Knight’s Badge, 60x35 mm, GOLD with white enameled rays and golden arrows, convex centre medallion in gold with representation of the Imperial Throne, within pale blue enameled outer circlet bearing the inscription “TOUT POUR L’EMPIRE” in gold lettering and laurel branches. The reverse medallion also in gold with the Imperial monogram “N” within a laurel wreath, pale blue enameled outer circlet with golden inscription “A JAMAIS”, hinged crown suspension, with pale blue enameled base inscribed “NAPOLEON” (obverse) and “FONDATEUR.”, original,
long ribbon with rosette, with the original award document, given in Paris, March 25th, 1812 to W. Barnaart, Mayor of Haarlem in the Netherlands, with the original signature “Duc de Cadore”, Jean- Baptiste de Nompère (1756-1834), count of Champagny and count of the Empire (April 24th 1808); Minister of the Internal Affairs (1804-1807); Minister of the Foreign Affairs (1807-1814), Grand Chancellor of the Order of the Reunion and Senator; the document is accompanied by two further papers: the first with the dated oath (“Formule de Serment”), the second, with particular, bureaucratic instructions to the knights. I R!
A beautiful piece, definitely rare in this very fine condition and completeness.
This Order was founded in 1811 as a special reward to those, both military or civil, for their signalled merits towards the empire. An approximate number of awards was 1 Grand Master (Napoleon I himself); 61 Grand Crosses, 90 Commanders and 527 Knights.