Médaille commémorative de l'expédition de Chine (1860)
Encyclopedia
The Médaille commémorative de l'expédition de Chine (1860) (Commemorative medal for the China Expedition) was a military award of the Second French Empire
to reward soldiers and sailors who participated in the Anglo-French expedition to China, during the Second Opium War. It was created by imperial decree on 23 January 1861, by Napoleon III.
had been engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Qing Dynasty
since 1856 over legalizing the opium trade, expanding coolie trade, opening all of China to British merchants, and exempting foreign imports from internal transit duties. Following the United Kingdom general election, 1857
the new parliament decided to seek redress from China based on the report about the Arrow Incident submitted by Harry Parkes, British Consul to Guangzhou. The French Empire, the United States, and the Russian Empire received requests from Britain to form an alliance. France joined the British action against China, prompted by the execution of a French missionary, Father August Chapdelaine ("Father Chapdelaine Incident"), by Chinese local authorities in Guangxi province. The conflict concluded with the 1858 Treaty of Tianjin finally ratified by the emperor's brother, Yixin, the Prince Gong, in the Convention of Peking
on 18 October 1860.
written in Chinese characters,woven in blue. It is a round medal 30 mm in diameter made of silver. The design was engraved by Albert Désiré Barre. On the obverse the legend NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR surrounding the crowned effigy of the Emperor, framed by a laurel wreath. On the reverse is the inscription EXPÉDITION DE CHINE 1860 surrounding the names of battles Ta-Kou, Cang-Kia-Wan, Pa-Li-Kiao, Pe-King, surrounded by a laurel wreath.
Second French Empire
The Second French Empire or French Empire was the Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 1852 to 1870, between the Second Republic and the Third Republic, in France.-Rule of Napoleon III:...
to reward soldiers and sailors who participated in the Anglo-French expedition to China, during the Second Opium War. It was created by imperial decree on 23 January 1861, by Napoleon III.
History
The British EmpireBritish Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
had been engaged in an ongoing conflict with the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
since 1856 over legalizing the opium trade, expanding coolie trade, opening all of China to British merchants, and exempting foreign imports from internal transit duties. Following the United Kingdom general election, 1857
United Kingdom general election, 1857
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
the new parliament decided to seek redress from China based on the report about the Arrow Incident submitted by Harry Parkes, British Consul to Guangzhou. The French Empire, the United States, and the Russian Empire received requests from Britain to form an alliance. France joined the British action against China, prompted by the execution of a French missionary, Father August Chapdelaine ("Father Chapdelaine Incident"), by Chinese local authorities in Guangxi province. The conflict concluded with the 1858 Treaty of Tianjin finally ratified by the emperor's brother, Yixin, the Prince Gong, in the Convention of Peking
Convention of Peking
The Convention of Peking or the First Convention of Peking is the name used for three different unequal treaties, which were concluded between Qing China and the United Kingdom, France, and Russia.-Background:...
on 18 October 1860.
Medal
The medal is suspended from a yellow ribbon, in the center, the name of the city of BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
written in Chinese characters,woven in blue. It is a round medal 30 mm in diameter made of silver. The design was engraved by Albert Désiré Barre. On the obverse the legend NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR surrounding the crowned effigy of the Emperor, framed by a laurel wreath. On the reverse is the inscription EXPÉDITION DE CHINE 1860 surrounding the names of battles Ta-Kou, Cang-Kia-Wan, Pa-Li-Kiao, Pe-King, surrounded by a laurel wreath.