Italy WWI Fiume Expedition Commemorative Medal 1919

ITALY: Commemorative Medal for the Expedition 
to Fiume in 1919.
Obverse: Roman Eagle and Gladius Swords. 
Inscribed: "HIC MANEBIMUS OPTIME" (Here we 
will remain most excellently: Marcus Furius 
Camillus' response to the Roman senators who 
were ready to abandon Rome during the Gaul i
nvasion in 390BC).
Reverse:  "AI LIBERATORI XII SETTEMBRE 
MCMXIX, FIUME D’ITALIA",  (To the Liberators 
12 Sep. 1919, Italian Fiume).
The medal was instituted in 1919 by Gabriele 
d'Annunzio, initially as an unofficial award of the 
Italian Regency of Carnaro (Fiume). 
It was awarded to the 2500 volunteers (called 
"Legionnaires") who participated in the unofficial 
expedition to seize control of the port of Fiume 
that following the Treaty of Saint Germain between 
Austria and the Allies at the end of WW1 had been 
granted to Yugoslavia. 
The medals, despite being unmarked, were 
designed by Adolfo De Carolis and produced by 
Johnson in Milan. 
Fiume, on the Adriatic coast opposite Trieste, had 
majority Italian population so d'Annunzio's 
expedition that seized the city on behalf of Italy 
(and established the Italian Regency of Carnaro) 
won huge popular support. 
Italy however, forced d'Annunzio to evacuate the 
city in 1920 by bombing his headquarters.
In 1924 with the Treaty of Rome, Italy officially 
annexed Fiume. 
Following the end of WW2, with the Paris Peace 
Treaty in 1947, Italy was forced to cede Fiume to 
Yugoslavia.
Today Fieme (now called Rijeka) belongs to 
Croatia.
The medal became an official Italian award in 
1926.
This is an example of the 3rd emission of the 
medal, issued in 1935.
Weight of the medal: 30gr.
Note that the medal is heavily copied and the 
genuine examples are scarce.

FULL SIZE

Expedition to Fiume - 1919

Item 100% original - original ribbon

Condition as on the photos
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