History of the medal.
The war with the people of the mountains during the Russian Empire was long and bloody. Caucasians are often raided Russian territory, which undermined the trustworthiness of the empire and helped strengthen separatist sentiment.
Peace and tranquility, as well as the expansion of the boundaries of the state pushed the ruling elite to the introduction of troops in the troubled region. Active military actions in the Caucasus took place at the Emperor Alexander I, Nicholas I and Alexander II rules. The resistance of the peoples of the mountains was almost completely suppressed in 1864, when it was placed under the control of the sources of the latest conflict in the western part of the Caucasus.
By the order of Emperor Alexander II, there was minted award «For Service in the Caucasus» in memory of the participation of the Russian army in the Caucasus military campaigns. Decree of its establishment dates back to July,1864.
Statute of the medal.
Russian medal «For Service in the Caucasus«, which is worn on the left side of the chest, was awarded to soldier of ranks who participated in the war of 1859 -1864. Silver Cross was awarded to officers. The Bronze Cross was awarded to all the lower ranks of the military and numerous volunteers who took part in various battles. Subsequently, the shape of the cross «For Service in the Caucasus» migrated to the regimental badges of several military units of the royal army, who distinguished themselves in combats with the mountaineers in the Caucasus, and, in some cases, it served as a background for superimposed items.
Description of the medal.
On July 12, 1864 there was established cross «For Service in the Caucasus.» The coin was impressed, there were four versions of it, three of which were from gold, silver and light bronze – of the same size: 48 x 48 mm. They only differ with quality of performance.
The first two are made with superimposed swords, rosace and letters of inscription; on the back side they had pegs for fastening to the clothing. Bronze medeal was minted from solid material, and on the back had a simple pin. The fourth kind of medal is a smaller cross of light bronze, size 34 x 34 mm.
Crosses were awarded to all ranks of the army, soldier who took an active part in the war with the mountaineers from 1859 to 1864. Rewarding with one or another cross was conducted depending on rank and merit. This Russian military award had widened ends, in the center of the cross there is a round shield with the image of the eagle, through the center of which there pass two crossed swords with their hilts down; at the ends of the cross there is inscription: on the left — «For Service» and on the right, as a continuation of the inscription — «in the Caucasus», on the top end there is Alexander II’s monogram under a crown, on the bottom end there is date «1864».
The cross was worn on the left side of the chest, under all orders. The Bronze Cross was awarded to all the lower ranks of the military, local Caucasian police, volunteers, officials, priests and physicians on duty during combat operations against the Highlanders.