War Medal of
Military Virtue
'Medalia
Virtutea
Militara de Razboi'
In
1880 the Medal of
Military Virtue was reformed by royal decree. Soldiers who had
earned the
medal
during wartime were authorized to turn in their medals for a new 'war'
medal (Medalia Virtutea Militara de Razboi). The new medal was in
the form of a cross and was awarded for bravery only during
wartime.
In
the center
of the cross is a medallion with a bust of Carol I surrounded by the
inscription,
"Carol I Domunul Romaniei".
On
the reverse
is the inscription "Virtute Militara".
Beginning
in
1918, the medal was awarded exclusively to enlisted men in both grades,
and was the highest award for bravery that could be awarded to enlisted
soldiers.
Of
interesting
note is that Romanian Orders often used the ribbon of the Medal of
Military
Virtue to signify that an award was given for bravery;
specifically,
the Orders of the Star and Crown of Romania.
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