Spain - Carlist Wars: Cross of Distinction for Merit of Maria Isabel Luisa II in Silver, unnamed as issued. With a straight bar suspension typical of a piece made in the late 19th or early 20th Century. Rare.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
During the First Carlist War (1833-1839), a force of British Volunteers - the British Auxiliary Legion was permitted by the British Government to lend support to the liberal Royalist Forces of Queen Isabella of Spain - the Legion being under the command of General Sir Lacy Evans. In November 1836 a detachment of the Royal Regiment of Artillery consisting of three officer’s and 36 other ranks were also sent to assist. Soon after their arrival, Captain Colquhoun and Lieutenant Basset with some of the contingent were sent to Portugalete in the neighbourhood of Bilbao, to assist in the relief of that besieged city. After several ineffectual attempts, the forces of General Espartero successfully raised the siege on 25th December 1836. As a result, General Espartero recommended the two British officers and several of the men for awards. The two officers were awarded the Order of St. Ferdinand, the Order of Isabella the Catholic and the Cross for the Liberation of Bilbao in gold, whilst nine other ranks were awarded the Cross of Distinction for Merit of Maria Isabel Luisa II in Silver, and a further eight other ranks were awarded the Cross for the Liberation of Bilbao in Silver.
Later, commemorative, or jeweler-made versions of the silver cross from the late 19th century through the early 20th century were often created with a fixed straight bar suspension to fit standardized, modern ribbon mountings (a common feature in Spanish insignia produced around 1900-1935).
