An important set of Marshall Ney’s belongings, including Orders’ insignia will be sold at an Auction, today 20th June, held at the Hôtel Drouot, in Paris.
Among the insignia of Prince de la Moskowa on sale are those of the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ, awarded by John the Prince Regent on May 8th within the exchange of decorations with Emperor Napoleon I. They include the original set of insignia bestowed and delivered by Ambassador Dom Lourenço de Lima at Milan on June 2nd 1805 – the red Riband with the Jewel and an embroidered Star – an extremely rare insignia which has survived (cf. José Vicente de Bragança & Paulo Estrela. The Order of Christ and the Legion d’Honneur – Phaleristics in the Luso-French Diplomatic relations during the I Empire, in Bulletin «Pro Phalaris», nº 1, Academia Falerística de Portugal, [January-June 2010]) – summary…
But there is also another star, in silver with enamels, ordered later by Marshal Ney to Maison Biennais.
Our thanks to Prof. Gerard Laureau for sending us this information.
Bibliography: José Vicente de Bragança, A Evolução da Banda das Três Ordens Militares (1789-1826), in Separata da Revista «Lusíada – História», nº 8, 2011, p. 15-16; Le Grand cordon des trois ordres militaires du Christ, d’Avis et de Saint-Jacques du Portugal, in Catalogue de l’Exposition – «La Berline de Napoléon – Le Mystère du Butin de Waterloo, Musée National de la Légion d’honneur, Paris, Albin Michel, 2012, pp. 187-188.
