward actions that improved Moroccan-Spanish "inter-cultural understanding".

There are three separate varieties of the award, as detailed below.

Established: By Sultan Mulay al-Mehdi bin Ismail, Khalifa of Teutan, 18 August 1926. Revised bu Vizirial Dahirs of 10 May 1937 and 6 August 1945. Known to have been manufactured by Gardino (Rome, Italy).

Obverse: A six-pointed gold dark- and light-blue enameled star. In the center, a golden sun rising from a green sea.

Reverse: Plain, but with a circular central medallion, enemaled blue with the legend in Arabic.

Ribbon: Blue-green with a white center stripe. The medal is often worn suspended from the familiar Spanish open rectangular clasp.

first variety, 1926-37:

• gold star ? a gold breast star (worn on the left breast)
• silver star ? a silver breast star (worn on the left breast)
• gold badge ? a gold breast badge
• silver badge ? a silver breast badge
• bronze badge ? a bronze breast badge

second variety, 1937-45:

• grand collar ? a collar chain and badge
• grand cross ? a gold breast star (worn on the left breast), the same as the gold star of the previous variety
• grand officer ? a silver breast star (worn on the left breast), the same as the silver star of the previous variety
• commander ? a gold breast badge, the same as the gold badge of the previous variety
• officer ? a silver breast badge, the same as the silver badge of the previous variety (this is the badge shown below?)
• knight ? a bronze breast badge, the same as the bronze badge of the previous variety

third variety, 1945-56:

men?s division:

• grand collar ? a collar chain and badge, the same as the grand collar of the previous variety
• grand cross ? a gold breast star (worn on the left breast), the same as the grand cross of the previous variety
• grand officer ? a silver breast star (worn on the left breast), the same as the grand officer of the previous variety
• commander ? a gold breast badge, the same as the commander of the previous variety
• officer ? a silver breast badge, the same as the officer of the previous variety (this is the badge shown below?)
• knight ? a bronze breast badge, the same as the knight of the previous variety

women?s division:

• grand cross ? a sash (?narrow?, worn over the ??? shoulder) and sash badge
• broad band ? commander?s gold badge worn on a ?broad? bow ribbon
• band ? commander?s gold badgeworn on a ?narrow? bow ribbon
• bow ? officer?s badge worn on a bow ribbon

[Ed_Haynes]

Brevet Medal / Dahir Medal

Awarded to recipients of a ?Dahir de Satisfaction? or ?Brevet of Satisfaction?. Related to the Ouisam Alaouit Cherifien.

Obverse: 30 mm, silver(ed), a ball-pointed star in the center with a decorative background. In the center of the star, the Arabic legend. Suspended by ball and ring.

Reverse: Similar to the obverse, but with a parasol in the circular center of the star.

Ribbon: 38 mm, orange, with one broad (3 mm) and two narrow (1 mm) white center stripes: 14 mm orange, 1 mm white, 2.5 mm orange, 3 mm white, 2.5 mm orange, 1 mm white, 14 mm orange. Also reported as orange, with a series of narrow white ?stair-step? stripes, running from upper left to lower right across the ribbon.

[Ed_Haynes]

Oh, I forgot the usual source references. Again, not much, not good, alas.

http://faculty.winthrop.edu/haynese/medals/morocco.html

http://www.omsa.org/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=569

http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Morocco/morocco15.htm

http://www.netdialogue.com/yy/Africa/Maroc/Maroc.htm

http://www.medals.org.uk/morocco/morocco.htm

http://www.coleccionesmilitares.com/cintas/cintasaf.htm#m and scroll to the two Moroccan pages

[Antonio Prieto]

My contribution for the Morocco Medals

ORDERS OF THE PROTECTORATE OF MOROCCO

The Spanish Morocco was the administrative portion of Northern Morocco, wich came under the Spanish dominion, dering the late 1800s and early 1900s, and remained in Spanish hands until Moroccan independence in 1958

