This guide will address only the Hungarian 1848-49 Order of Military Merit 1st Class. The Hungary 1848-49 Order of Military Merit 1st Class (Az 1848-1849-es Magyar Katonai Érdemrend ideiglenes I or the Ungarischer Militärverdienstorden I. Klasse) was established in 1849 for military merit during the 28 September 1848 - 2 May 1849 Hungarian War of Independence.   As Hungary's highest award, it was awarded retroactive to 1848 and reportedly continued on a very random basis (evidence to support this is mainly theoretical) until the Austrian Kaiser Franz Joseph I became King of Hungary and unified the 2 countries in 1867.   This is a fairly complicated history and I recommend reading about this War so the significance of these awards are more clear. 

 

 

The contemporary issued Order of Military Merit 1st Class (Provisional) was a breast star of silver alloy (86 mm wide by 88 mm tall and at least 5 mm thick).  Each ray was studded with diamonds.  The central design was a floreated circle with a gold wreath.  Within the wreath was a gold double cross mounted on the Hungarian crown which was on top of 3 gold hills.  The background was silver and is similar to a rising sun with rays.   

 

To date, I've only seen one original in a Budapest museum (with award document to Bem József ) and was not able to observe the reverse or gain further information other than a few paragraphs (in Hungarian).   The Hungarian National Archives has very limited information and/or documentation about this order but it's the best currently available.  Research is continuing to obtain further details on this rare order.  There is reportedly another example in existence which has had the M T filed off the obverse of the Austrian equivalent of this breast star, which makes it very similar in appearance to this order. 

 

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