1st Class, instituted in 1849. Breast Badge, 32 mm, in GOLD, original suspension ring and triangular ribbon.
The medal was created by Pope Pius IX to reward the 9,000 French troops under General Oudinot who restored Rome to him. In February 1849, a revolutionary mob led by Garibaldi and Mazzini seized power in Rome and proclaimed a Roman Republic. The Pope slipped out of Rome and called upon Catholic states to intervene. First was France whose Expeditionary Force arrived on 20 April 1849 and was promptly hurled back into the sea. The French were surprised by the strength of resistance and besieged Rome throughout June and restored Rome to the Papacy in July. It was not until 1870 that Rome, with the exception of the Vatican City, was incorporated into a newly-united Italy. Extremely rare in gold, verified electronically as better then 14 carats gold! I RR!