In 1904, France and Spain divided the region. The Treaty of Algeciras in 1906 formalize the concession of the northern portion of Morocco to Spanish interest. Finally the Franco-Morocan Treaty of 1912 finalized the establishment of Spanish Morocco (Protectorate)

The three following orders can be considered Moroccans, since they were granted by Jalifa, but they are assimilable to Spanish orders

In general they rewarded Spaniards and Moroccans so much as to foreigners, for concrete services with character civilian or military in or for the Protectorate

ORDEN DE LA MEHDAU?A-ORDER OF MEHDAIUIA

Created by Decree Visirial of August 17, 1926 (7 of Safar 1345) with regulations by Decree Visirial of August 18, 1926 (8 of Safar 1345).

Modificate by Decree Visirial of August 6, 1945 (27 of Chaabau 1364).

The Order of Mehdauia is dedicated to reward the merits that people contract of one and another sex for the borrowed good services in favor of the cause from the Morocco Area to the Protectorate of Spain.

The badge of the Order, will be composed, in its central part, of an enameled circle, in which the Sun west will be represented, that is to say, "Mogreb" reflected in a green blued sea. Bounded to this circle a strip he will go, also of blue enamel, edged by a golden fillet. All that described previously will go locked in a Solomon's ring. The badge will loll of a green ribbon, with central white stripe.

In the reverse, in a circle of white enamel, figure the following Arab inscription: Muley Mehdi Ben Ismail, glorify it God. The plaque for the Commander and Gran Cross (or their equivalent ones) will be identical, with the single difference that everything she will go on silver disk or of gold, according to the category, and with the same motifs of ornamentation, but enlarged, without some inscription.

The Order will five classes:

MENS

1. Medal (Rifaat). Will be made of silver. Suspended of the left side of the chest.

2. Official (Litizas). Will only differ of the previous one in that the Solomon?s ring and the ornamentation will be made of gold. It will also be suspended of the left side of the chest.

3. Commander (Saada). The same badge, over a silver plaque, on the left side of the chest.

4. Commander of Number (Fajama). The same badge, over a gilt plaque, on the left side of the chest.

5. Grand Cross (Sumu-u). The previous and also a sash that crosses the right chest to left and of whose end will loll the badge of the order.

Also, the category of Grand Collar (Kil-lada), created by ordinance visirial of May 10, 1937.

WOMENS:

1. Bow (equivalent to officer?s category). The ribbon will go with golden fringes.

2. Cordon (equivalent to Commander's category).. The cordon is of green and white silk, and it will take silver fillets.

3. Band (equivalent to Commander's of Number category).

4. Grand Cross. A five centimeters wide sash, and the badge will be smaller

Will have, also, to reward services of civil and military subordinate, so much European as indigenous, a Brass Medal

More images at: www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/medhauia.htm

[Antonio Prieto]

ORDEN DE LA CONSTANCIA-ORDER OF THE PERSEVERANCE

A very rare Order create by Dahir of 20 of Ramadan 1365 (August 18, 1946).

To reward the perseverance in the service of the arms and to reward with signal distinction to Ca?des of the Forces Jalifianas that having observed a spotless behavior dedicated the best thing from their life to a profession of so many risks and penalties, being constant example of military virtues for their troop, to which stimulated with their value and loyalty during their lingering permanency in lines

The Military Order of the Perseverance is believed in its two categories of: Medal and Badge

The Medal is formed by a star of five tips in enamel green emerald, edged with a golden fillet of a millimeter wide; the tips form drawing of Hayte, and for each one of the star's five angles they leave five golden rays; its central part is been by an emblem of Mehal-la, also of five tips and 12 millimeters of radio, in white enamel with their initials gilded in the center and layout in golden fillet of a millimeter wide; its total radio is of 20 millimeters, and in the superior tip, together to her from behind, it takes a half moon in silver, of 5 millimeters of radio whose tips unite to the spherical muff of a ring of gold that takes the ribbon in its inferior part. This is of red garnet color, with a green central stripe.

