"Virtuti militari"

In 1792 Stanislav August instituted one more Polish order – a real military reward.

Its name "Military valour" only emphasized this.

This order was handed to Polish officers, who distinguished themselves in a war against Russia.

 At first the decoration had 3 Classes – the Big, Knight commander’s and Holder’s (small) crosses. On the front side, on a black enamel, in the central round Medallion there is an image of a white Polish Eagle. On cross rays there are parted words of a motto.

 On the reverse of the decoration, on the cross rays there is a Latin abbreviation "SARP" (Stanislav August, Polish King).

The image of a galloping rider – a Lithuanian coat of arms – is in the central medallion. Below there is a date of Order’s institution – 1792.

However at this very year Stanislav August came over to the side of Targovitskaja conference which supported Russia and cancel the order.

But later it appeared that the order "Virtuti militari" overlived all its "fellows" and reached (sometimes with intervals) nowadays.

In 1807 after Tilsitsky Peace, Napoleon I. consolidated a number of Polish lands in so- called dukedom Varshavskoe and then, re – instituted old Polish orders.

Formally Fridrih August was at the head of the dukedom. It was Napoleon I. who gave him a permission to become a King of Poland.

But the presence of a Lithuanian coat of arms on the Order made Fridih August, who was a Grand Master of all the Polish Orders, change it for a motto "A Ruler and Fatherland" since Alexander I. wasn’t satisfied with a Lithuanian arms.

 Besides, Lithua was under the influence of Russia at that time.

The date "1792" wasn’t changed. During so – called "Polish revolt" (1831) Russian government outraged the national feelings of Poles when they gave the Order, which was instituted for feats of arms with Russia, to the participants a neutralization of the revolt against Russian dominion in Poland.

However, rioters themselves decorated their fighting men with such Orders but with the restored Lithuanian arms on them. The decorations, handed by the Russian Headquarters for the revolt neutralization had the date "1831" on a reverse.

Since 1807 they divided not into 3 Classes but into five. Lower ranks, who participated in the military operations against Poles, also had the right to have a decoration. The decoration with the

Order "Virtuti militari" was put an end to after 1813. This reward was reinstituted after Poland got the independence in 1918.

 It is interesting that the first decorations of the Order after 90 years of interval were handed in August, 7, 1920, to 10 Polish officers and 25 soldiers for the distinguished services in the Soviet – Poland war.

Composition:

 Star of the Order

Decoration with the crown

Cross

Pedestal – velvet

Table (size 500x350)