| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL29504 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Award |
| Physical description | Silver; silk ribbon |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Ottoman Empire: Turkey |
| Date made | c 1890s |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Turkish Liyakat Medal
Description
Turkish Liyakat Medal (Medal of Merit), first instituted in 1890. A small circular silver medal suspended from ornate silver filigree wiring in five petal-like segments. Obverse bears the Ottoman trophy of arms with the Sultan's cipher above it. Reverse bears the inscription 'Medal of Merit Specially for Those Who Have Shown Loyalty and Bravery' and the date AH1308 (1890 AD), the date of the founding of the medal. The ribbon suspended from a silver buckle shaped clasp, is red with thin green stripes towards the outer edge. Attached to the ribbon is a filigree bar in three segments with a ring attached to the lower segment, possibly for the attachment of a second Liyakat Medal.
History / Summary
Owner unknown. Instiuted in 1890, the Liyakat Medal became the basic military decoration of the Ottoman Empire until the end of the First World War. It was issued in gold or silver. Awards made during this war only bore a ribbon clasp of crossed sabres with the year 1333 (1915) in the same metal as the medal.