- Time Period: Pre World War I
- Institution: 28 May 1789
- Country: Sweden
The Medal For Valor in the Field (or För tapperhet i fält in Swedish) and Medal For Valor at Sea (För tapperhet till sjöss) are esteemed military decorations of Sweden, honoring the courage and bravery demonstrated by officers and soldiers of the Swedish Armed Forces during wartime engagements, whether on land or at sea.
Instituted by Gustav III on May 28, 1789, amid conflicts with Russia, these medals were conceived to complement the Order of the Sword, which, since its establishment on February 23, 1748, had been exclusively bestowed upon officers for acts of valor on land or at sea.
These two medals, along with the various grades of the Order of the Sword, hold the distinction of being designated as Swedish war decorations (Svenska krigsdekorationer).
Through royal decrees issued on March 24, 1807, and June 10, 1809, it was decided to institute two distinct decorations: För tapperhet i fält (abbreviated Mtf) to recognize valor in the field and För tapperhet till sjöss (Mts) to honor acts of bravery at sea. Each of these awards has gold variants (prefixed with G, such as GMtf) reserved for officers and silver variants (prefixed with S, such as SMts) designated for non-commissioned officers and privates.
The Medal For Valor in the Field / At Sea Design
Initially crafted in silver, the medal was intended solely for non-commissioned officers and privates. However, in 1806, a gold version was introduced exclusively for higher-ranking officers.
The design of the medal is characterized by its simplicity, featuring a circular shape consistent with the modern size 8 of the Swedish medal scale established in 1773, known as Mensura magnitudinis Nummorum, with a diameter of 31 mm.
On the obverse side, the medal bears the inscription “FÖR TAPPERHET I FÄLT” or “FÖR TAPPERHET TILL SJÖSS” (or for older medals “[…] TILL SIÖS”), encircled by a wreath. Since 1809, the reverse side has been adorned with the symbol of the Order of the Sword. Prior to this, it depicted a portrait of Gustav III alongside the text “GUSTAV III SVERIGES KONUNG” (“Gustav III King of Sweden”).
The ribbon is blue and yellow and has been presented with the award since 1819.
