Carol I

Breast star

You're welcome. And yes, I am.

Thanks Kim. Is there any difference between the Commander badge and the Commander 1st class badge? It could be posible that he is neither of them as the dress of the lady indicates a much earlier period. Besides, he seems to be wearing the Order of the Star of Romania which I suspect was not displayed around WWI due to Austria and Romania being on the opposite sides of the frontline. Could it be that he received the Commander's badge of the Swedish Order of the Sword as a colonel?

Thanks Rick. I cannot do a zoom as I only have this image, not the original photo.

Can anyone identify this officer or at least his rank (and branch of service)? Thanks.

You're welcome, Riley.

You're welcome Miguel, but I have two small notes to your latest post. 1. From 1862 the state was no longer known officially as 'Romanian (or Danubian) Principalities', but as 'Romania'. 2. There were no "Romanian volunteers fighting along the Russian army", but the Romanian Army called upon rather desperately by the Russian army stuck at Pleven with great human losses. The National Military Museum has on display the telegram sent by Grand Duke Nikolai of Russia to Prince Carol I of Romania which reads:

Established through Decree 54 published in Buletinul Oficial 21 of 05.02.1969. Regulations were issued a bit later in Buletinul Oficial 64 of 16.06.1969. It was awarded in three classes to medical personnel involved in health care or medical science.

Ionuţ Cosmin Sandu was raised post-mortem to the rank of second lieutenant and was awarded the Order of the Star of Romania. Information from the Ministry of Defense

From 1916 on, the wartime Military Virtue Medal (in the shape of a cross) was the highest gallantry award for all those who did not belong to the officers' ranks and hence the equivalent of the Order of Michael the Brave for them. This is also valid nowadays in the new system of national orders.

Alexandru Filitti was a WWI hero who commanded as a captain the 3rd squadron of the 9th Roşiori Regiment during the Robăneşti Charge. On 10.11.1916 the Romanian cavalry squadron destroyed a German battery that threatened the retreat of the remains of the 1st and 17th Divisions following the Jiu Battle. Only 18 of the 110 cavalrymen survived the charge. After WWI Alexandru Filitti rose to the rank of general.

Corneliu Teodorini rose to the rank of General de Divizie (Major General) in WWII and was awarded the Order of Michael the Brave 3rd class on 18.02.1943 and 2nd class on 20.12.1943. Before that he also received the German Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves.

These are the awards of Romania's Unknown Soldier from WWI.

I hope you liked the visit to the MMN, Kevin. Matei Vasiliu received the Order of Michael the Brave on 10 July 1917 as a lieutenant "for the gallantry with which on 12 October 1916 resisted on the position on Clăbucetul Taurului mountain not willing to leave it until he received written orders. Then he broke the front to Azuga saving all the 4 machine gun sections and took a new fighting position. He also distinguished on 23 November 1916 at T?ncăbeşti when he secured the retreat of the whole regiment, being wounded two times."

Lance Corporal Ionuţ Cosmin SANDU was killed and Corporal Silviu ATANASIU was injured on 20 March 2008 when their vehicle passed over an explosive device while on patrol in the Zabul province. Both were members of the 300th Infantry Battalion "St. Andrew" stationed in Afghanistan. Press release from the Ministry of National Defence (Romanian language) Lance Corporal Ionuţ Cosmin SANDU was 29 and leaves behing a wife and two children. (photo from the Romanian edition of BBC News)

Thanks Milan. I'll see if the badge is still available. If you find a spare eagle I presume I'd have to go to a jeweller to fix the piece, but probably it is worth it. Thanks again.

Thanks Milan for the reply. I was offered the cross and wanted to check the price. It is indeed a pity that an eagle is missing.

Your very own Order for Cultural Merit. Congratulations for your collection.

Thanks. Do you have similar images of the 1916 model of the order?

Can you post an image of the reverse as well as higher resolution images of both sides? Thanks.

Here are the images. Click on the thumbnails for better resolution.

Can you help me with an estimation of the value of a knight's cross of the Serbian Order of St. Sava? I guess it's a type II (red robes and year on the reverse). One of the eagles between the arms of the cross is missing. I will post some photos later today.

An interesting thing about this medal is that so many of these were awarded to Romanians that it was included in the Romanian system of decorations.

Thanks, Dave, for the reply and for the images. It is interesting to see examples of the higher classes of the orders.

Where are these displayed, Dave? Do you have close-ups for each and every badge?