Iron Cross (Belgium)
Iron Cross (Belgium) | |
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![]() Iron Cross 2nd class (obverse) | |
Awarded by ![]() | |
Type | Combat award |
Eligibility | Belgian citizens |
Awarded for | Wounds received or bravery displayed during combat |
Status | No longer awarded |
Statistics | |
Established | 8 October 1833 |
Total awarded | ~1635 |
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The Iron Cross (French: Croix de fer, Dutch: IJzeren Kruis) was established by law in 1833[1] following the end of the Belgian Revolution to recognise serious wounds received and bravery in battle by Belgian citizens taking part in the fight for Belgian independence from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands between 25 August 1830 and 4 February 1831. A further royal decree of 22 August 1834 created a second class to the Iron Cross for award to all wounded combatants.[2] Due to the lower perceived importance of the second class award and discontent among recipients, the Iron Cross second class was short lived and amalgamated to the Iron Cross first class by decree of 21 February 1835.[3] All recipients now received the (original) first class award.
Award statute
The Iron Cross (first class) was bestowed to members of the provisional government and to other citizens who were wounded in battle and who elected to stay at their post and keep fighting or who returned to the fight, to the maimed and mutilated, as well as to those who displayed acts of courage in combat and eminent services to the country.[1] Recipients were also honoured with the right to bear arms.[4]
The Iron Cross second class was bestowed to all wounded combatants.[2] All recipients of the Iron Cross 2nd class would receive the 1st class award (original single grade award) in 1835 to replace the by then defunct 2nd class variant.[3]
Over the years, recipients of the Iron Cross received ever increasing pensions, in 1842, those in need or not having any other pension or income would receive 100 francs,[5] this amount was increased to 250 francs in 1855.[6] A law of 27 May 1857 gave civil servants who were recipients of the Iron Cross ten additional years of seniority.[7] A budgetary law enacted in 1858 gave pensions to widows and orphans of deceased recipients of the Iron Cross.[8]
Award description
Iron Cross 1st class
The Iron Cross first class was a black Maltese Cross struck from iron with a gold central medallion. The cross was outlined in gold and small gilt orbs were affixed to the eight tips of the cross arms. The obverse of the gold central medallion bore the gilt relief image of the Belgian lion, an heraldic "lion rampant", but moving from left to right, surrounded by a golden disc. The reverse bore the gilt relief inscription "1830" also surrounded by a golden disc.[4]
The cross was suspended by a ring through an upper lateral suspension loop from a 31mm wide red silk moiré ribbon with 1.3mm wide yellow edge stripes bordered on the inside by 2.7mm wide black stripes.[4]
Iron Cross 2nd class
The Iron Cross second class was an octagonal medal struck from iron. Its obverse bore the relief image of the Belgian lion, an heraldic "lion rampant" on a pedestal, but moving from left to right, with banners to the left and right, the relief circular inscription along the medal's upper edge (French: "AUX DEFENSEURS DE LA PATRIE") translating into "TO THE DEFENDERS OF THE COUNTRY". The relief bore the relief coats of arms of the nine Belgian provinces arranged in a circle around a sun with the relief year "1830" superimposed over it, all of which are surrounded by the relief circular inscription (French: "INDEPENDANCE DE LA BELGIQUE") translating into "INDEPENDENCE OF BELGIUM". The award was topped by a pivot mounted crown from which it was suspended to the same ribbon as the cross first class by a ring through a suspension loop.[2]
Notable recipients (partial list)
The individuals listed below were awarded the Iron Cross:[9]
- Lieutenant General Baron André Jolly
- Prime Minister Charles Rogier
- Governor Baron Feuillen de Coppin de Falaën
- Count Félix de Merode
- Civic Guard General Baron Ghislain van der Linden d’Hooghvorst
- Prime Minister Count Félix de Muelenaere
- Count Jacques-André Coghen
- Colonel Charles de Brouckère
- Prime Minister Henri de Brouckère
- State Minister Viscount Charles Vilain XIIII
- State Minister Baron Charles-Augustin Liedts
- State Minister Count Barthelemy de Theux de Meylandt
- Baron Pierre de Schiervel
- State Minister Baron Adolphe de Vrière
- Lieutenant General Baron Pierre Chazal
- Lieutenant General Laurent-Mathieu Brialmont
- State Minister Baron Édouard d’Huart
- Lieutenant General Nicolas Daine
- Civic Guard Honorary Lieutenant General Charles-Joseph Pletinckx
See also
References
- 1 2 "Law of 8 October 1833 creating the Iron Cross". Belgian Government. 1833-10-08.
- 1 2 3 "Royal decree of 22 August 1834 creating the Iron Cross 2nd class". Belgian Government. 1834-08-22.
- 1 2 "Royal decree of 21 February 1835 amalgamating the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class". Belgian Government. 1835-02-21.
- 1 2 3 "Royal decree of 30 December 1833 amending the statute of the Iron Cross". Belgian Government. 1833-12-30.
- ↑ "Budgetary Law of 1842 creating a pension for recipients of the Iron Cross". Belgian Government. 1842.
- ↑ "Budgetary Law of 1855 increasing the pension for recipients of the Iron Cross". Belgian Government. 1855.
- ↑ "Law of 27 May 1857 on Civil Service by recipients of the Iron Cross". Belgian Government. 1857-05-27.
- ↑ "Budgetary Law of 1858 for widows and orphans of deceased recipients of the Iron Cross". Belgian Government. 1858.
- ↑ "Recipients of the Iron Cross compiled from the ARS MORIENDI web site" (in French). ARS MORIENDI. 2012-07-06. Retrieved 2012-09-23.
Further reading
- Quinot H., 1950, Recueil illustré des décorations belges et congolaises, 4e Edition. (Hasselt)
- Cornet R., 1982, Recueil des dispositions légales et réglementaires régissant les ordres nationaux belges. 2e Ed. N.pl., (Brussels)
- Borné A.C., 1985, Distinctions honorifiques de la Belgique, 1830-1985 (Brussels)
External links
- Belgian National Orders (In French)
- Royal Library of Belgium (In French)
- List of recipients of the Iron Cross, P.-M. Michelli, Brussels, 1865 (In French)
- ARS MORIENDI Notables from Belgian history (In French and Dutch)