Montenegro, Kingdom, An Order For The Right, Honour And Freedom Of Montenegro

(Orden za pravo, čast i slobodu Crne Gore). Instituted in 1919. In bronze gilt with red, white, green, blue and violet enamels, measuring 40.7 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) inclusive of its laterally-pierced ball suspension, intact enamels, original triangular ribbon with hook and eye, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order was created by King Nicholas I on January 3, 1919 while he was in exile in France, to reward those seeking to restore the independence and monarchy of Montenegro at the end of the First World War, especially those who participated in the Christmas Uprising of January 1919 following the decision of the National Assembly to unite with Serbia. In the event, Montenegro was absorbed into the newly-created Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (renamed Yugoslavia in 1929) and resistance to the union was crushed in the campaign of 1922-1923, though sporadic guerilla attacks and reprisals continuing well into the 1920s. The display of the Montenegrin coat-of-arms became a criminal offence in Yugoslavia. In 1993, the arms were reinstated and on July 12, 2004 the new Montenegrin flag with the arms displayed on a red ground was adopted. Montenegro regained her independence in 2006.