First Class Breast Star, 88 mm., Silver, with polished rays, each bordered with a thin, “roped” pattern, gilt silver, pebbled centre medallion bearing red enameled cross, red enameled outer circlet bearing the Order’s motto “AMAN . JUST. PIET . FID” and above, finely detailed angels-tenant with the Imperial crown, the whole within moulded borders, smooth, gilt reverse, this, bearing the maker’s mark of Keibel and Russian silver marks, vertical pin.
A star in the best quality from the mid-19th Century, excellent condition.
Provenance: the estate of General Charles-Marie-Augustin Count de Goyon (1803-1870) a prominent personality of the military entourage of Louis Napoleon
(later Emperor Napoleon III), began his military career entering the Saint-Cyr academy in 1819 and later appointed as Lieutenant of the Chasseurs a Cheval, in 1838, appointed as military attaché in Spain, then in Rome at the Holy See. Returned in France, he served in the Hussards regiments. In 1850 he was appointed as Brigadier General and became commander of the Cavalry school at Saumur, in 1852, he received the honour of becoming adjutant of the now Emperor Napoleon III and the charge of judge to the political prisoners, in this post, he showed himself as human and respectful, animated by true sense of justice. Sent to the Austrian Court in 1853 as observer to the army manoeuvres at Olmütz, he could also meet the Russian Tsar Nicholas I, shortly before the outbreak of the Crimean war. Returned to France, he was appointed as Division General. In 1856, sent to Rome as commander of the French Troops of Occupation, he maintained respect and devotion to the Pope, also directing the renovation of the fortifications of the harbour city of Civitavecchia. In 1859, he was created Roman Patrice and inscribed in the “Libro d’Oro” of the Vatican Nobility.
Appointed as Senator, after further military commands, he was sent in retirement, becoming from 1869 the president of the Society for the protection of the military wounded (later, the French Red Cross). I R!