The Bavarian Veteran’s Commemorative for the Field Campaigns 1790 to 1812 was established by King Maximilian II (reigned 1848-1864) on June 30, 1848, for “all those who participated in the campaigns of the 1790s, including that of 1812, in the combat-ready state of the Bavarian Army.” Regierungs-Blatt 1848 Nr. XL. on October 31, 1848, also extended eligibility to the veterans “who had participated in the continuation of the campaign against Russia from 1813 until after the battle of Leipzig, which naturally includes the Garrison of Thorn (today known as Toruń, Poland) that withstood the siege of this fortress.” All military officials who served in the field army during those war years also received the Veterans’ Commemorative.
The cross has four tapered arms, the base of which is darkly oxidized, with light-colored raised edges.
On the obverse, the central shield (15 mm) depicts the Bavarian lozenge-pattern, surrounded by a narrow oak wreath in light bronze. The inscription “MAX II / KÖNIG / VON / BAYERN” is distributed across the four arms.
Figure 1-Obverse of the Bavarian Veterans’ Commemorative for the Field Campaigns 1790 to 1812. Image from author’s archive.
On the reverse, in the central shield (15 mm) on a lozenge-patterned background, a royally crowned lion, walking to the left, holding a scepter and a sword, within a narrow oak wreath; distributed over the four arms of the cross: “DEN” (above) / “VETERA NEN” (left) / “DES BAYER.” (right) / “HEERES” (below).
Figure 2-Reverse of the Bavarian Veterans’ Commemorative for the Field Campaigns 1790 to 1812. Image from author’s archive.
The ribbon for the cross is 36 mm wide, light blue with two carmoisine red side stripes, each 4 mm wide, with a ½ mm wide light blue edge still visible.
The crosses were struck in bronze which was then oxidized a dark color in the recessed areas of the obverse and reverse. The raised edges of the arms and the raised inscriptions were then polished on their surfaces resulting in a bright finish. The centers were not oxidized and thus had a bright finish matching the raised arm edges and raised inscriptions. The edges of the cross arms and central shield were ground to make them uniform. The eyelet was then drilled to allow for the ribbon ring to pass through it. Examples with both fused and un-fused bronze ribbon rings have been observed.
Figure 3-Profile of the Bavarian Veterans’ Commemorative for the Field Campaigns 1790 to 1812. Image from author’s archive.
The crosses are 36 mm to 37 mm in size excluding the eyelet for the ribbon ring (variations most likely due to grinding of the edges). Weights of individual pieces vary. On sample studied weighed 12.54 g, and another sample studied weighed 13.13 g.
Pieces are sometimes found with gilded highlights. It is thought that Officers sometimes had their crosses privately gilded. Such an example is shown below.
Figure 4-Obverse of a privately gilded Bavarian Veterans’ Commemorative for the Field Campaigns 1790 to 1812. Image from author’s archive.
Figure 5-Reverse of a privately gilded Bavarian Veterans’ Commemorative for the Field Campaigns 1790 to 1812. Image from author’s archive.
Figure 6-Obverse of as issued (left) and privately gilded (right) Bavarian Veterans’ Commemoratives for the Field Campaigns 1790 to 1812. Image from author’s archive.
Thank you for your interest in this article. Comments are welcome.
-Lorin
References:
Hessenthal, Waldemar Hesse Edlen von und Schreiber, Georg. Die tragbaren Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Reiches. Verlag Uniformen-Markt Otto Dietrich. Berlin, 1940.
Heyden, Hermann von. Ehren-Zeichen (Kriegs-Denkzeichen, Verdienst- und Dienstalters-Zeichen) der erloschenen und blühen- den Staaten Deutschlands und Österreich-Ungarns. Kommissions-Verlag von Brückner & Renner, Herzogl. Hofbuchhandlung. Meiningen, 1897.
Schreiber, Georg. Die Bayerischen Orden. Prestel-Verlag. München, 1964.
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Servus Lorin,
wieder ein sehr guter Bericht über dieses schöne Denkzeichen. Mir gefällt die nicht offizielle Ausführung mit vergoldeten, oftmals auch nur aufpolierten Kanten wesentlich besser. Es wirkt nicht so unscheinbar wie die offizielle Ausführung. Besonders reizvoll sind auch die Miniaturen dazu. Danke für diesen guten Beitrag über das bayerische Feldzugsdenkzeichen 1790 – 1812.
Viele Grüße aus Bayern
Walter
Servus Walter,
Vielen Dank für deine freundlichen Worte und deine Unterstützung. Vielen Dank auch für die Fotos des wunderschönen Miniatur.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen aus den USA nach Bayern,
Lorin