The Plaque is formed by the same Medal with radiations in silver over a five arms of double tip of gold, and of 32 millimeters of radio.

Both badges will be taken in the left side.

Sorry for the image. I dont see never any medal

[Antonio Prieto]

ORDEN DE LA HASANIA-ORDER OF HASANIA

Created by Dahir of May 23, 1949 and regulations of the same date.

To reward those very distinguished and notorious facts of Spaniards and Moroccans carried out in the Morocco Area to the Protectorate of Spain. This badge will be able to also be granted to foreigners whenever they have lent useful services in the Area Jalifiana.

The Order of Hasania will be composed of a star of eight tips of enamel in white, in form of crenels, with a golden crisscross morocco leather. In the center, a shield of enamel green emerald with a surrounded star of knots of five silver tips of a golden fringe with arabesque also golden, on a bottom of brown dark enamel; surroundings take a circle of green enamel between two golden fillets, and inside the circle and in the superior part a Arabic inscription: Mulei Hasan Ben Menhdi Ben Ismail, and in the inferior part, arabesques. The badge will go slope of a ring in way of half moon, of dull silver, subject for a ribbon in three parts: both lateral in scarlet red -the Morocco flag- and central stripe in green -the Prophet flag-.

The Knight badge it will be made of brilliant silver the fillet of the badge. The plaques of Commander and Grand Cross will go on a star of silver or gold.

Classes:

MENS:

Knight (Rifaat). The fillets of the badge will be made of brilliant silver. It will be suspended of the left side of the chest.

Officer (Litizas). Only differs of the previous one in that is of gold the fillet of the badge. It will also be suspended of the left side.

Commander (Saada). The same badge, only, by means of a golden pin, it will be taken to the neck.

Commander if Number (Fajama). As the previous, and, also, a silver plaque, in the right side of the chest.

Grand Cross (Sumu-u) As the previous badge, but with a gilt plaque. Also, a sash, with the badge of the order.

Collar (Kil-lada). A Necklace whose links, alternating, will be a half moon of dull silver with brilliant edges of gold and a rhombus of arabesque in whose end a shield of green enamel goes with edge of brilliant gold and a white star of five tips. The center of the Necklace is a locket of arabesque of gold it kills with two crossed lances and some funds of red and green enamel. Of this locket it will loll a plaque like that of Grand Cross.

WOMENS:

Bow (equivalent to the category of Official). The ribbon will go with golden fillets, and of her it will loll, in reduced dimensions, the badge.

Cordon (equivalent to Commander)..A green and red silk cordon and it will take silver fillets. The Cord will take, in reduced dimensions, the badge of Official.

Plaque (equivalent to Commander of Number). The Commander's plaque , but in more reduced proportions.

Grand Cross: Sash of 4 centimeters of width and the paque will be more reduced.

will Have, also, to reward civil subordinate services, so much European as indigenous, a silver badge and another of brass

More images at: www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/hasania.htm

[Antonio Prieto]

MEDAL FOR THE 1395/1975 "GREEN MARCH?

Oval, about 32 x 50 mm

Obverse: Inscriptions: upper part (where the star), left to right "King" "God" "Homeland"; Center (where the book), left to right "October 1975", in the left page of the book a group of people advancing and the right page of the book "Victory". The extreme right part "Shuwal 1395" that it is the equivalent in the arab calendar from hegira to october of 1975; low part "Green March"

Reverse: A sura of Coran, that that summarized she means "That God us of the Victory"

Ribbon: green with a thin red stripe in the centre

[Antonio Prieto]

Credit Photo: NATO

Ribbons:

Commander of the Order of the Throne, Unkown, Order of the Military

Order of the Star of War with devices, Unkown, Medal for the Algerian-Moroccan Campaign

Unkown, Unkown

Also you can see the Spanish Medals for the African Campaigns at: www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/campafrica.htm

And finally another source references

ORDRES ET D?CORATIONS DE L'EMPIRE CH?RIFIEN AU TEMPS DU PROTECTORAT FRAN?AIS AU MAROC 1912 - 1956

Pierre Rousseau

http://www.memodoc.com/cadre.htm

D?CORATIONS FRANCE ET COLONIES

M. Delande, 1934

[Antonio Prieto]

A new image, I believe that the Order of Military Merit, Grand Cross sash and plaque. Also show not vissible the rossete and two gold winds

[Roeland]

Hello gents,

I have a question about the Order of Ouissam Alaouite.

