SCHLESWIG 1849/ BRAZILIAN Medal Bar

[Ulsterman]

I can not even speculate-and I'd bet the Schleswig-Holstein archives have a file on him. The Brazilian medal is amazing.

Edited March 31, 2008 by Ulsterman

[Henke]

Hi Ulsterman!

How can you know for sure that its naval? Maybe just naval troops were involved in the Brazilian conflict? Thank you for your kind words!

Best Regards

Henke

[ricky1972]

Fantastic medal bar. It?s a very very rare combination of awards and have LOTS of history.

[Ulsterman]

Hi Ulsterman!

How can you know for sure that its naval? Maybe just naval troops were involved in the Brazilian conflict? Thank you for your kind words!

Best Regards

Henke

Nope-my error. I thought by the front that it was the navy medal for 1851, but now that we can see the rear that's the 1852 campaign medal.

from Gillinghams' "South American Decorations and War medals, 1932" (many errors, but still THE best thing out there in English).

"Founded by decree on March 14, 1852 for the troops under General Urquiza taking part in the war with Juan Manuel Rosas, the dictator of Buenos Aires during 1851-52. In three classes, gold, silver and bronze. The ribbon is green edged with red."

The usual Latin American tradition of battle/campaign medals was bronze=enlisted (usually NCOs), silver =jr. officers and gold= Colonels/Generals.

Brazillian troops were allied with the caudillo general Justo Jose Urquiza' in mid 1851 after Urquiza' broke with Rosas.

In return later for for significant Uruguayan territorial concessions (but mostly to rid their southern border of Rosas)

the 1, 500 strong Brazilian army intervened against the Argentines and helped defeat them at the battle of Monte Caseros on February 12, 1852.

see here:

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Batallawe.jpg" target="_blank">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Batallawe.jpg</a>

Rosas was shipped off into permanent exile in Europe shortly thereafter.

Given the over-officered staus of most Latin American armies of the time a ratio of 1:10 would not be impossible, so figure @ 150-200 total jr. officer's medals made/ awarded. It's unknown if the allies got medals too.

Edited March 31, 2008 by Ulsterman