The Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign (or Médaille commémorative de la campagne d’Italie de 1859 in French) is a French commemorative medal established by Napoleon III in 1859 following the French campaign in Italy during the Second Italian War of Independence.
In Europe, Italian unification was only supported by Emperor Napoleon III of France who, on 28 January 1859, based on the clauses of the Treaty of Turin, decided to bring aid and support from France. France declared war on the Austrian Empire on May 3, 1859. In spite of the lack of preparation of the French army, the soldiers and allies were to illustrate themselves in several famous battles, including that of Magenta on June 4th, which allowed Napoleon III and Victor Emmanuel II to enter triumphantly in Milan on 8 June. An armistice was signed at Villafranca on July 12.
During the three-month campaign, French losses amounted to 8,000 dead and 40,000 wounded. To reward all participants and ensure the memory of this glorious military campaign, the Medal was created by Imperial Decree on August 11, 1859.
Nearly 120,000 medals were awarded to reward all soldiers and sailors who participated in the Italian campaign of 1859. All recipients also received a certificate of award.
The Commemorative Medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign Design
The medal was designed by Albert Désiré Barre. It measures 30 mm in diameter and is circular and struck in silver.
The obverse bears the left profile of Emperor Napoleon III crowned with a laurel wreath surrounded by the relief inscription “NAPOLEON III” “EMPEREUR” (English: “NAPOLEON III” “EMPEROR”). A 4 mm wide relief laurel wreath ran along the entire circumference of both the obverse and reverse of the medal.
On the reverse, within the laurel wreath, the circular relief inscription CAMPAGNE D’ITALIE 1859 (English: ITALIAN CAMPAIGN 1859). At the centre, the relief inscription on six lines of the campaign’s major battles MONTEBELLO, PALESTRO, TURBIGO, MAGENTA, MARIGNAN, SOLFERINO.
The medal hangs from a 36 mm wide silk moiré ribbon bearing six 4 mm wide red stripes and five 2 mm wide white stripes.
