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Lot n° 180

Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout. POLAND - GRAND DUCHY...

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Marshal Louis Nicolas Davout. POLAND - GRAND DUCHY OF WARSAW CREATED IN 1792. MILITARY ORDER OF VIRTUTI MILITARI. Extremely rare set of grand crosses. - Gold and enamel jewel surmounted by a crown with chiselled branches on an amati background. Back engraved on the branches "S.A.R.P." (Stanislas Augustus Rex Poloniaé). 92 x 45 mm. Weight: 44g. T.T.B. (misses the center of the backhand). With its large complete cordon in blue moire bordered with black stripes. - Silver plate. Gold and enamel center, in two parts. Reverses trimmed with green leather. Bielnais type clip with spring pin and two hooks. Diameter: 80 mm. Gross weight: 37g. T.T.B. (tiny shards on the laurel wreath). History: A perfectly exceptional honour, the great cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari was a priori only awarded twice during the First Empire, once to Prince Poniatowsky (who had just restored order) and a second time to Davout on 22 March 1809 at the beginning of the Austrian Campaign, for the important services rendered in Poland in 1807 and 1808. The Marshal wears the order's plate on the lithograph representing him in court clothes, by Delpech. Bibliography: Jean Tulard "La Berline de Napoléon, le mystère du loot de Waterloo", Albin Michel, 2012.