World Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare group of decorations attributed to Squadron Commander Abdalla d’Asbonne of the Mamelukes of the Imperial Guard of Napoleon 1

(a) Legion of Honour, Second Restoration (1815-30), modified (3rd type, 1st Empire) Knight’s breast badge in silver, gold and enamels, 60 x 37 mm, suspension ring with ‘Fasces’ stamp mark (1803-19), some enamel damage
(b) Order of Military Merit, breast badge for a Muslim Knight, silver-gilt and enamels, the obverse centre with an additional five-pointed star on either side of the sword, 40 mm, damage to white enamel arms and to legends of both centres
(c) Legion of Honour, Second Empire (1852-70), Officer’s breast badge in gold and enamels, 64 x 41 mm, ‘Eagle’s head’ stamp mark (post 1838), frayed rosette on ribbon, slight damage to legends of both centres
(d) St Helena Medal
(e) Miniature Decorations, Legion of Honour, Second Empire, Officer’s badge in gold and enamels, and St Helena Medal, both suspended from gold bar suspension, this with ‘Eagle’s head’ stamp mark (post 1838), with combined rosette on ribbon
(f) Silver-gilt medallion formed from a coin, inscribed ‘Souvenirs du Chef d’Escadron Abdalla d’Asbonne, An VI, 1811, 1814, 1835’, unless otherwise described, very fine or better (7)

See illustration. This unusual Order of Military Merit was also illustrated in an issue of Carnet de la Sabretache in the 1920’s together with an account of his life and heroic military career, a copy of which accompanies the lot.

Abdalla was a Syrian, born in Bethlehem on 28 October 1876. Bonaparte attached him to the army as a guide and interpreter when he set off for Egypt in 1798. He followed him in the Syrian Campaign and was wounded at Heliopolis, arriving back at Marseille with the survivors of the expeditionary force in September 1801. Abdalla was commissioned as sub-Lieutenant in the newly formed Squadron of Mamelukes of the Imperial Guard, becoming Lieutenant in 1804, This same year he became one of the first Knights of the Legion of Honour. He fought at the battle of Austerlitz, taking part in the celebrated charge of the Mamelukes against the Russian Imperial Guard. At Colymin on 25 December, 1806, he received seven lance wounds and had his horse killed under him, but he was still able to take part in the battle of Eylan, hurting his arm when his horse was again shot from under him. He afterwards became Chief Instructor at Melun where the Mameluke Squadron had their barracks, thus avoiding the campaign in Russia. In 1809 he married Josephine Duverger, daughter of an elderly lawyer in Melun, converting wholly to Catholicism on this occasion.

In 1813 he fought in the new campaign in Saxony, was wounded at Altenbourg by a lance whilst saving the life of his colonel Kirmann, and again at Weimar, having three hoses shot from under him. At Hanau, again, he received a musket ball in the chest and had to be evacuated. After the first Restoration, he was attached to the light-horse Lancers of France, renamed the Lancers of the Imperial Guard during the 100 Days. He found himself on half-pay in 1815 and was given French citizenship by Louis XVIII in 1817. At this time he was noted as being “of a good and strong constitution but his numerous wounds, feats of arms, and extreme bravery, have made him extremely worn out.” In 1830 he volunteered for service in North Africa and, was attached as Ordnance Officer to General Boyer at Oran. He was Commandant at Arzew in 1833, and given command of a local Corps in 1834. He became French Consul at Mascara on 23 March 1834, but was recalled on the orders of General Frésel on 24 June, and held prisoner until 26 June, when an exchange was arranged. He remained as Commandant of Arzew until August 1835, and was placed on the retired list the following year. In 1846 he returned again to live in Melun and died there, aged 83 years, on 22 November 1859. Abdalla was made a Knight of the Order of the Reunion in February 1814; Knight of the Military Order of St Louis, February 1815; and Officer of the Legion of Honour, August 1832.