Germany - Imperial - State of Isenburg-Birstein: 1814 War Commemorative Medal of Isenburg, other wise known as the War Honour Decoration 1814. Silver, measuring 28 mm in diameter, weight 10 grammes. Fitted with a modern replacement but correct ribbon. Exceptionally Rare, and the rarest of all Napoleonic War series of medals created by the rulers of the German states to commemorate their participation in the coalition which defeated Napoleon in the years 1813 to 1815.
Isenburg-Birstein was the name of two German historical states centred on Birstein in southeastern Hesse, Germany. The first "Isenburg-Birstein" was a County and was created as a partition of Isenburg-Büdingen-Birstein in 1628. It was merged into Isenburg-Offenbach in 1664. The second "Isenburg-Birstein" was a Principality, created as a partition of Isenburg-Offenbach in 1711. It was renamed the “Principality of Isenburg” in 1806.
It was not until 1806 that there was a state called simply "Isenburg". When the Holy Roman Empire was defeated by Napoleon I of France in that year, the empire was abolished and the Confederation of the Rhine was established amongst the various German states. As an incentive to join the Confederation, it was stated that any state which joined could mediatise their neighbours. Prince Charles of Isenburg-Birstein joined the Confederation and was granted the mediatised Isenburgian Countships of Isenburg-Büdingen, Isenburg-Meerholz, Isenburg-Philippseich, and Isenburg-Wächtersbach. His Principality was renamed to Isenburg.
The Principality continued under the rule of Prince Charles through the Napoleonic era, but was mediatised by Austria in December 1813, at the insistence of King Frederick William III of Prussia, who was angered that Isenburg had raised a regiment for French service by recruiting Prussian deserters and vagabonds. Isenburg was one of only three original member princes of the Empire to be mediatised at the end of the Napoleonic era (the others being Leyen and prince-primate Dalbery, Prince of Aschaffenburg). This decision was confirmed at the Congress of Vienna. The lands of the principality were divided between the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt and the Electorate of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel).
The 1814 War Commemorative Medal of Isenburg was founded by Prince Carl of Isenburg toward the end of 1814. it was a campaign commemorative medal, rather than a merit award, in the strict sense. As such it is one of the more interesting of the series of medals created by the rulers of the German states to commemorate their participation in the coalition which defeated Napoleon in the years 1813 to 1815.
That many of the German princes had only lately deserted the cause of the French Emperor whom they were now sworn to defeat did not inhibit this fashion. The medals were an earnest of devotion to a new cause, and their inscriptions ("To the Defenders of the Fatherland!; With God for the Fatherland!") often reflect the sloganeering, pamphleteering patriotism which swept Germany at this time.
But one may suspect more cynical motives of Prince Carl, a fervent supporter of Napoleonic policy, who did not join the Allies until November, 1813, after his patron had retreated across the Rhein. Carl had remained on his throne, and even prospered, while many of his fellow princes languished in exile. This was remembered by the delegates to the Congress of Vienna. Isenburg was "mediatized" by the Congress on 9th June 1815, and divided between the Grand Duchy of Hesse and the Electoral Principality of Hesse.
The medals were intended for those subjects of Isenburg who had taken part in the 1814 campaign, after enlisting in the army of the successor-state to the French-inspired Grand Duchy of Frankfurt. During the 1814 campaign, these troops - along with other Landwehr units from the smaller German states - were engaged in the blockade of the remaining French-held fortresses 8n the Rhein-Main area. Later, in early 1815, these silver medals were also awarded to the officers and men of Isenburg’s independent infantry battalion.
This medal is covered in Hessenthal and Schreibers book “Die tragbaren Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Reiches". Though Hessenthal and Schreiber do not say how many medals were awarded, the number cannot have been large. Isenburg issued no other decorations or medals, though Prince Carl did found a House Order, "pour mes amis" in 1809. What little information has come to light on this scarce order, as well as an illustration of the badge, may be found in Dr. K. G. Klietmann’s "Per Fuerstlich Isenburg-Birstein’sehe Hausorden ~pour mes amis’", published in 1958 by the International Orders Research Society in the series of pamphiets~ "Ordenskunde". Prince Carl died on 21st March 1820.
Hessenthal and Schreiber describe three separate obverse coinages (HS 712 & 712a-b) for the 1814 Isenburg commemorative medal, surely remarkable for a piece that was actively awarded for a few months only. Briefly, they summarise the points of difference among the three dies this way:
712 - The cannon barrel and mortar are smaller than those shown on the other varieties, and the lower left banner has a tassel attached by a long cord.
712a - This variety is illustrated in Hessenthal-Schreiber. The chief difference is in the size of the crowned initial in the shield on the column - it is considerably smaller here. The tell-tale lower left banner has the tassel, but attached directly to the pole.
712b - The illustration submitted by Mr. Holloway apparently depicts this variety. It has a thicker column, or pillar, than the other two, and the cannon barrel behind it is more steeply inclined. The lower banner in the group of four on the viewer’s left has no tassel.
Though Hessenthal and Schreiber do not mention it, it appears that there were also at least two separate reverse coinages. The reverse of 712b differs from those of 712 and 712a in that the "M" in the first line of the inscription is nearly in contact with the leaves of the oak wreath. ~e entire wreath on this variety, in fact, seems to sit !ower in relation to the inscription, reducing the amount of blank space between its closed upper end and the top line of the inscription.
Hessenthal and Schreiber quote a standard diameter of 28 mm for the 1814 Isenburg medal, with the weight, in silver, varying between 10 and 11 grams.
