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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 368

(x) A rare and impressive Order of St. Hermenegild, Battle of Bailen and Battle of Tarancon unattributed group of four awarded to a senior officer of the Spanish Royal Army during the Peninsular War

Royal and Military Order of St. Hermenegild, Knight Commander's set of Insignia comprising breast Star and sash Badge, Star 70mm x 70mm, central reverse marked Casaron, Badge 40mm x 77mm including suspension, silver, silver-gilt, gold and enamel, with original silk sash, this in relic condition; Medal for the Battle of Bailen 1808, 30mm x 48mm including suspension, gold and enamel, reverse marked NB, mounted on an original silk riband bar, this in relic condition; Medal for the Battle of Tarancon 1808, 25mm x 50mm including suspension, gold and enamel; Andalusian Reserve Army Cross 1814, 27mm x 52mm including suspension, gold and enamel, sash Badge lacking central reverse and chipping to enamel on reverse of two arms, last award lacking centre, an exceptionally rare and attractive combination of awards for this important period in Spanish history, generally very fine and better (5)

The Battle of Bailen (16 - 19 July 1808), fought only a few months after the great Spanish uprising against French occupation (the 'Dos de Mayo'), was a resounding victory for General Castanos's Army of Andalusia against a French army of some 20,000 men under the command of General Pierre Dupont. This French defeat plunged their territorial consolidation plans into confusion, and led Napoleon himself to say that his army had been "commanded by postal inspectors rather than generals." Castanos and his senior officers were rightly lauded as heroes, whereas Dupont was court-martialled, stripped of his rank and titles, and imprisoned until 1814. The fruits of the Spanish victory failed to last, however, and Bailen remained that country's only major victory over a large French force for the entirety of the Peninsular War; it would take a combined effort from Britain, Spain and Portugal to eventually win back the Iberian Peninsula in early 1814.

Sold together with an original plastron front from the Dress or Service uniform of a senior officer of the Spanish Army, ranked (according to the Royal Ordinance of 20 March 1793) to a Field-Marshal, Lieutenant-General or Major-General; with 11 of 14 original buttons, bearing cloth 'beckets' to the upper left breast which correspond exactly to the retaining pins upon the reverse of the accompanying Order of St. Hermenegild. Evidence of moth damage to obverse and reverse but a rare and fascinating survival of early-19th century Spanish military uniform.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£17,000

Starting price
£1900