Can someone give me the sizes of the grades?

(especially commander and grand cross grade)

are there any other distinctive differences between the grades?

I'm asking because I've been offered a grand cross of this order.

thank you for the help.

kind regards,

Roeland

[922F]

Pierre Rousseau, the author of ORDRES ET D?CORATIONS DE L'EMPIRE CH?RIFIEN AU TEMPS DU PROTECTORAT FRAN?AIS AU MAROC 1912 - 1956, sells his book via French eBay. FJP auctions recently offered at least one copy of this French language book.

It provides comprehensive information on the Order of Ouissam Alaouite.

Usually Commander and Grand Cross badges are the same size but some larger badges, of the second variety at least, do exist .

[Guest IMHF]

Order of Ouissam Alaouite

A new addition. I once owned a Grand Cross set of this order, which ranks among the many "I wish I hadn't had to sell that" sales I've had over the years.

Very Beautiful Order Thank you for posting it:

Happy New Year

SSG Luna, Lorenzo

[oamotme]

Gentlemen,

I have recently obtained a small, 30mm diameter, circular gilt medal with loop suspension:

Obverse: Five pointed star and inscription above and below "The Kingdom of Morocco".

Reverse : A laurel wreath with the inscripton "Hassan The Second".

This is an unknown medal to me - was there an accession or coronation medal for Hassan II?

Any ideas?

Owain

P.S. Image to follow.

Edited October 18, 2008 by oamotme

[oamotme]

Gentlemen,

The obverse is illustrated below. Please note that the ribbon is incorrect as the red ribbon with indistinct yellow side stripes more properly belongs to the three grade Medal of Economic Prosperity.

Regards,

Owain.

Later........I have today been verbally advised that in the Bertrand in house reference book this medal is referred to simply as the Medal of Hassan II and is apparently in three classes gilt, silver or silvered and bronze and may be a form of Royal Household award. The correct ribbon, it appears, would be of three equal stripes of red, green and red.

Edited October 24, 2008 by oamotme

[oamotme]

....and the obverse.

Owain.

P.S. Perhaps I am being pedantic but the Order of the Ouissam Alaouite should be more properly referred to a the Order of the Alaoui - after all Ouissam (or Wissam) is only Arabic for order. Similarly the Order of the Nishan Iftikar of Tunisia should be referred to a the Order of Glory - Nishan (or Nichan) again being an Arab/Turkish/Persian (Farsi) word for Order.

[James Hoard]

... Similarly the Order of the Nishan Iftikar of Tunisia should be referred to a the Order of Glory - Nishan (or Nichan) again being an Arab/Turkish/Persian (Farsi) word for Order.

Doesn't nishan really mean insignia or decoration, rather than order?

Cheers,

James

[oamotme]

James,

Quite possibly - someone with better liguistic skills than myself can confirm.

Owain

[Greg]

Dear All

I am becoming quite frustrated in my attempts to purchase ribbon and/or ribbon devices for several medals I want to mount. I am sure you all know the story ! The Association of Members of the Order tell me to contact Spink because they are the suppliers. Spink tell me (or are just not interested!) to contact Toye & Kenning who tell me contact someone else who tell me to contact Spink who tell me to contact Gardino in Rome.

Does anyone know -

1. a website for Gardino in Rome ?

2. a company who can supply ribbon and ribbon devices for medals from Belgium, Italy, France & Poland?

3. where I can get lengths of ribbon (to court mount) US medals? Everyone seems to have pre-packaged ribbon bars but no ribbon.

4. Would it be ok if I posted a list of my needs here to see if anyone has the bits and pieces I am looking for?

5. Where can I get the enamel of an Order repaired ?

Thanks,

Greg.

(In Australia)

[Ed_Haynes]

Dear All

I am becoming quite frustrated in my attempts to purchase ribbon and/or ribbon devices for several medals I want to mount. I am sure you all know the story ! The Association of Members of the Order tell me to contact Spink because they are the suppliers. Spink tell me (or are just not interested!) to contact Toye & Kenning who tell me contact someone else who tell me to contact Spink who tell me to contact Gardino in Rome.

Does anyone know -

1. a website for Gardino in Rome ?

No, sorry. Google??

2. a company who can supply ribbon and ribbon devices for medals from Belgium, Italy, France & Poland?

Have you tried the OMSA ribbon bank? (You'll need to be a member, of course. Not sure what you seek, though.

3. where I can get lengths of ribbon (to court mount) US medals? Everyone seems to have pre-packaged ribbon bars but no ribbon.

As above: OMSA.

4. Would it be ok if I posted a list of my needs here to see if anyone has the bits and pieces I am looking for?

Sure, why not? Posted into the right place.

5. Where can I get the enamel of an Order repaired ?

OH MY GOD! Why do this decescration???? If it broke it is broken.

[heusy68]

Credit Photo: NATO

Ribbons:

Commander of the Order of the Throne, Unkown, Order of the Military

Order of the Star of War with devices, Unkown, Medal for the Algerian-Moroccan Campaign

Unkown, Unkown

Also you can see the Spanish Medals for the African Campaigns at: www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/campafrica.htm

And finally another source references

ORDRES ET D?CORATIONS DE L'EMPIRE CH?RIFIEN AU TEMPS DU PROTECTORAT FRAN?AIS AU MAROC 1912 - 1956

Pierre Rousseau

http://www.memodoc.com/cadre.htm

D?CORATIONS FRANCE ET COLONIES

M. Delande, 1934

Hello on second row,the first ribbon is : Star of War with Device.The second ribbon is Operation Al Qadr 1979.The Thirs ribbon is for Algero/Moroccan Wra

On 3rd row .The first ribbon is Commemorative Medal for the War against Israel 1973 and the plain green ribbon is the Medal for Volunteer on the War against Israel.

Strange that Morocco issued 2 separate medal for the Kippur war in which he didn't took an active part.

[heusy68]

Credit Photo: NATO

Ribbons:

Commander of the Order of the Throne, Unkown, Order of the Military

Order of the Star of War with devices, Unkown, Medal for the Algerian-Moroccan Campaign

Unkown, Unkown

Also you can see the Spanish Medals for the African Campaigns at: www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/campafrica.htm

And finally another source references

ORDRES ET D?CORATIONS DE L'EMPIRE CH?RIFIEN AU TEMPS DU PROTECTORAT FRAN?AIS AU MAROC 1912 - 1956

Pierre Rousseau

http://www.memodoc.com/cadre.htm

D?CORATIONS FRANCE ET COLONIES

M. Delande, 1934

Here the reverse of this medal (Owain translated it)

[heusy68]

Credit Photo: NATO

Ribbons:

Commander of the Order of the Throne, Unkown, Order of the Military

Order of the Star of War with devices, Unkown, Medal for the Algerian-Moroccan Campaign

Unkown, Unkown

Also you can see the Spanish Medals for the African Campaigns at: www.coleccionesmilitares.com/medallas/texto/campafrica.htm

And finally another source references

ORDRES ET D?CORATIONS DE L'EMPIRE CH?RIFIEN AU TEMPS DU PROTECTORAT FRAN?AIS AU MAROC 1912 - 1956

Pierre Rousseau

http://www.memodoc.com/cadre.htm

D?CORATIONS FRANCE ET COLONIES

M. Delande, 1934

Here the obverse of the Morocco Commemorative of the War of Kippur